State
Businesses in Iowa by trade
83,321 employer establishments in 2023, employing 1,415,652 people (+0.8% establishments since 2017).
IOWA · ALL INDUSTRIES
83,321
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 1,415,652
- Average per site
- 17.0
- Change since 2017
- +0.8%
- Annual payroll
- $79.8 billion
The 12 trades in Iowa
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 2,459 | 44,032 | −0.8% | 30 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 773 | 8,745 | +58.7% | 31 |
| Beauty salons | 796 | 3,250 | −5.1% | 27 |
| Barber shops | 28 | 102 | +3.7% | 39 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,108 | 14,647 | −0.5% | 32 |
| Roofing contractors | 289 | 1,925 | +17.0% | 30 |
| Landscaping services | 1,242 | 7,493 | +15.4% | 28 |
| Janitorial services | 647 | 10,296 | +5.2% | 32 |
| Child day care | 895 | 13,051 | +4.8% | 30 |
| General auto repair | 1,085 | 4,986 | −2.8% | 24 |
| Fitness centers | 398 | 7,093 | +7.3% | 29 |
| Pet care services | 295 | 2,065 | +52.1% | 28 |
Largest industry groups in Iowa
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 6,646 | 104,573 | +3.8% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 6,474 | 65,271 | 0.0% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 6,007 | 52,146 | +4.3% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 5,544 | 64,808 | +8.6% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 4,238 | 25,266 | −3.8% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 3,637 | 95,134 | +6.3% |
| Real Estate | 3,110 | 10,990 | +19.1% |
| Truck Transportation | 3,037 | 38,734 | +10.9% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 2,749 | 13,775 | +0.1% |
| Construction of Buildings | 2,536 | 15,531 | +2.2% |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | 2,486 | 46,752 | −17.7% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 2,412 | 37,721 | −6.1% |
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.