NAICS 238210: Electrical contractors federal contracts, size limit and who buys
Federal spending, new contracts, buying agencies and set-asides for NAICS 238210 (electrical contractors), from USAspending.gov, with the SBA size limit and what the code covers.
Electrical wiring and lighting, building automation and control systems, network cabling, fire and burglar alarm installation, runway and street lighting, and solar panel installation. Alarm systems sold together with monitoring or repair are 561621.
| Small business size limit | $19.0 million average annual revenue |
|---|---|
| Federal spending, FY2026 | $717 million |
| New contracts and orders, FY2026 | 1,465 |
| Typical new standalone contract | $84,000 (middle half $47,000 to $255,000) |
| Set aside for small businesses | 52% of new standalone contracts |
| Women-owned set-asides | Not eligible |
The State Department and the FAA are big buyers here, alongside Veterans Affairs and the Army.
Spending by year
| Fiscal year | Obligated |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $853 million |
| FY2023 | $945 million |
| FY2024 | $824 million |
| FY2025 | $791 million |
| FY2026 | $717 million |
Federal fiscal years run October to September. Defense Department contract data is published 90 days late, so the last months of FY2026 aren't fully counted yet.
Who buys it, and where
- Department of Veterans Affairs $158 million
- Department of State $138 million
- Department of the Army $112 million
- Federal Aviation Administration $65 million
- Department of the Navy $44 million
- Virginia $106 million
- Texas $51 million
- California $41 million
- DC $35 million
- New York $32 million
How the work is set aside
Of 554 new standalone contracts worth $25,000 or more in FY2026, 287 were set aside for small businesses or a certified group. Our guide to set-asides explains who qualifies for each.
| Set-aside | Contracts |
|---|---|
| Small business | 180 |
| Service-disabled veteran-owned | 67 |
| 8(a) | 27 |
| Women-owned | 8 |
| Buy Indian | 5 |
Common questions
Alarm installation: 238210 or 561621?
Installation only is 238210. Alarm sales combined with monitoring or repair is 561621.
Which wage rules apply?
It depends on the work. Check the wage determination attached to the bid.
Related codes
- 238220 plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors
- 561621 security systems services
- 811310 commercial and industrial equipment repair and maintenance
- 561210 facilities support services
Agencies don't always code the same work the same way, so it pays to list several codes. Our guide to which NAICS codes to list explains why.
How we counted: USAspending.gov contract data for NAICS 238210, pulled October 27, 2026. Spending is obligations on all contracts and orders in each fiscal year. New contracts and orders are awards first made in FY2026. Standalone contracts are definitive contracts and purchase orders first awarded in FY2026 and worth at least $25,000, with the amount obligated so far. Agencies and states are ranked by FY2026 obligations. Treat these figures as a guide, not an exact count.
See the electrical bids open near you
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Sources
- USAspending.gov contract data (API, pulled October 27, 2026)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 NAICS manual and index
- SBA size standards, 13 CFR 121.201
- SBA: eligible NAICS for the WOSB program
How we get our numbers: our sources and methods.
General information, not legal advice. AwardRight is an independent consulting service, not affiliated with SAM.gov, the SBA or any government agency.