2022 NAICS national industry in sector 54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

NAICS 541720 is the US industry code for research and development in the social sciences and humanities. It covers establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and analyses in cognitive development, sociology, psychology, language, behavior, economic, and other social science and humanities research.

Code
541720 (2022 NAICS)
Title
Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Part of
Scientific Research and Development Services
SBA small business limit
Average annual receipts up to $28 million
Closest UK SIC
72200 (details)

Changes coming. The NAICS 2027 revision applies to data from 1 January 2027, and SBA proposed new size standards on 20 August 2026. The values on this page are the ones in force today; we update this page when the official files change.

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in conducting research and analyses in cognitive development, sociology, psychology, language, behavior, economic, and other social science and humanities research.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 541720

The Census index assigns these 14 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 541720

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 541720, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $28 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 7220), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.