State
Businesses in District of Columbia by trade
23,801 employer establishments in 2023, employing 558,653 people (+0.9% establishments since 2017).
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA · ALL INDUSTRIES
23,801
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 558,653
- Average per site
- 23.5
- Change since 2017
- +0.9%
- Annual payroll
- $56.8 billion
The 12 trades in District of Columbia
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 974 | 29,842 | +7.4% | 45 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 266 | 4,202 | +25.5% | 45 |
| Beauty salons | 154 | 1,050 | −15.8% | 48 |
| Barber shops | 15 | 88 | 0.0% | 47 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 37 | 1,772 | +19.4% | 51 |
| Roofing contractors | 6 | 106 | +50.0% | 51 |
| Landscaping services | 22 | 198 | −15.4% | 51 |
| Janitorial services | 115 | 5,139 | +19.8% | 51 |
| Child day care | 303 | 4,282 | +11.8% | 45 |
| General auto repair | 31 | 160 | −3.1% | 51 |
| Fitness centers | 121 | 2,175 | −2.4% | 44 |
| Pet care services | 42 | 399 | +16.7% | 51 |
Largest industry groups in District of Columbia
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,738 | 118,310 | −1.6% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 3,251 | 72,681 | −0.3% |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 2,686 | 58,716 | +3.1% |
| Real Estate | 1,406 | 10,542 | +12.6% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 1,303 | 19,835 | +6.7% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 952 | 30,471 | −15.6% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 941 | 6,048 | +0.1% |
| Social Assistance | 888 | 16,559 | +11.7% |
| Educational Services | 661 | 60,281 | +7.0% |
| Food and Beverage Stores | 563 | 8,230 | +0.4% |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | 434 | 12,152 | −5.0% |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | 362 | 5,125 | +13.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.