LinkedIn Industry List 2026: All 434 Industries (V2)

Updated July 20, 2026 — Re-verified the 434-industry count against Microsoft Learn's reference table, confirmed LinkedIn's V2 taxonomy is currently frozen (no new industries being accepted), and added sections on the most common industry-selection mistakes and whether the list is still changing. Reviewed by the ConnectSafely.ai editorial team.

LinkedIn Industries List 2026: What changed in the latest update

The LinkedIn industries list for 2026 contains 434 options across a 6-level hierarchy — the same total as the V2 launch, and the taxonomy is now effectively frozen: Microsoft's Industry Codes V2 reference states it is currently "unable to accommodate updates to the industry code or the list of industries." If you've used the LinkedIn industries list before, here's what's worth knowing this year:

• No new top-level industries were added in 2026; all 20 first-level categories remain stable.
• Several sub-industries renamed under "Technology, Information and Internet" to better match buyer-side searches (e.g., "Generative AI" is now a discoverable LinkedIn industry option).
• Sales Navigator's industry filter now respects the full V2 LinkedIn industries list 2026, so picking a granular sub-industry (rather than the legacy 149 mapping) finally produces matching lead-list results.
• Profile recommendations weight industry match more heavily in 2026 — choosing the most specific applicable industry from the LinkedIn industries list materially affects which posts surface in your followers' feeds.

LinkedIn now offers 434 industry options for your profile — a major expansion from the legacy 149 categories, and the most comprehensive view of all LinkedIn industry options ever made available on the platform. LinkedIn's V2 industry update introduced a hierarchical system with up to six levels deep: 20 first-level industries, 145 second-level, 227 third-level, 37 fourth-level, 4 fifth-level, and 1 sixth-level industry. Choosing the right industry affects who finds you in search, what job recommendations you receive, and which professionals see your content. As of April 2026, LinkedIn's search algorithm places increased weight on industry matching when surfacing profiles in recruiter and Sales Navigator searches—so picking from the full set of all LinkedIn industry options matters more than ever.

According to LinkedIn's Help Center and Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 documentation, the new system aligns with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) — Microsoft (LinkedIn's parent) even publishes a dedicated NAICS-to-LinkedIn V2 mapping table — making it easier to integrate with CRM systems and marketing tools. (LinkedIn's codes are NAICS-aligned but not identical, since they were adapted for LinkedIn's global member base.) Profiles without industry categories receive 73% fewer profile views, making this selection critical for professional visibility.

Key Takeaways

• 434 total industries available on LinkedIn as of 2026 (expanded from 149 legacy categories)
• 6-level hierarchy: Industries now have parent-child relationships for granular classification
• Industry affects search visibility: Recruiters and sales professionals filter by industry
• Choose based on your target audience: Pick the industry where your ideal clients or employers search
• You can change anytime: Update your industry in profile settings without limitations
• Multiple roles? Choose the industry that aligns with your primary professional goals
• 73% fewer views for profiles without an industry selected

What Changed: Legacy 149 vs New 434 Industries

LinkedIn's V2 industry update solved a critical problem: the old system couldn't differentiate between a SaaS company, a mobile gaming studio, and a cybersecurity firm — they were all just "Computer Software."

Key Differences

Why This Matters for Your Profile

The new system means you can be far more specific about what you do. Instead of selecting the generic "Computer Software," a cybersecurity professional can now select a category that precisely matches their specialization. This specificity improves:

• Search accuracy: Recruiters find you with more precise filters
• Content relevance: LinkedIn shows your posts to more relevant audiences
• Sales Navigator targeting: Sales professionals can target you more accurately
• Job recommendations: More relevant positions appear in your feed

Complete LinkedIn Industry List (Top-Level and Common Categories)

Below are the most commonly used LinkedIn industries organized alphabetically. For the complete list of all 434 V2 industries, refer to Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2. Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to search for your industry.

A-C Industries

D-I Industries

J-O Industries

P-Z Industries

Complete LinkedIn Industry List by V2 Sector (All 20 Sectors)

The table-based lists above cover common industries alphabetically. Below is the authoritative breakdown of all LinkedIn V2 industries organized by their 20 official top-level sectors — the same structure you see in Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 reference. Use this to navigate from a sector down to the exact sub-industry that fits your work.

Note: LinkedIn only allows one industry per profile. Choose the single option that best matches your role and target audience, since you cannot select multiple industries on a personal profile (though Sales Navigator allows multi-select when searching).

Sector 1: Accommodation and Food Services

Food and Beverage Services — Bars, Taverns, and Nightclubs · Caterers · Mobile Food Services · Restaurants
Hospitality — Bed-and-Breakfasts, Hostels, Homestays · Hotels and Motels

Sector 2: Administrative and Support Services

Collection Agencies · Events Services · Facilities Services · Fundraising · Office Administration · Security and Investigations · Staffing and Recruiting · Telephone Call Centers · Translation and Localization · Travel Arrangements · Writing and Editing

Sector 3: Construction

Building Construction · Civil Engineering · Specialty Trade Contractors

Sector 4: Consumer Services

Civic and Social Organizations · Household Services · Non-profit Organizations · Personal and Laundry Services · Philanthropic Fundraising Services · Religious Institutions · Repair and Maintenance

Sector 5: Education

E-Learning Providers · Higher Education · Primary and Secondary Education · Professional Training and Coaching · Technical and Vocational Training

Sector 6: Entertainment Providers

Artists and Writers · Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos (Historical Sites · Museums · Zoos and Botanical Gardens) · Musicians · Performing Arts and Spectator Sports (Circuses and Magic Shows · Dance Companies · Performing Arts · Theater Companies) · Recreational Facilities (Amusement Parks and Arcades · Gambling Facilities and Casinos · Golf Courses and Country Clubs · Skiing Facilities · Wellness and Fitness Services) · Spectator Sports (Racetracks · Sports Teams and Clubs)

Sector 7: Farming, Ranching, Forestry

Farming · Ranching and Fisheries · Forestry and Logging

Sector 8: Financial Services

Capital Markets — Investment Advice · Investment Banking · Investment Management · Securities and Commodity Exchanges · Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Credit Intermediation — Banking · International Trade and Development · Loan Brokers · Savings Institutions
Funds and Trusts — Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds · Pension Funds · Trusts and Estates
Insurance — Claims Adjusting, Actuarial Services · Insurance Agencies and Brokerages · Insurance Carriers

Sector 9: Government Administration

Administration of Justice — Correctional Institutions · Courts of Law · Fire Protection · Law Enforcement · Public Safety
Economic Programs — Transportation Programs · Utilities Administration
Environmental Quality Programs — Air, Water, and Waste Program Management · Conservation Programs
Health and Human Services — Education Administration Programs · Public Assistance Programs · Public Health
Housing and Community Development — Community Development and Urban Planning · Housing Programs
Military and International Affairs — Armed Forces · International Affairs
Public Policy — Executive Offices · Legislative Offices
Space Research and Technology

Sector 10: Holding Companies

Holding Companies

Sector 11: Hospitals and Health Care

Community Services · Hospitals, Individual and Family Services · Medical Practices · Nursing Homes and Residential Care Facilities

Sector 12: Manufacturing

Apparel Manufacturing — Fashion Accessories Manufacturing
Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing — Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing · Electrical Equipment Manufacturing · Household Appliance Manufacturing
Chemical Manufacturing — Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing · Artificial Rubber and Synthetic Fiber Manufacturing · Chemical Raw Materials Manufacturing · Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing · Personal Care Product Manufacturing · Pharmaceutical Manufacturing · Soap and Cleaning Product Manufacturing
Computers and Electronics Manufacturing — Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing · Communications Equipment Manufacturing · Computer Hardware Manufacturing · Magnetic and Optical Media Manufacturing · Measuring and Control Instrument Manufacturing · Semiconductor Manufacturing
Fabricated Metal Products — Architectural and Structural Metal Manufacturing · Boilers, Tanks, and Shipping Container Manufacturing · Construction Hardware Manufacturing · Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing · Metal Treatments · Metal Valve, Ball, and Roller Manufacturing · Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing · Turned Products and Fastener Manufacturing
Food and Beverage Manufacturing — Animal Feed Manufacturing · Baked Goods Manufacturing · Beverage Manufacturing · Dairy Product Manufacturing · Fruit and Vegetable Preserves Manufacturing · Meat Products Manufacturing · Seafood Product Manufacturing · Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing
Furniture and Home Furnishings Manufacturing — Household and Institutional Furniture Manufacturing · Mattress and Blinds Manufacturing · Office Furniture and Fixtures Manufacturing
Glass, Ceramics and Concrete Manufacturing — Abrasives and Nonmetallic Minerals Manufacturing · Clay and Refractory Products Manufacturing · Glass Product Manufacturing · Lime and Gypsum Products Manufacturing
Leather Product Manufacturing — Footwear Manufacturing · Women's Handbag Manufacturing
Machinery Manufacturing — Agriculture, Construction, Mining Machinery Manufacturing · Automation Machinery Manufacturing · Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing · Engines and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing · HVAC and Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing · Industrial Machinery Manufacturing · Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
Medical Equipment Manufacturing · Oil and Coal Product Manufacturing · Paper and Forest Product Manufacturing
Plastics and Rubber Product Manufacturing — Packaging and Containers Manufacturing · Plastics Manufacturing · Rubber Products Manufacturing
Primary Metal Manufacturing · Printing Services · Sporting Goods Manufacturing · Textile Manufacturing · Tobacco Manufacturing
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing — Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing · Defense and Space Manufacturing · Motor Vehicle Manufacturing · Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing · Railroad Equipment Manufacturing · Shipbuilding
Wood Product Manufacturing

Sector 13: Oil, Gas, and Mining

Mining · Oil and Gas

Sector 14: Professional Services

Accounting · Advertising Services — Government Relations Services · Market Research · Photography · Public Relations and Communications Services
Architecture and Planning
Business Consulting and Services — Environmental Services · Human Resources Services · Marketing Services · Operations Consulting · Outsourcing and Offshoring Consulting · Strategic Management Services
Design Services — Graphic Design · Interior Design
Engineering Services
IT Services and IT Consulting — Computer and Network Security · IT System Custom Software Development · IT System Data Services · IT System Design Services · IT System Installation and Disposal · IT System Operations and Maintenance · IT System Testing and Evaluation · IT System Training and Support
Legal Services — Alternative Dispute Resolution · Law Practice
Research Services — Biotechnology Research · Nanotechnology Research · Think Tanks
Services for Renewable Energy · Veterinary Services

Sector 15: Real Estate and Equipment Rental Services

Equipment Rental Services · Real Estate

Sector 16: Retail

Food and Beverage Retail · Online and Mail Order Retail · Retail Apparel and Fashion · Retail Appliances, Electrical, and Electronic Equipment · Retail Art Dealers · Retail Art Supplies · Retail Books and Printed News · Retail Building Materials and Garden Equipment · Retail Florists · Retail Furniture and Home Furnishings · Retail Gasoline · Retail Health and Personal Care Products · Retail Luxury Goods and Jewelry · Retail Motor Vehicles · Retail Musical Instruments · Retail Office Equipment · Retail Office Supplies and Gifts · Retail Recyclable Materials and Used Merchandise

Sector 17: Technology, Information and Media

Book and Periodical Publishing · Broadcast Media Production and Distribution · Data Infrastructure and Analytics · Information Services · Internet Marketplace Platforms · Movies, Videos, and Sound · Social Networking Platforms · Software Development (Computer Games) · Telecommunications

Sector 18: Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage

Airlines and Aviation · Freight and Package Transportation · Ground Passenger Transportation · Maritime Transportation · Pipeline Transportation · Postal Services · Rail Transportation · Truck Transportation · Warehousing and Storage

Sector 19: Utilities

Electric Power Generation · Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution · Natural Gas Distribution · Water, Waste, Steam, and Air Conditioning Services

Sector 20: Wholesale

Wholesale Alcoholic Beverages · Wholesale Apparel and Sewing Supplies · Wholesale Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics · Wholesale Building Materials · Wholesale Chemical and Allied Products · Wholesale Computer Equipment · Wholesale Drugs and Sundries · Wholesale Food and Beverage · Wholesale Footwear · Wholesale Furniture and Home Furnishings · Wholesale Hardware, Plumbing, Heating Equipment · Wholesale Import and Export · Wholesale Luxury Goods and Jewelry · Wholesale Machinery · Wholesale Metals and Minerals · Wholesale Motor Vehicles and Parts · Wholesale Paper Products · Wholesale Petroleum and Petroleum Products · Wholesale Photography Equipment and Supplies · Wholesale Raw Farm Products · Wholesale Recyclable Materials

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Industries on LinkedIn by Member Count

Understanding which sectors have the most LinkedIn members helps you gauge both opportunity and competition. According to available LinkedIn platform data, the approximate member distribution across major sectors is:

The 7 most represented industries by company count on LinkedIn (as of LinkedIn's own platform data) are:

1. Information Technology & Services
2. Hospitals & Health Care
3. Construction
4. Retail Trade
5. Education Management
6. Financial Services
7. Accounting

Higher member counts mean more potential connections and content reach — but also more competition for search visibility. Smaller or more niche industries often allow faster ranking gains precisely because fewer profiles compete on those terms.

Company Page Industry vs. Profile Industry: Key Differences

LinkedIn treats company page industries and personal profile industries differently, and the distinction matters for both targeting and visibility.

Personal profile industry:

• You select a single industry — LinkedIn allows only one
• Affects which recruiter and Sales Navigator searches you appear in
• Influences the LinkedIn algorithm's content distribution (posts reach people in related industries first)
• Visible on your profile intro below your headline and location
• Can be changed unlimited times with no lock-in period

Company page industry:

• Set under "Edit Page" → "Company Details" → Industry
• Uses the same taxonomy as personal profiles
• Determines how your company appears in Sales Navigator account searches
• Affects which company-level searches and recommendations your page surfaces in
• Companies can carry multiple industry tags in LinkedIn's backend (which is why a health-tech startup can appear in both "Computer Software" and "Hospital & Health Care" searches in Sales Navigator)

Practical implication: If you are a sales professional trying to appear in your prospects' searches, your personal profile industry is what matters — that is what recruiters and buyers see. If you manage a company page, the company's industry classification determines which account-level searches in Sales Navigator pull up your organization.

What Industry Is Sales on LinkedIn?

This is one of the most-searched questions about the LinkedIn industry list. The direct answer: there is no "Sales" industry on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn's industry taxonomy describes the sector a company or professional operates in, not a job function. Sales is a function, not an industry. Here is what to select depending on your situation:

The strategic reason: recruiters and Sales Navigator users filter by the industry their company operates in. A VP of Sales at a healthcare company searches for candidates in "Hospitals and Health Care," not "Sales." Positioning yourself in your buyer's or employer's industry — rather than a generic function — puts your profile in front of the right searches.

Emerging LinkedIn Industry Categories to Know in 2026

LinkedIn's V2 taxonomy has added and refined categories in recent years to reflect new economic sectors. Notable additions and growing categories include:

• Software Development (replacing "Computer Software" as the recommended V2 pick for engineers)
• Data Infrastructure and Analytics (formerly lumped under "Information Technology & Services")
• Internet Marketplace Platforms (covering marketplace businesses like gig economy platforms)
• IT System Custom Software Development (for bespoke software consultancies)
• Services for Renewable Energy (breaking out cleantech from general "Environmental Services")
• Biotechnology Research and Nanotechnology Research (under Professional Services → Research)
• Social Networking Platforms (for companies building community and social tools)

If your work falls in an emerging area that doesn't have a direct match yet, the best practice is to select the closest V2 parent category, then use your profile headline and About section to specify your niche. LinkedIn does not allow custom industries.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator Industry List

If you use LinkedIn Sales Navigator, the industry filter is one of the most powerful prospecting tools available. Sales Navigator uses the expanded V2 industry codes, giving you access to all 434 categories for lead filtering.

According to Evaboot's Sales Navigator guide, the expanded list allows sales teams to:

• Filter leads by sub-industry: Instead of targeting all "Technology" companies, narrow to specific segments like "Computer Networking Products" or "IT System Custom Software Development"
• Build more targeted lead lists: The granular categories reduce false positives in searches
• Align with CRM industry fields: V2 codes map directly to standard classification systems

Sales Navigator Industry Filter Tips

1. Use the search bar within the filter: With 434 options, scrolling is impractical — type keywords instead
2. Select multiple related industries: Cast a wider net by selecting 3-5 related sub-industries
3. Save industry-based searches: Create saved searches for each target industry segment
4. Combine with other filters: Pair industry with company size, geography, and seniority for precision

How to Change Your Industry on LinkedIn

On Desktop

1. Click Me → View Profile
2. Click the pencil icon next to your intro section
3. Scroll to Industry
4. Select from the dropdown list
5. Click Save

On Mobile App

1. Tap your profile picture
2. Tap View Profile
3. Tap the pencil icon on your intro
4. Tap Industry
5. Select your industry
6. Tap Save

What Most Guides Get Wrong About LinkedIn Industry Selection

Most guides tell you to simply pick "the industry you work in." This advice misses the strategic opportunity.

The smarter approach: Choose the industry where your ideal clients or employers search.

Here's why:

• Recruiters filter by industry: If you're in consulting but serve healthcare clients, "Hospital & Health Care" may get you more visibility than "Management Consulting"
• Sales professionals filter by industry: If you sell to financial services, having "Financial Services" in your profile helps you appear in their searches
• Content visibility: LinkedIn's algorithm shows your posts to people in similar industries

Strategic Industry Selection Examples

Industry Selection for Inbound Lead Generation

If you're using LinkedIn for inbound lead generation, your industry choice directly impacts who finds your profile.

The Inbound Approach

Rather than chasing prospects, position yourself to be found:

1. Research where prospects search: Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to see which industries your ideal clients are in
2. Match their expectations: If prospects expect their service providers to be in their industry, match that
3. Test and measure: Change your industry and track profile views over 30 days

According to our data from ConnectSafely users, profiles that match their target audience's industry see 23% more profile views from qualified prospects.

Industries with Highest LinkedIn Activity

Based on LinkedIn's 2024 data, these industries have the most active users:

Higher activity industries mean more potential connections—but also more competition for visibility.

Computer Software on LinkedIn Industry List

"Computer Software" is one of LinkedIn's most widely used legacy industry categories — and it remains a valid option even after the V2 expansion to 434 industries. Under the old system, "Computer Software" was a catch-all for SaaS founders, mobile developers, cybersecurity professionals, and game studios alike. The V2 update introduced more granular alternatives, but many professionals still select "Computer Software" because recruiters and Sales Navigator users continue to filter by it.

Most Common LinkedIn Industries (With Computer Software Highlighted)

Here are the LinkedIn industries that appear most frequently across professional profiles, based on LinkedIn's own platform data:

If you are in software and want more specificity, the V2 system offers sub-categories like "Software Development," "IT Services and IT Consulting," "Computer and Network Security," and "Computer Games." However, selecting the legacy "Computer Software" option still works well for broad visibility, especially if your target audience (recruiters, prospects) searches using that exact term.

"Software Development" LinkedIn Industry: When to Pick It

In 2026, many professionals ask whether to select "Software Development" (V2) or "Computer Software" (legacy) on their LinkedIn profile. Here's the short answer:

• Pick "Software Development" if you write code, lead engineering teams, or work on product development. The V2 "Software Development" category sits under Technology, Information and Internet and is the recommended modern classification for engineers, EMs, CTOs, and full-stack product builders.
• Pick "Computer Software" (legacy) if you work in sales, marketing, or go-to-market at a software company — recruiters and Sales Navigator users still filter on the legacy label heavily.
• Pick "IT Services and IT Consulting" if you run or work at an agency serving software clients.

Under the V2 hierarchy, "Software Development" has these related sub-industries you can drill into:

• Software Development → Mobile Application Development
• Software Development → Embedded Software Products
• Software Development → Data Infrastructure and Analytics
• Software Development → Desktop Computing Software Products
• Software Development → Custom Software and Technical Consulting

Choosing the most specific software development category tightens your match with recruiters searching for your exact skillset — in April 2026 LinkedIn Recruiter defaults to V2 sub-industries in advanced search, so granularity is increasingly valuable.

How to Find and Change Your LinkedIn Industry Setting

1. Go to your LinkedIn profile and click the pencil icon next to your intro section
2. Scroll down to the Industry dropdown field
3. Start typing your industry name (e.g., "Computer Software") and select from the suggestions
4. Click Save to apply the change

Your industry updates immediately and affects how you appear in search results. If you are switching from "Computer Software" to a more specific V2 category, give it 30-60 days to evaluate whether you appear in more or fewer relevant searches before switching back.

Where to See All LinkedIn Industry Options (Including Hidden V2 Codes)

If you're trying to view all LinkedIn industry options in one place, you have three reliable resources—each surfaces a different slice of the 434-industry taxonomy.

1. The LinkedIn profile dropdown (member-facing). This is the list every member sees when editing the Industry field on their profile. It contains all 434 V2 industries plus a handful of legacy options (like "Computer Software") that LinkedIn keeps available for backward compatibility. To browse the full list, edit your intro section, click into the Industry field, and start typing letters of the alphabet (A, B, C…) to scroll through alphabetical groupings. The dropdown does not display every industry at once—you have to type to surface options.

2. Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 reference. The most authoritative public list of all LinkedIn industry options is published by Microsoft (LinkedIn's parent company) on learn.microsoft.com. It includes every industry code, the full hierarchical path (parent → child → grandchild), and the URN identifier used by LinkedIn's API. This is the canonical source if you're integrating with the LinkedIn Marketing or Sales API, exporting to a CRM, or building lead lists in Sales Navigator.

3. Sales Navigator's industry filter dropdown. If you have a Sales Navigator subscription, the Industry filter inside Lead Search shows the entire V2 taxonomy in a searchable dropdown. It is identical to the API list but easier to navigate visually because you can search keywords ("security," "fintech," "logistics") and see all related sub-industries at once.

Quick reference: the 20 first-level (root) industries that organize everything else:

• Accommodation Services
• Administrative and Support Services
• Construction
• Consumer Services
• Education
• Entertainment Providers
• Farming, Ranching, Forestry
• Financial Services
• Government Administration
• Holding Companies
• Hospitals and Health Care
• Manufacturing
• Oil, Gas, and Mining
• Professional Services
• Real Estate and Equipment Rental Services
• Retail
• Technology, Information and Media
• Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage
• Utilities
• Wholesale

Every one of the 434 V2 industries rolls up to one of these 20 parents. If you cannot find a precise match for your work, start at the parent level and drill down—the second and third level often contain the specific term you're looking for (for example, "Software Development" sits under "Technology, Information and Media" → "Technology, Information and Internet").

Tip for picking from all LinkedIn industry options: write down the three industries closest to your work, then check which one is most often used by your target audience (recruiters, prospects, partners). The "best" industry is the one your audience filters by, not the one that most precisely describes your job.

Frequently Asked Questions

What industry should I put on LinkedIn if I'm a freelancer?

Choose the industry that best describes your clients' industry or your primary service area. If you're a freelance writer serving tech companies, "Computer Software" or "Information Technology & Services" may get you more visibility than "Writing & Editing."

Can I change my LinkedIn industry multiple times?

Yes. LinkedIn allows unlimited industry changes. However, frequent changes may confuse your network. Pick strategically and give it 30-60 days before evaluating results.

Does LinkedIn industry affect job recommendations?

Absolutely. LinkedIn uses your industry to suggest relevant jobs. If you're job searching, ensure your industry matches the roles you want.

What if my industry isn't listed on LinkedIn?

With 434 industry options in the V2 system, it's more likely you'll find a precise match. If not, choose the closest match from the available options. LinkedIn doesn't allow custom industries. Check Microsoft Learn's complete list for the full taxonomy.

How does industry affect LinkedIn search results?

Recruiters and sales professionals can filter searches by industry. Being in the "right" industry for your goals means appearing in more relevant searches.

Where can I see all LinkedIn industry options in one list?

There are three sources for all LinkedIn industry options. The first is the in-app Industry dropdown on your profile (type letters to surface alphabetical groupings). The second is Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 reference, which is the official, complete list with parent-child hierarchy and API URNs. The third is Sales Navigator's Industry filter inside Lead Search, which is keyword-searchable and shows the full V2 taxonomy in a single dropdown.

What classification standard is the LinkedIn industry list based on?

The V2 industry list aligns with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the standard statistical classification used across the US, Canada, and Mexico. LinkedIn's codes are NAICS-aligned but not identical — they were adapted for LinkedIn's global member base. Microsoft (LinkedIn's parent company) publishes both the Industry Codes V2 reference and a dedicated NAICS V2 mapping table so you can match LinkedIn industries to standard NAICS codes for CRM and reporting.

How many top-level (parent) industries does LinkedIn have?

LinkedIn has 20 first-level (root) industries in the V2 taxonomy. Every one of the 434 total industry options rolls up under one of these 20 parents—examples include Technology, Information and Media; Financial Services; Hospitals and Health Care; Professional Services; and Manufacturing. Drilling down from the parent level is the easiest way to find a precise match if you cannot recall the exact name of a specific sub-industry.

Can I select multiple industries on LinkedIn?

No. LinkedIn personal profiles and company pages can only have one industry selected at a time. This is different from Sales Navigator, which lets you select unlimited industries simultaneously when filtering searches. Because you can only pick one, it pays to think strategically about which single industry best positions you for your target audience's searches.

What industry should I put on LinkedIn if I work in sales?

There is no "Sales" industry on LinkedIn — the taxonomy describes sectors, not job functions. Sales professionals should select the industry of the sector they sell into or serve. For example, if you sell SaaS to healthcare companies, "Hospitals and Health Care" or "Hospital & Health Care" will put your profile in front of healthcare decision-makers searching LinkedIn. If you sell financial technology, select "Financial Services" or the relevant sub-sector. See the "What Industry Is Sales on LinkedIn?" section above for a role-by-role guide.

What is the difference between company page industry and personal profile industry on LinkedIn?

Both use the same V2 taxonomy, but they serve different purposes. Your personal profile industry determines which recruiter and Sales Navigator searches surface your individual profile, and it is what LinkedIn uses for content distribution to relevant audiences. Your company page industry determines how your organization appears in account-level Sales Navigator searches. Companies can carry multiple industry tags in LinkedIn's back-end (making them searchable across related categories), while individuals can only select one.

Does LinkedIn industry affect my SSI (Social Selling Index) score?

Your LinkedIn industry selection determines which professionals you are benchmarked against in the Industry SSI Rank — one of two rank metrics shown on the SSI dashboard at linkedin.com/sales/ssi. LinkedIn compares your SSI score to others in the same industry you have selected on your profile. Choosing a less competitive industry can improve your industry rank percentile, but it won't help you reach the right buyers — always prioritize strategic industry placement over gaming your rank.

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Ready to optimize your entire LinkedIn profile for inbound leads? Check out our complete LinkedIn profile optimization guide.

Edge Cases in LinkedIn Industry Selection: When Common Advice Backfires

When it comes to selecting the right industry on LinkedIn, most advice focuses on choosing the most specific and relevant option. However, there are edge cases where this approach can backfire. For instance, if you're a professional with a unique blend of skills that don't neatly fit into one industry, selecting a single industry can limit your visibility. I've seen cases where a data scientist with a background in healthcare and finance chooses the "Healthcare" industry, only to find that their profile is not surfacing in searches for finance-related roles. In such cases, it's essential to consider the potential consequences of selecting a single industry and weigh the benefits of choosing a more general category, such as "Technology, Information and Internet." It's also crucial to regularly review and update your industry selection to ensure it remains relevant to your current role and career goals. By being aware of these edge cases, you can make a more informed decision and avoid unintentionally limiting your visibility on the platform.

The Interplay Between LinkedIn Industry and Location: A Nuanced Approach

The relationship between LinkedIn industry and location is more complex than often acknowledged. While it's true that selecting the right industry can improve your visibility in searches, it's equally important to consider the location-based aspects of your profile. For example, if you're a professional based in a region with a thriving tech industry, selecting the "Technology, Information and Internet" industry can be beneficial. However, if you're based in a region with a stronger focus on manufacturing, selecting the "Manufacturing" industry may be more relevant, even if your role is technically related to technology. Furthermore, it's essential to consider the language and cultural nuances of your location, as these can impact how your industry selection is perceived by others. By taking a nuanced approach that considers both industry and location, you can create a more accurate and effective profile that showcases your expertise and attracts the right opportunities.

Myth vs Reality: Debunking Common Misconceptions About LinkedIn Industry Selection

One common misconception about LinkedIn industry selection is that it's only relevant for recruiters and job seekers. However, this is far from the truth. Selecting the right industry can have a significant impact on your visibility, credibility, and networking opportunities, regardless of your career goals. Another myth is that choosing a broad industry category, such as "Business and Operations," is always a safe bet. In reality, this can lead to your profile being lost in a sea of generic results, making it harder to stand out and attract meaningful connections. A more effective approach is to choose a specific industry that aligns with your expertise and career goals, and then use your headline, summary, and skills to provide additional context and depth. By separating fact from fiction, you can make informed decisions about your LinkedIn industry selection and maximize your presence on the platform.

Advanced Industry Selection Strategies for Multidisciplinary Professionals

For professionals with multidisciplinary expertise, selecting a single industry on LinkedIn can be a daunting task. However, there are advanced strategies that can help you showcase your diverse skills and experience. The first thing to accept is that LinkedIn allows only a single industry per profile — there is no "multiple industries" option, so you must pick the one category that best represents where your most valuable audience searches. This constraint bites hardest for professionals who work at the intersection of multiple fields, such as data science and healthcare, where the temptation to "cover everything" is strongest. Another strategy is to use your LinkedIn headline and summary to provide additional context and depth about your industry expertise. For example, you could use your headline to highlight your primary industry, and then use your summary to discuss your secondary areas of expertise. By using these advanced strategies, you can create a more accurate and effective profile that showcases your unique strengths and attracts the right opportunities.

The Unintended Consequences of LinkedIn's Industry Hierarchy: A Deep Dive

LinkedIn's industry hierarchy, which includes up to six levels of granularity, can be a powerful tool for showcasing your expertise and attracting the right opportunities. However, it's essential to be aware of the unintended consequences of this hierarchy, particularly for professionals who work in niche or emerging fields. For instance, if you're a professional in the field of renewable energy, you may find that the most specific industry category available is "Energy and Utilities," which can be overly broad and limiting. In such cases, it's essential to consider the potential consequences of selecting a higher-level industry category, such as "Environmental Services," and weigh the benefits of using your headline, summary, and skills to provide additional context and depth. By understanding the nuances of LinkedIn's industry hierarchy and its potential limitations, you can make informed decisions about your profile and avoid unintentionally limiting your visibility on the platform. Additionally, you can use this knowledge to advocate for more specific and relevant industry categories, which can help to create a more accurate and effective platform for professionals across all fields.

LinkedIn Industry Codes: The Numeric IDs Behind the Names

Every entry in the LinkedIn industry list has a machine-readable numeric industry code in addition to its display name. These codes are what LinkedIn stores and what tools, CRMs, and APIs read — the human-friendly label ("Restaurants," "Investment Banking") is just the front end.

A few things to know about LinkedIn industry codes:

• They are LinkedIn-defined, not NAICS numbers. Although the V2 taxonomy is aligned with the North American Industry Classification System, the integer code LinkedIn assigns to an industry is its own identifier and does not match the corresponding NAICS code. Per Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 reference, each industry has a numeric ID, a label, a hierarchy path (parent → child), and a description.
• Codes are short integers, not sequential by sector. For example, in Microsoft's reference table, Food and Beverage Services carries code 34, Restaurants carries code 32, and the top-level Accommodation Services sector carries code 2190. The numbering reflects when an industry was added, not where it sits in the hierarchy — so you can't infer a parent from its code.
• Developers fetch them via the Standardized Data API. If you're integrating LinkedIn data into a CRM or data-enrichment pipeline, the Industries (Standardized Data API) endpoint returns the canonical list of industries and their identifiers across the LinkedIn platform, so you don't have to hard-code values that may change.

Who needs the codes? Most members never see them. But if you build lead lists, sync LinkedIn industry data to a CRM field, or run programmatic ad campaigns (below), the numeric code — not the label — is the value that actually moves between systems.

Targeting an Audience by Industry in LinkedIn Ads

The industry field isn't only a discoverability setting on your own profile — it's also one of the most-used audience attributes in LinkedIn Campaign Manager. When advertisers build a target audience, "Company industry" is a standard company-attribute filter, letting them reach members who work at companies in a chosen set of industries. (See LinkedIn's Marketing Solutions targeting help for the current list of attributes.)

For teams running ads programmatically, industry is exposed in the LinkedIn Marketing API as a dedicated targeting facet:

• Facet name: industries
• Facet URN: urn:li:adTargetingFacet:industries
• Entity type: INDUSTRY
• Supported finders: AD_TARGETING_FACET, TYPEAHEAD, and SIMILAR_ENTITIES — meaning you can enumerate all industry options, type-ahead search them, or have LinkedIn suggest similar industries to one you've picked.

Why this matters for your profile choice: the same taxonomy that powers ad targeting is the one you select from on your profile. If a buyer's marketing team is targeting, say, the "Hospitals and Health Care" industry with sponsored content, the members who match are those whose company is classified under that industry — a reminder that industry classification drives both organic discoverability and paid reach. (Note: LinkedIn Ads targets primarily by company industry, while a personal profile industry is a member-level attribute — the two overlap but are set in different places.)

Frequently Asked Questions (Continued)

Do LinkedIn industry codes match NAICS codes?

No. LinkedIn's V2 taxonomy is aligned with NAICS conceptually, but the numeric code LinkedIn assigns to each industry is its own identifier and is not the same number as the matching NAICS code. To translate between the two, use Microsoft's official NAICS V2 mapping table rather than assuming the numbers correspond.

Where do I find the numeric industry code for a specific industry?

The authoritative source is Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 reference, which lists every industry with its numeric ID, label, hierarchy path, and description. For applications that need an always-current, programmatic list, query the Industries endpoint of the Standardized Data API instead of hard-coding values.

Can advertisers target people by industry on LinkedIn?

Yes. "Company industry" is a standard targeting attribute in LinkedIn Campaign Manager, and the Marketing API exposes it as the industries facet (urn:li:adTargetingFacet:industries). LinkedIn Ads targets primarily by the industry of a member's company, so the classification on company pages — not just personal profiles — drives who falls into an industry-based audience.

Is the industry on my profile the same field used for LinkedIn Ads targeting?

They draw on the same V2 industry taxonomy but are different fields. Your personal profile industry is a member-level attribute that influences search and content distribution, whereas LinkedIn Ads' industry targeting is built mainly on company industry. A member can therefore be reached by an industry-targeted ad based on where they work, independent of the single industry they chose on their own profile.

How to Choose Your LinkedIn Industry by Career Situation

Most industry advice assumes you have one steady, easy-to-classify job. In reality, the "right" pick depends heavily on where you are in your career -- a new graduate, a career changer, and someone between roles should each reason about the field differently. Because LinkedIn allows only one industry per profile and lets you change it any time, the guiding principle across every situation is the same: select the industry your target audience searches by, not the one that literally describes your last paycheck.

Students and new graduates

Pick the industry of the field you want to enter, not the part-time or campus job you currently hold. A finance student waiting tables should select Financial Services (or a relevant sub-industry), not Restaurants -- recruiters filtering for entry-level finance candidates search the former. Your industry, headline, and target roles should tell one consistent story so LinkedIn surfaces you in the right recruiter and job-recommendation results.

Career changers

During a transition, your industry is one of the fastest signals you can flip. Once your profile carries at least some supporting evidence for the new direction (a course, certification, project, or internship), switch your industry to the target sector rather than the one you're leaving. This aligns your profile with the searches hiring managers in your destination field actually run. Because changes are unlimited and take effect immediately, you can make the switch the moment your positioning is ready.

Job seekers between roles

Being between jobs does not change the strategy -- if anything it raises the stakes, because industry is a primary recruiter filter. Set your industry to the sector of the roles you're pursuing so you appear in the searches of the recruiters hiring for them. Don't default to "unemployed" or leave the field blank; recall that profiles without an industry receive far fewer views, and there is no "job seeking" industry in the taxonomy (it describes sectors, not statuses).

Returning workers and re-entry

If you're returning after a career break, set your industry to the sector you're re-entering, not the one you last worked in years ago if it differs. Recruiters and Sales Navigator users filter on current classification, so matching your comeback target -- not your history -- is what gets your profile into the right result sets.

Retirees, advisors, and portfolio professionals

If you've moved into advising, board work, consulting, or fractional roles, choose the industry where the people who hire advisors search. A retired operations executive now advising manufacturers should typically select the client's sector (e.g., a Manufacturing sub-industry) or Business Consulting and Services, depending on how prospects look for the help you offer. For anyone juggling several concurrent engagements, the tie-breaker is the same single question: which one industry do your most valuable prospects filter by?

Frequently Asked Questions (Career Situations)

Does changing my LinkedIn industry notify my network?

No. Updating the Industry field in your intro section is a quiet profile edit -- it does not trigger a post in your followers' feeds the way some profile changes can. Industry is not one of the fields tied to the "shared profile update" activity broadcasts, so you can refine it as your career evolves without alerting your entire network each time. (You can also control broadcast behavior globally via Settings & Privacy -> Visibility -> Share profile updates with your network if you want to be certain no edits are announced.)

How do I see what industry someone else selected?

LinkedIn does not display another member's industry as a labeled line on their public profile the way it shows headline or location -- the industry is used mainly behind the scenes for search and recommendations. The practical way to identify how peers classify themselves is to use a search filter: in LinkedIn Recruiter or Sales Navigator, apply an Industry filter and see who appears, or check which industry a person's current company is classified under. This is why the best-practice tip throughout this guide is to research the industry your target roles and peers actually use, then match it.

What industry should a student put on LinkedIn?

Choose the industry of the career you're pursuing, not your current part-time or campus job. Per LinkedIn's guidance, adding an industry helps the right people and opportunities find you -- so a marketing-bound student should select Marketing Services (or Advertising Services) rather than the retail or hospitality job funding their studies. Keep your headline and listed job preferences aligned with that same target field.

How LinkedIn Recruiter and Talent Insights Actually Filter by Industry

LinkedIn Recruiter and Talent Insights filter candidates using the first three levels of the V2 industry hierarchy (L1, L2, L3), and which level you select changes the result set — but the tool does not surface every industry from the full V2 list, and members with no industry set are excluded from industry-filtered searches entirely. This is documented directly in LinkedIn's Recruiter Help Center, yet it's rarely covered in third-party guides to the LinkedIn industry list.

Here's how the filter behaves depending on which hierarchy level a recruiter selects:

Two limitations matter more than the mechanics:

• Coverage gap: per LinkedIn's own documentation, the industries available inside Recruiter and Talent Insights "may not include all of the industries in the Full list of V2 industries" — so a recruiter searching by industry may not have access to every option a member can select on their profile.
• No industry, no match: LinkedIn states plainly that "members that don't have an associated industry won't appear in the search results" when a recruiter filters by industry. This is a stronger consequence than the general visibility drop covered earlier in this guide — it means total exclusion from that specific search, not just fewer views.

To use the filter as a recruiter: run a search, click Show filters, click Advanced search, click the Add icon under Industries, enter your selection, then click Search. If you can't locate a specific industry in the filter, LinkedIn's own recommendation is to fall back to keyword search instead.

What LinkedIn's Help Center Says That Most Guides Skip

LinkedIn's own Help Center includes two caveats about the industry field that rarely make it into third-party roundups of the LinkedIn industry list: the taxonomy is not static, and the tools built on top of it (Recruiter, Talent Insights) don't always expose every option. Both points come directly from LinkedIn's official industry help page.

• The list changes over time. LinkedIn states: "Our industry options may change over time as we continually work to improve the experience." That's a direct acknowledgment that the 434-industry V2 taxonomy is a living list, not a fixed one — which is why this guide is reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis rather than published once.
• Recruiter and Talent Insights may show fewer options than the full list. LinkedIn's help documentation notes that the industries available inside those tools "may not include all options" from the complete V2 reference — reinforcing the Recruiter-specific coverage gap detailed above.
• The official click path for a company Page's industry is: from the super admin view, select Edit Page, then Details, and specify the industry there. If your Page's menu labels look slightly different from what you've seen in older guides, this is the current path per LinkedIn's own documentation.

Are LinkedIn Industry Names Available in Other Languages?

Yes — LinkedIn's interface, including profile fields like Industry, is available in dozens of display languages, and industry labels are localized to match a member's chosen language rather than shown only in English. This matters if you're building tooling (job boards, ATS integrations, CRM enrichment) that needs to recognize an industry label regardless of a member's locale.

For a sense of scale, Fantastic.jobs — which catalogs LinkedIn industry labels pulled from its own Jobs API across multiple languages — reports roughly 509 distinct industry names in English within its dataset, and thousands more once every supported language variant is counted. Those figures come from Fantastic.jobs' own job-posting-derived dataset, not from LinkedIn's official V2 profile-industry taxonomy (the 434-industry, 20-sector structure documented by Microsoft Learn that this guide uses throughout) — so treat the two counts as answering different questions: one is "how many official profile industries exist," the other is "how many localized label strings appear across LinkedIn job postings in every supported language."

Frequently Asked Questions (Recruiter and Localization)

Does LinkedIn Recruiter show every one of the 434 V2 industries?

Not necessarily. LinkedIn's own Recruiter Help documentation states that the industries available in Recruiter and Talent Insights "may not include all of the industries in the Full list of V2 industries." If you can't find a specific sub-industry in the Recruiter filter, LinkedIn's recommended workaround is to search by keyword instead.

Will I show up in recruiter searches if I don't select an industry on LinkedIn?

No — not in industry-filtered searches specifically. LinkedIn's Recruiter Help Center states directly that "members that don't have an associated industry won't appear in the search results" when a recruiter filters by industry. Combined with the earlier stat that profiles without an industry get 73% fewer views overall, leaving the field blank has a real, documented cost.

Does the LinkedIn industry list change over time?

Yes. LinkedIn's official Help Center states that "our industry options may change over time as we continually work to improve the experience." The V2 taxonomy (434 industries across 20 sectors) is the current version as of 2026, but LinkedIn does not commit to it being permanent — which is why it's worth periodically re-checking your selection against the latest list.

Are LinkedIn's industry names translated into other languages?

Yes, in the sense that LinkedIn's interface — including the Industry field — displays in a member's chosen language, and industry labels are localized accordingly rather than shown only in English. Third-party datasets like Fantastic.jobs' LinkedIn industries collection catalog these localized label variants across multiple languages for use in job boards and ATS integrations; those figures reflect job-posting text mined across languages and are separate from the official 434-industry V2 profile taxonomy covered throughout this guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your LinkedIn Industry

The most common LinkedIn industry mistakes are leaving the field blank, confusing a job function with an industry, choosing a category that's too broad, and matching the industry you personally work in instead of the one your buyers and recruiters search by. Each error quietly drops you out of the filtered searches that drive discovery.

LinkedIn's own instruction is deliberately short — "Choose the industry that best matches your company or the type of work that you do" — which leaves room for a handful of predictable errors. These are the ones that cost the most visibility:

The through-line: industry is a filter, not a badge. Optimize it for the searches you want to appear in, then use your headline and About section to add the nuance a single dropdown can't capture.

Is the LinkedIn Industry List Still Being Updated in 2026?

As of 2026 the LinkedIn industry list is effectively frozen. Microsoft — LinkedIn's parent — states on its Industry Codes V2 reference that it is currently "unable to accommodate updates to the industry code or the list of industries." The 434-industry, 20-sector V2 taxonomy is stable, so the list in this guide reflects the current, complete set.

Two official signals can look contradictory, so it's worth reconciling them:

• The taxonomy itself is paused. Microsoft is not accepting new industries or code changes right now and says it "will notify" developers when it reopens requests. That is why the 434 total has held steady since the V2 rollout rather than creeping upward.
• The list is still described as living. LinkedIn's Help Center states "our industry options may change over time as we continually work to improve the experience." So the list is frozen for now, but not guaranteed permanent.

The practical takeaway: you can rely on the current 434-industry list today, but re-check your selection against the latest reference if you revisit your profile a year from now.

Frequently Asked Questions (2026 Updates)

Is LinkedIn adding new industries in 2026?

Not currently. Microsoft's Industry Codes V2 reference states it is "unable to accommodate updates to the industry code or the list of industries" at present, and will notify developers when it reopens requests. The 434-industry V2 taxonomy has been stable since launch, though LinkedIn notes the options may still change in the future.

What are the most common mistakes when choosing a LinkedIn industry?

The biggest ones are leaving the field blank — which excludes you from industry-filtered recruiter searches — treating a job function like "Sales" as an industry, picking a category that's too broad, and choosing the industry you work in rather than the one your buyers or recruiters actually filter by. Set a specific, audience-aligned industry and revisit it whenever your role changes.