In one sentence. The industry field on a LinkedIn profile or company page is picked from a closed list. Below is the full classic list of 148 industries, grouped the way LinkedIn groups them, what changed with the 2023 taxonomy, and how to choose the one that actually gets you found.
Key takeaways
- You cannot type a custom industry. LinkedIn only accepts values from its own taxonomy. The historical list has 148 entries; since 2023 the picker also offers a deeper tree of 400+ sub-industries (for example "Software Development" under "Technology, Information and Internet").
- Industry is a search filter, both in LinkedIn search and in Sales Navigator and Recruiter. Recruiters and prospects filter by it, so an odd choice makes you invisible to the people you want.
- Pick the industry of the people you serve, not your job title. A freelance copywriter working for SaaS companies is usually better found under "Software Development" or "Marketing Services" than under "Writing and Editing", depending on who searches.
- It also shapes your feed. The industry you declare feeds LinkedIn's interest signals, which changes which posts you see and where your comments land.
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1. The LinkedIn industry list (148 classic industries, by category)
This is the reference list LinkedIn has used for years on profiles, company pages and in its API. Names are the official English labels.
Corporate and business services
| Accounting | Business Supplies and Equipment |
| Human Resources | Management Consulting |
| Market Research | Marketing and Advertising |
| Outsourcing/Offshoring | Professional Training and Coaching |
| Public Relations and Communications | Staffing and Recruiting |
| Events Services | Executive Office |
| Facilities Services | Information Services |
| Security and Investigations | Translation and Localization |
| Writing and Editing | Think Tanks |
Finance and insurance
| Banking | Capital Markets |
| Financial Services | Insurance |
| Investment Banking | Investment Management |
| Venture Capital and Private Equity | Real Estate |
| Commercial Real Estate |
Technology and internet
| Computer Software | Information Technology and Services |
| Internet | Computer Hardware |
| Computer Networking | Computer and Network Security |
| Semiconductors | Telecommunications |
| Wireless | Consumer Electronics |
| Computer Games | Online Media |
| Nanotechnology |
Manufacturing and industry
| Automotive | Aviation and Aerospace |
| Chemicals | Electrical and Electronic Manufacturing |
| Industrial Automation | Machinery |
| Mechanical or Industrial Engineering | Mining and Metals |
| Oil and Energy | Renewables and Environment |
| Utilities | Plastics |
| Packaging and Containers | Paper and Forest Products |
| Glass, Ceramics and Concrete | Railroad Manufacture |
| Shipbuilding | Textiles |
| Defense and Space | Building Materials |
| Import and Export |
Health and medical
| Hospital and Health Care | Medical Practice |
| Medical Devices | Pharmaceuticals |
| Biotechnology | Mental Health Care |
| Health, Wellness and Fitness | Veterinary |
| Alternative Medicine |
Education and research
| Education Management | E-Learning |
| Higher Education | Primary/Secondary Education |
| Research | Libraries |
Government, law and public sector
| Government Administration | Government Relations |
| Public Policy | Political Organization |
| International Affairs | Legislative Office |
| Judiciary | Law Enforcement |
| Military | Public Safety |
| Law Practice | Legal Services |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | International Trade and Development |
Media, arts and entertainment
| Media Production | Broadcast Media |
| Newspapers | Publishing |
| Printing | Motion Pictures and Film |
| Animation | Music |
| Performing Arts | Fine Art |
| Arts and Crafts | Photography |
| Design | Graphic Design |
| Entertainment | Museums and Institutions |
Consumer goods and retail
| Consumer Goods | Consumer Services |
| Retail | Wholesale |
| Apparel and Fashion | Cosmetics |
| Luxury Goods and Jewelry | Food and Beverages |
| Food Production | Dairy |
| Wine and Spirits | Tobacco |
| Furniture | Sporting Goods |
| Supermarkets |
Construction and real estate
| Construction | Architecture and Planning |
| Civil Engineering |
Hospitality, travel and leisure
| Hospitality | Restaurants |
| Leisure, Travel and Tourism | Airlines/Aviation |
| Gambling and Casinos | Recreational Facilities and Services |
| Sports |
Transport and logistics
| Logistics and Supply Chain | Transportation/Trucking/Railroad |
| Maritime | Package/Freight Delivery |
| Warehousing |
Non-profit, community and personal services
| Nonprofit Organization Management | Civic and Social Organization |
| Philanthropy | Fund-Raising |
| Religious Institutions | Individual and Family Services |
| Program Development | Environmental Services |
| Farming | Fishery |
| Ranching |
Groupings above are editorial, to make the list scannable; the API list itself has 148 unique codes.
2. What changed in 2023: the V2 taxonomy
In 2023 LinkedIn introduced a hierarchical taxonomy ("Industry Codes V2") with more than 400 entries. The classic industries above still exist as parents, but you can now go one or two levels deeper. Examples:
- Technology, Information and Internet → Software Development, IT Services and IT Consulting, Data Infrastructure and Analytics, Computer Games, Social Networking Platforms...
- Financial Services → Banking, Insurance, Investment Management, Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals, Capital Markets...
- Professional Services → Advertising Services, Business Consulting and Services, Marketing Services, Public Relations and Communications Services, Human Resources Services...
Two consequences. The picker on your profile now works as a search box: type a word and choose from the suggestions rather than scrolling a list. And older profiles were mapped automatically, which is why some people find themselves under a sub-industry they never chose. Worth checking once.
3. How to choose your industry (the rule that works)
Ask one question: who do I want to find me, and what will they type in the filter?
- Employees and job seekers: choose the industry of the company you work for or target. Recruiters filter by the company's industry, not by your function.
- Freelancers and consultants: choose the industry of your clients when you sell to one vertical (SaaS, healthcare, real estate), and a services industry (Marketing Services, Business Consulting and Services) when your clients are spread out.
- Founders: the company page carries the market's industry; your personal profile can carry the same one. Consistency helps the algorithm associate you with that space.
- Career changers: switch to the target industry now. The field is a signal of intent, not a diploma.
One last point that matters to anyone who builds visibility through comments: LinkedIn uses declared industry as one of the signals that decides whose posts you see and who sees your activity. If you comment every day in one niche while your profile says another industry, you dilute the signal. Align the two and your comments land in front of a coherent audience, which is exactly what makes them convert (see what a profile visit really means).
4. Where to change it
Profile: Me → View profile → pencil icon on the intro card → "Industry" field. Type a keyword, pick from the list, save. Company page: Admin view → Edit page → Page info → Industry.
The change is immediate. There is no penalty for updating it, and no history is shown to others.
FAQ
Can I add a custom industry on LinkedIn?
No. The field only accepts values from LinkedIn's list. If yours does not exist, pick the closest parent (for example "Software Development" for a no-code agency) and describe the specialty in your headline and About section.
Can I select more than one industry?
No, one per profile and one per company page. Use your headline, skills and About section to cover secondary areas.
Does the industry affect who sees my posts and comments?
Indirectly, yes. It is one of the interest signals LinkedIn uses to build feeds and suggest content, alongside your connections, the topics you engage with and your declared skills.
Why does my profile show an industry I never picked?
When LinkedIn moved to the 2023 taxonomy, existing values were mapped automatically to the new tree. Open the edit panel and re-select the one you want.
Where can I find the official list with codes?
On the LinkedIn Developers reference pages (industry codes v1 and v2), linked in the sources below. The v1 list is the 148 entries above; v2 is the hierarchical version.
Sources & methodology
- LinkedIn Developers, Industry Codes (v1): the 148 classic industries and their codes.
- LinkedIn Developers, Industry Codes V2: the 2023 hierarchical taxonomy.
- LinkedIn Help, Edit the industry on your profile.
- Labels are reproduced as published by LinkedIn; groupings above are editorial, to make the list scannable. No figure in this article is estimated.
About the author
Founder of LinkHub
Yannis writes about social selling, LinkedIn comments and visibility. He builds LinkHub, the extension that helps you attract qualified clients through your comments.
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