NAICS 237130

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for organizing U.S. business establishments so agencies can collect, analyze, and publish economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 to replace SIC, it was created jointly by U.S., Canadian, and Mexican statistical authorities to enable cross-country comparability; the current U.S. vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 237130 covers firms primarily engaged in constructing power lines and towers, power plants, and radio/telecommunications transmitting or receiving towers. Work may include new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and repairs, and specialty trade contractors are included when their primary activity is the construction of these power and communication line structures, including integral network facilities such as substations and certain generation plants. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 237130 overview
• Related NAICS 237110
• Related NAICS 237120

What this NAICS covers

• Electric power transmission line and tower construction, including line stringing. ²
• Non-hydroelectric power plant construction (e.g., nuclear, gas, solar, wind, geothermal, co-generation). ²
• Construction of radio, television, cellular, and other telecommunications towers. ²
• Underground cable laying for fiber-optic, electric, telephone, and cable television networks. ²
• Substation, transformer station, and related power network facility construction. ²
• Cellular/satellite receiving and related communication station construction. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

NAICS boundaries and cross-references

• Hydroelectric generating facilities are classified in NAICS 237990, not in 237130. ²
• Electrical work within buildings is NAICS 238210; 237130 addresses power/communication line and related structures. ²
• Broadcast studios and similar nonresidential buildings are NAICS 236220. ²
• Line slashing/cutting (except maintenance) aligns to NAICS 238910. ²
• Install/maintain transmission lines/towers by telecom companies are classified in NAICS 517; similar work by electric utilities is NAICS 2211. ²
• Utility line locating (prior to digging) is NAICS 561990; tree/brush trimming for overhead lines is NAICS 561730. ²

Frequently asked questions

• How does NAICS 237130 differ from NAICS 238210?

  NAICS 237130 focuses on heavy civil power and communications line structures. NAICS 238210 covers electrical work inside buildings and related wiring installation, not transmission lines or towers. ²

• What activities are squarely within NAICS 237130?

  Construction of power lines and towers; non-hydroelectric power plants; and radio/TV/cellular/telecom towers are core, including reconstruction and repair. Underground fiber, substations, and transformer stations are also covered when part of power or communication networks. ²

• Are hydroelectric generating stations included?

  No. Hydroelectric generating facilities are classified under NAICS 237990. Non-hydroelectric plants (e.g., nuclear, gas, solar, wind) fall under NAICS 237130. ²

• How is utility or telecom self-performed line work coded?

  Installation and maintenance performed by telecommunications companies are classified in NAICS 517; similar work by electric utilities is in NAICS 2211. Independent contractors primarily building these structures are NAICS 237130. ²

• What is NAICS and what vintage is current?

  NAICS is the OMB-sponsored industry classification framework adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, designed with Canada and Mexico to align North American economic statistics. The current U.S. manual is the 2022 edition. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 237130 overview
• 2022 NAICS Manual (official industry definitions), see entry for NAICS 237130. ²
• NAICS Search and program information (Census). ¹
• Census NAICS descriptions reference files (2022). ³
• Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual (April 2025). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS main site and introduction (includes links to 2022 materials): https://www.census.gov/naics/?chart=2017&details=237130&input=237130
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Manual (official definitions and cross-references): https://www.census.gov/naics/reference_files_tools/2022_NAICS_Manual.pdf
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Industry Reference Files: 2022 NAICS Descriptions: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/technical-documentation/reference/naics-descriptions.html
4. U.S. General Services Administration — Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual, April 2025: https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf