Industry Description
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in site preparation activities, such as excavating and grading, demolition of buildings and other structures, and septic system installation. Earthmoving and land clearing for all types of sites (e.g., building, nonbuilding, mining) is included in this industry. Establishments primarily engaged in construction equipment rental with operator (except cranes) are also included.
Illustrative Examples:
Blasting, building demolition
Foundation digging (i.e., excavation)
Concrete breaking and cutting for demolition
Foundation drilling contractors
Cutting new rights of way
Grading construction sites
Demolition, building and structure
Line slashing or cutting (except maintenance)
Dewatering contractors
Septic system contractors
Dirt moving for construction
Trenching (except underwater)
Equipment rental (except crane), construction, with operator
Underground tank (except hazardous) removal
Excavating, earthmoving, or land clearing contractors
Wrecking, building or other structure
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--
Business Examples
Common types of business activities within NAICS 238910 - Site Preparation Contractors are:
- Cutting new rights of way
- Cesspool construction
- Soil test drilling
- Construction equipment (except crane) rental with operator
- Demolition, building and structure
- Digging foundations
- Blast hole drilling (except mining)
- Culvert or bridge removal
- Equipment rental (except crane), construction, with operator
- Excavating, earthmoving, or land clearing contractors
- Piling (i.e., bored, cast-in-place, drilled), building foundation, contractors
- Boring, for building construction
- Underground tank (except hazardous material) removal
- Dewatering contractors
- Soil compacting
- Demolition contractor
- Backhoe rental with operator
- Line slashing or cutting (except maintenance)
- Drainage system (e.g., cesspool, septic tank) installation
- House demolishing
- Removal of dams, dikes, and other heavy and civil engineering constructions
- Grave excavation contractors
- Concrete breaking and cutting for demolition
- Drilled shaft (i.e., drilled building foundations) construction
- Hydrodemolition (i.e., demolition with pressurized water) contractors
- Trenching (except underwater)
- Foundation digging (i.e., excavation)
- Bulldozer rental with operator
- Test boring for construction
- Caisson (i.e., drilled building foundations) construction
- Power, communication and pipe line right of way clearance (except maintenance)
- Ground thawing for construction site digging
- Septic system contractors
- Land clearing
- Grading construction sites
- Machinery, construction (except cranes), rental with operator
- Road decommissioning
- Excavating, earthmoving or land clearing, mining (except overburden removal at open pit mine sites or quarries)
- Pile driving, building foundation
- Core drilling and test boring for construction
- Building demolition
- Crawler tractor rental with operator
- Septic tank and weeping tile installation
- Blasting, construction site
- Aerial or picker truck, construction, rental with operator
- Foundation drilling contractors
- Dry well construction
- Backfilling, construction
- Blasting, building demolition
- Excavation contractors
- Right of way cutting (except maintenance)
- House razing
- Dismantling engineering structures (e.g., oil storage tank)
- Wrecking, building or other structure
- Drilled pier (i.e., for building foundations) contractors
- Weeping tile installation
- Mine site preparation and related construction activities, construction contractors
- Land leveling contractors
- Power shovel, construction, rental with operator
- Dirt moving for construction
IBISWorld Industry Research Report
Excavation Contractors in the US (23891a)
Revenue 2025
$203.1bn
Growth 2025
-0.16%
Key Trends
The industry has been fueled by a strong residential housing market
Revenue will slow down in 2022 as the value of residential construction declines
Demand for excavation work is projected to accelerate slightly in the nonresidential building market
Products and Services
Similar Industries
For some business types, there may be a similar industry to 238910 - Site Preparation Contractors that is a better classification match. Establishments primarily engaged in:
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NAICS Cross Reference
Overburden removal as an activity prior to mineral removal from quarries or open pit mines--are classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Drilling oil and gas field water intake wells--are classified in U.S. Industry 213111, Drilling Oil and Gas Wells;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Dismantling tanks in oil fields--are classified in U.S. Industry 213112, Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Earth retention or underwater trenching--are classified in Industry 237990, Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Crane rental with operator--are classified in Industry 238990, All Other Specialty Trade Contractors;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Construction equipment rental without an operator--are classified in U.S. Industry 532412, Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing;
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Tree and brush trimming for overhead utility lines--are classified in Industry 561730, Landscaping Services; and
IBISWorld industry research report
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NAICS Cross Reference
Nuclear power plant decommissioning and environmental remediation work, such as the removal of underground steel tanks for hazardous materials--are classified in Industry 562910, Remediation Services.
IBISWorld industry research report
NAICS Hierarchy 238910 - Site Preparation Contractors
NAICS Code 238910 - Site Preparation Contractors sits in the 2-digit Site Preparation Contractors sector. NAICS codes can be 2- to 6-digits and the further along the hierarchy, the more detailed and specific the category will be. Learn more about the structure of NAICS codes
2 Digits: 23
Sector Title: Construction
3 Digits 4 Digits 5 Digits 6 Digits
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2361 Residential Building Construction
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2362 Nonresidential Building Construction
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23621 Industrial Building Construction
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23622 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
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2371 Utility System Construction
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23711 Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction
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23712 Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction
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23713 Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction
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2372 Land Subdivision
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23721 Land Subdivision
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2373 Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
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23731 Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
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2379 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
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23799 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
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2381 Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
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23811 Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors
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23812 Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors
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23813 Framing Contractors
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23814 Masonry Contractors
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23815 Glass and Glazing Contractors
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23816 Roofing Contractors
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23817 Siding Contractors
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23819 Other Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
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2382 Building Equipment Contractors
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23821 Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors
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23822 Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
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23829 Other Building Equipment Contractors
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2383 Building Finishing Contractors
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23831 Drywall and Insulation Contractors
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23832 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
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23833 Flooring Contractors
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23834 Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
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23835 Finish Carpentry Contractors
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23839 Other Building Finishing Contractors
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2389 Other Specialty Trade Contractors
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23891 Site Preparation Contractors
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23899 All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
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