NAICS 238350 Quarterly Industry Report
Finish Carpentry Contractors
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 238350Sector: Construction (23)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Finish Carpentry Contractors (NAICS 238350) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, finish trade analysts, and specialty construction investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Definition & Overview
Finish Carpentry Contractors (NAICS 238350) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in finish carpentry work per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Work performed includes new construction, additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Activities include built-in wood cabinet installation, molding and trim work, interior and exterior door hanging, window frame installation, countertop fitting, wood paneling, stairway finishing, and prefabricated cabinet and closet system installation. This classification covers the final interior wood and millwork trades that produce the visible finished surfaces in residential and commercial buildings.
Roughly 14,404 firms employ 144,405 workers generating $27.4 billion in revenue with $8.9 billion in annual payroll per Census Bureau[5] economic survey data. Average hourly wages reach $32.53 per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] data. Custom cabinet and millwork installation for high-end residential projects commands premium pricing, while production trim installation for tract homebuilders generates high-volume work. Commercial finish carpentry includes office casework, retail fixture installation, and institutional millwork. FCA International (Finish Contractors Association) and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters provide industry representation and apprenticeship training.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $19 million in average annual receipts. Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) Quality Standards Illustrated establishes grading criteria for custom architectural woodwork including cabinets, paneling, and millwork. OSHA[8] construction safety standards under 29 CFR 1926 apply to finish carpentry work, with power tool safety and wood dust exposure representing primary occupational hazards. State and local building codes regulate fire-rated door and frame installation, handrail height and spacing requirements, and ADA-compliant cabinet and countertop dimensions.
What's Included in This Industry
- Interior trim and molding installation (base, crown, casing)
- Kitchen and bathroom cabinet installation
- Closet system and storage organizer installation
- Interior and exterior door hanging and hardware
- Window frame and trim installation
- Wood paneling and wainscoting installation
- Countertop fabrication and installation
- Stair rail, baluster, and newel post installation
- Custom millwork and architectural woodwork installation
- Prefabricated cabinet and vanity installation
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Construction | 23 |
| Subsector | Specialty Trade Contractors | 238 |
| Industry Group | Building Finishing Contractors | 2383 |
| NAICS Industry | Finish Carpentry Contractors | 23835 |
| National Industry | Finish Carpentry Contractors | 238350 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 238310 | Drywall and Insulation Contractors | Drywall and Insulation Contractors complete wall and ceiling surfaces before finish carpenters install trim that covers joints at floors, ceilings, and openings, with drywall finishing quality directly affecting the fit and appearance of baseboard, crown molding, and door casing installations |
| 238320 | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors | Painting and Wall Covering Contractors paint or stain the wood trim, cabinets, and millwork that finish carpenters install, with the painting-before-trim or paint-after-trim sequence varying by project type and affecting the coordination between carpentry and painting trades |
| 238330 | Flooring Contractors | Flooring Contractors install floor coverings before or after finish carpentry trim depending on the project sequence, with baseboard installation typically following flooring to cover the expansion gap at floor edges and provide a clean transition between floor and wall surfaces |
| 238340 | Tile and Terrazzo Contractors | Tile and Terrazzo Contractors install tile countertops, backsplashes, and floor surfaces that interface with cabinet installations and wood trim, with tile-to-wood transition details requiring coordination between tile setters and finish carpenters at countertop edges and cabinet base perimeters |
| 238130 | Framing Contractors | Framing Contractors build the rough wall, floor, and ceiling structures that finish carpenters trim and detail, with rough framing accuracy including wall plumb, corner square, and opening dimensions directly affecting the quality and labor requirements of finish carpentry installation |
| 236115 | New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) | New Single-Family Housing Construction generates residential finish carpentry demand, with every new home requiring complete trim packages including baseboard, casing, crown molding, cabinets, and door hardware installed by finish carpentry subcontractors |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 12.7% | 4,085 |
| 2 | California | 8.6% | 2,784 |
| 3 | New York | 8.3% | 2,675 |
| 4 | Texas | 4.4% | 1,423 |
| 5 | Illinois | 4.0% | 1,278 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 3.5% | 1,121 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 3.3% | 1,076 |
| 8 | Washington | 3.3% | 1,052 |
| 9 | Colorado | 3.2% | 1,027 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 3.0% | 979 |
% Of Establishments
0%
13%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[2]
SBA Lending Summary
287
Total SBA Loans
$82.9M
Total Loan Volume
$289K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.60%
Average Interest Rate
1,667
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Finish Carpentry Contractors (NAICS 238350) has a size standard of $19 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[9] support equipment purchases, shop tools, and working capital for qualifying finish carpentry contracting firms. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[11] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 3 | $8.1M | $2.7M |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 29 | $7.9M | $274K |
| 3 | First Bank | 1 | $5.0M | $5.0M |
| 4 | TD Bank, National Association | 35 | $4.8M | $138K |
| 5 | The Huntington National Bank | 24 | $4.2M | $176K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for finish carpentry?
NAICS 238350 covers finish carpentry contractors performing trim, cabinet, door, window, countertop, and millwork installation per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
What is the SBA size standard for finish carpentry?
The SBA size standard[7] is $19 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How large is the finish carpentry industry?
Roughly 14,404 firms employ 144,405 workers generating $27.4 billion in revenue per Census Bureau[5] economic survey data, with residential trim and cabinet installation generating the highest project volume.
What quality standards govern finish carpentry?
AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) Quality Standards Illustrated establishes grading criteria for custom cabinetry, paneling, and millwork in three quality grades (economy, custom, premium), with grade selection specified by architects for commercial projects requiring documented workmanship standards.
What is the difference between rough and finish carpentry?
Rough carpentry (NAICS 238130) builds structural framing including walls, floors, and roofs, while finish carpentry installs the visible trim, cabinets, and millwork that creates the finished interior per Census Bureau[4] classification distinctions between structural and decorative wood construction.
What safety hazards exist in finish carpentry?
OSHA[8] safety standards address power tool guarding, wood dust exposure, and fall protection under 29 CFR 1926, with table saw blade guards, miter saw controls, nail gun safety, and dust collection systems representing standard protective measures for finish carpentry operations.
What types of cabinets do finish carpenters install?
Stock, semi-custom, and fully custom cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial casework per Census Bureau[5] activity descriptions, with cabinet installation including leveling, shimming, fastening, and hardware mounting to produce properly aligned and functional cabinetry systems.
What drives finish carpentry demand?
Residential new construction, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and commercial tenant improvement projects drive demand per Census Bureau[5] construction spending data, with high-end residential custom millwork and commercial office buildout projects representing premium market segments for finish carpentry contractors.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [3]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]OSHA osha.gov
- [9]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
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