State
Businesses in Wisconsin by trade
144,774 employer establishments in 2023, employing 2,642,958 people (+1.9% establishments since 2017).
WISCONSIN · ALL INDUSTRIES
144,774
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 2,642,958
- Average per site
- 18.3
- Change since 2017
- +1.9%
- Annual payroll
- $161.5 billion
The 12 trades in Wisconsin
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 4,988 | 87,044 | −0.2% | 16 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 1,243 | 13,801 | +39.0% | 20 |
| Beauty salons | 1,592 | 8,345 | −13.4% | 17 |
| Barber shops | 133 | 668 | +27.9% | 17 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,944 | 23,507 | +1.9% | 19 |
| Roofing contractors | 499 | 3,753 | +17.4% | 19 |
| Landscaping services | 2,490 | 13,641 | +21.5% | 15 |
| Janitorial services | 1,267 | 19,387 | +8.5% | 19 |
| Child day care | 1,588 | 19,025 | −0.5% | 15 |
| General auto repair | 1,871 | 8,948 | −0.7% | 14 |
| Fitness centers | 836 | 17,773 | +16.9% | 16 |
| Pet care services | 546 | 4,267 | +29.1% | 17 |
Largest industry groups in Wisconsin
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 13,939 | 208,881 | +4.6% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 11,680 | 124,811 | +1.1% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 10,242 | 153,519 | +15.0% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 10,100 | 86,893 | +5.6% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 7,421 | 162,657 | +9.0% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 6,073 | 50,632 | −3.0% |
| Real Estate | 4,937 | 23,506 | +18.4% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 4,415 | 26,132 | +3.5% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 4,276 | 22,291 | +0.0% |
| Social Assistance | 4,256 | 70,474 | +10.1% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 4,030 | 81,649 | −5.3% |
| Construction of Buildings | 3,923 | 30,047 | +7.0% |
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.