Small businesses in Philadelphia: 2022 numbers
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area had 154,092 businesses with paid staff in 2022. Of the 49 industries below, the most common are restaurants, general contractors, law firms. Each page shows local pay and firm sizes, with a calculator for what admin hours cost there.
Industries in Philadelphia
| Industry | Businesses | Avg pay | Under 10 staff | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 4,363 | $25,226 | 47% | 11th |
| General contractors | 3,968 | $68,056 | 92% | 8th |
| Law firms | 3,315 | $134,437 | 80% | 9th |
| Landscapers | 2,653 | $57,069 | 83% | 4th |
| Dental practices | 2,563 | $59,740 | 73% | 9th |
| Insurance agencies | 2,426 | $105,297 | 86% | 8th |
| Hair salons | 2,164 | $27,957 | 79% | 5th |
| Plumbers | 2,113 | $80,593 | 77% | 7th |
| Preschools and daycares | 2,042 | $28,968 | 51% | 4th |
| Real estate agents | 1,951 | $89,392 | 96% | 19th |
| Auto repair shops | 1,894 | $51,422 | 93% | 4th |
| Coffee shops | 1,580 | $18,053 | 53% | 8th |
| Electricians | 1,526 | $83,475 | 78% | 7th |
| Cleaning services | 1,348 | $29,610 | 75% | 7th |
| Nail salons | 1,342 | $19,498 | 90% | 3rd |
| IT services companies | 1,271 | $117,862 | 84% | 10th |
| Physical therapy practices | 1,178 | $54,313 | 77% | 5th |
| E-commerce brands | 1,058 | $54,782 | 84% | 7th |
| Accounting firms | 1,028 | $112,388 | 82% | 9th |
| Gyms | 982 | $18,119 | 58% | 6th |
| Property management companies | 794 | $65,407 | 82% | 14th |
| Bars and breweries | 793 | $23,266 | 73% | 4th |
| Chiropractors | 720 | $40,488 | 93% | 8th |
| Therapy practices | 707 | $48,180 | 87% | 12th |
| Bookkeepers | 614 | $72,030 | 88% | 15th |
| Financial advisors | 585 | $148,292 | 91% | 7th |
| Veterinary clinics | 563 | $55,584 | 47% | 9th |
| Boutique hotels | 505 | $37,823 | 35% | 14th |
| Pet groomers | 431 | $25,459 | 76% | 9th |
| Architects | 422 | $100,540 | 73% | 11th |
| Roofers | 412 | $72,349 | 81% | 10th |
| Car dealerships | 386 | $79,925 | 16% | 4th |
| Optometrists | 350 | $53,643 | 83% | 11th |
| Marketing agencies | 349 | $91,847 | 81% | 6th |
| Music schools | 349 | $20,702 | 70% | 8th |
| Commercial real estate firms | 330 | $118,705 | 75% | 11th |
| Catering companies | 309 | $33,750 | 66% | 6th |
| Pest control companies | 251 | $52,306 | 76% | 10th |
| Interior designers | 248 | $68,749 | 93% | 16th |
| Florists | 245 | $26,344 | 85% | 4th |
| Barbershops | 237 | $31,992 | 89% | 4th |
| Tutoring centers | 207 | $22,902 | 65% | 11th |
| Bakeries | 199 | $23,772 | 62% | 8th |
| Mortgage brokers | 185 | $103,674 | 86% | 15th |
| Photographers | 180 | $39,927 | 97% | 9th |
| Food trucks | 174 | $25,481 | 95% | 10th |
| Moving companies | 169 | $45,695 | 69% | 11th |
| Golf courses | 153 | $42,027 | 16% | 4th |
| Recruiting agencies | 147 | $69,223 | 64% | 8th |
Where these numbers come from
The U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 (released 2024). Counties in this metro: New Castle County, Delaware; Cecil County, Maryland; Burlington County, New Jersey; Camden County, New Jersey; Gloucester County, New Jersey; Salem County, New Jersey; Bucks County, Pennsylvania; Chester County, Pennsylvania; Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Page checked 2026-11-12.