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SIC Code Lookup — Find Your Standard Industrial Classification Code
SIC codes are still required by the SEC, many state governments, and local procurement portals. Search 150+ codes and find the NAICS equivalent for federal contracting.
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Searching across 158 SIC codes covering Divisions A through J
What is a SIC Code?
The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system assigns a 4-digit code to every business based on its primary activity. First developed in 1937 and last revised in 1987, SIC codes predate NAICS by 60 years — but they haven't gone away.
The SEC still requires SIC codes for all public company EDGAR filings. Thousands of state and local procurement systems still ask for your SIC when you register as a vendor. Workers' compensation carriers and insurance underwriters use SIC for risk assessment.
For federal contracting on SAM.gov, NAICS codes are the current standard. But knowing your SIC code — and how it maps to NAICS — matters when you work across federal, state, and local buyers.
SIC vs. NAICS — What Is the Difference?
Both systems classify businesses by industry. The key difference is era, granularity, and which agencies require each one.
| SIC Code | NAICS Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 4 digits | 6 digits |
| Introduced | 1937, last revised 1987 | 1997, updated every 5 years |
| Required for | SEC filings, state/local vendor registration, insurance | Federal contracting (SAM.gov), small business size standards |
| Granularity | ~1,000 categories — less specific for services | ~1,100+ categories — much more detail for tech and services |
| Mapping | 1 SIC often maps to 2-4 NAICS codes | More specific — often one primary NAICS per activity |
| Status | Legacy — still in active use for SEC and state/local | Current standard for federal contracting |
Researched by the BidStride Research Team. Last updated April 2026.
Browse SIC Codes by Division
SIC codes are organized into 10 major divisions (A through J), each covering a broad industry group.
AAgriculture, Forestry, and Fishing4 codes
Establishments primarily engaged in growing vegetables and melons.
Establishments primarily engaged in feeding cattle for fattening.
Establishments primarily engaged in veterinary services for pets and other animal specialties.
BMining2 codes
CConstruction14 codes
Establishments primarily engaged in electrical work for buildings.
General building contractors primarily engaged in constructing single-family houses.
Establishments primarily engaged in building residential homes for sale.
General building contractors primarily engaged in constructing industrial buildings.
General building contractors constructing commercial and institutional buildings.
Establishments primarily engaged in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and similar work.
Establishments primarily engaged in painting buildings.
Establishments primarily engaged in roofing, siding, and sheet metal work.
Establishments primarily engaged in concrete work such as foundations and flatwork.
Establishments primarily engaged in drilling water wells.
Establishments primarily engaged in earth moving, excavating, and grading.
Construction companies engaged in heavy construction other than building construction.
Contractors primarily engaged in electrical work for buildings, structures, and facilities.
Special trade contractors not elsewhere classified, including installation of glass, tile, and plastering.
DManufacturing12 codes
Establishments primarily engaged in slaughtering cattle, hogs, sheep, and calves.
Establishments primarily engaged in publishing newspapers or in publishing and printing newspapers.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing hot metal, pig iron, and steel.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing special industry machinery.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing electronic computers.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing wire telephone and telegraph equipment.
Establishments primarily engaged in designing and manufacturing defense-related electronic systems.
Manufacturing of search, detection, range finding, tracking, and navigation instruments.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing instruments for measuring.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing optical instruments and lenses.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing surgical and medical instruments.
Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing aircraft engines and parts.
ETransportation, Communications, and Utilities13 codes
Establishments engaged in the rail transportation of passengers and freight.
Establishments primarily engaged in local and suburban passenger transportation.
Establishments primarily engaged in chartering buses for excursions and tours.
Establishments primarily engaged in local trucking without storage.
Establishments primarily engaged in long-distance trucking.
Establishments primarily engaged in deep sea freight transportation to or from foreign ports.
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing air transportation.
Establishments primarily engaged in airport and airfield operations.
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing telephone voice communications services.
Establishments primarily engaged in generating, transmitting, or distributing electricity.
Establishments primarily engaged in distributing water for sale.
Establishments primarily engaged in arranging the transportation of freight.
FWholesale Trade9 codes
Establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of motor vehicles.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in professional and commercial equipment.
Establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of electronic parts and equipment.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in drugs and pharmaceuticals.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in medical and hospital equipment.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in computers and computer peripheral equipment.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in industrial machinery and equipment.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in industrial and personal service supplies.
Wholesale establishments primarily engaged in service establishment equipment.
GRetail Trade10 codes
Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of hardware.
Establishments primarily engaged in retailing groceries and related products.
Establishments primarily engaged in retailing new motor vehicles.
Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of prepared food and drinks.
Retail establishments primarily engaged in retail sales via mail or telephone.
Retail establishments engaged in selling a general line of merchandise.
Retail establishments not elsewhere classified for home furnishings.
Establishments primarily engaged in retailing consumer electronics.
Establishments primarily engaged in retailing prescription and nonprescription drugs.
HFinance, Insurance, and Real Estate11 codes
Establishments chartered by states and engaged in deposit banking.
Establishments primarily engaged in making personal loans to individuals.
Establishments primarily engaged in finance services not elsewhere classified.
Establishments primarily engaged in the purchase, sale, and brokerage of securities.
Establishments primarily engaged in underwriting life insurance and annuity contracts.
Insurance agents and brokers selling all lines of insurance.
Establishments primarily engaged in real estate agents and managers.
State commercial banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System.
Establishments primarily engaged in underwriting accident and health insurance.
Establishments primarily engaged in land subdividing or land development.
IServices70 codes
Establishments primarily engaged in providing lodging or lodging and meals.
Establishments primarily engaged in designing, developing, and producing computer software packages.
Establishments primarily engaged in computer programming, data processing, and other computer related services.
Establishments primarily engaged in designing and installing computer integrated systems.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing computer processing and data preparation services.
Establishments primarily engaged in renting or leasing computers and computer peripheral equipment.
Establishments primarily engaged in the management and operation of data processing facilities.
Establishments engaged in the rental and maintenance of computers and peripheral equipment.
Establishments primarily engaged in the maintenance and repair of computers.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing computer related services not elsewhere classified.
Establishments primarily engaged in guard services or investigation services.
Establishments primarily engaged in monitoring and maintaining home security systems.
Miscellaneous business services not elsewhere classified, including mailing and reproduction.
Establishments primarily engaged in performing research and development services.
Establishments primarily engaged in mailing, reproduction, and related services.
Establishments primarily engaged in equipment rental and leasing.
Establishments primarily engaged in trading stamp and promotional services.
Establishments primarily engaged in the delivery of letters and packages by messenger or local delivery.
Establishments primarily engaged in short-term rental of utility trailers.
Establishments primarily engaged in operating parking lots and garages.
Establishments primarily engaged in repairing radios, televisions, and consumer electronics.
Establishments primarily engaged in the production of theatrical and nontheatrical motion picture films.
Establishments primarily engaged in the operation of dance studios and schools.
Establishments primarily engaged in operating professional sports clubs.
Miscellaneous amusement and recreation services not elsewhere classified.
Offices and clinics of licensed practitioners of medicine.
Offices and clinics of licensed practitioners of dentistry.
Offices and clinics of health practitioners not elsewhere classified.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing diagnostic services and surgical facilities.
Establishments primarily engaged in offering legal advice and services.
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing academic courses of instruction.
Degree-granting institutions of higher education.
Establishments primarily engaged in collecting and lending library materials.
Establishments primarily engaged in offering business and secretarial training.
Schools and educational services not elsewhere classified.
Establishments primarily engaged in the care of infants or children.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing residential care to individuals.
Establishments primarily engaged in preserving and exhibiting objects of historical interest.
Membership organizations primarily engaged in promoting the interests of member business firms.
Establishments primarily engaged in rendering engineering services.
Establishments primarily engaged in rendering architectural services.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing surveying services.
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services.
Establishments primarily engaged in commercial physical and biological research.
Commercial research in economics, sociology, and education.
Establishments primarily engaged in noncommercial research.
Establishments primarily engaged in managing and operating businesses for others.
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing management consulting services.
Establishments primarily engaged in furnishing public relations services.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing facilities support management services.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing business consulting services.
Establishments primarily engaged in rendering professional services.
Establishments primarily engaged in short-term truck rental without drivers.
Establishments primarily engaged in electrical and electronic repair services.
Repair shops and related services not elsewhere classified.
Establishments primarily engaged in the production of motion picture films.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing physical therapy services.
Establishments engaged in providing IT management and strategy consulting services.
Professional and technical services not elsewhere classified.
Establishments primarily engaged in supplying temporary or continuing help on a contract basis.
Temporary employment services and professional staffing.
Offices and clinics of health practitioners including chiropractors and optometrists.
Establishments primarily engaged in skilled nursing care.
Medical laboratory services and health research facilities.
Establishments providing cybersecurity strategy, risk assessment, and consulting services.
JPublic Administration13 codes
Government legislative and executive combined or the executive branch.
Government establishments primarily engaged in police protection.
Government establishments primarily engaged in the administration of educational programs.
Government establishments primarily engaged in the administration of public health programs.
Government establishments primarily engaged in social services administration.
Government establishments primarily engaged in environmental quality programs.
Government establishments primarily engaged in the general administration of economic programs.
Government establishments primarily engaged in the regulation and administration of transportation programs.
Government establishments primarily engaged in the regulation and administration of utility programs.
Government establishments primarily engaged in national security.
Government establishments primarily engaged in international affairs.
Key Facts About SIC Codes
~1,000
Total SIC codes across all divisions
4 digits
Standard format — e.g., 7371 for Computer Programming Services
10 divisions
Major industry groups from Agriculture (A) to Public Administration (J)
1987
Year SIC was last officially revised by the federal government
SIC Code Questions Answered
Researched by the BidStride Research Team
A Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is a 4-digit numerical code assigned by the U.S. government to identify the industry a company operates in. SIC codes were developed in the 1930s and were the primary industry classification system until NAICS was introduced in 1997. They are still actively used by the SEC for public company filings, by many state and local governments for vendor registration, and by some federal agencies for legacy reporting purposes.
SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes are 4-digit codes developed in the 1930s and last revised in 1987. NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes are 6-digit codes adopted in 1997 and updated every five years. NAICS is the current standard for federal contracting on SAM.gov, while SIC is still used by the SEC, some state governments, and certain legacy federal databases. NAICS is more granular and better reflects the modern economy, particularly services and technology sectors.
For federal contracting on SAM.gov, NAICS codes are the standard — not SIC. However, SIC codes are still required for SEC filings if you are a public company. Many state and local government vendor portals still ask for your SIC code. Some legacy federal databases and grant applications reference SIC. And certain industry databases and procurement analytics tools use SIC for historical comparisons. If you work with state/local governments or the SEC, knowing your SIC code remains relevant.
The Census Bureau maintains an official SIC-to-NAICS crosswalk at census.gov. In practice, the mapping is not always 1-to-1 — one SIC code sometimes maps to multiple NAICS codes because NAICS is more granular. Use the related NAICS codes shown in each result in this tool as a starting point. For federal SAM.gov registration, you will need to identify the 6-digit NAICS code that best describes your primary business activity, which may not be an exact SIC match.
SIC codes remain in active use in several areas: (1) SEC filings — the SEC's EDGAR system requires SIC codes for all public company registrations; (2) State vendor registrations — many states including California, New York, and Texas still include SIC in their vendor registration forms; (3) Local government procurement portals — many counties and municipalities use SIC-based vendor databases; (4) Financial data providers — Bloomberg, S&P, and similar services use SIC for industry classification; (5) Workers' compensation and insurance applications — many insurers still use SIC for underwriting.
BidStride matches opportunities to your NAICS codes automatically
Once you know your SIC and NAICS codes, let BidStride do the work. We scan SAM.gov daily and deliver matched contracts to your inbox every morning.
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