What Is a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code?
A Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is a four-digit numerical code assigned by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to classify the primary business activity of publicly traded companies. Originally developed in 1937, SIC codes remain the foundation of industry classification for SEC filings, regulatory oversight, and financial analysis. Each SIC code maps to a specific industry title and is overseen by a designated SEC office — such as the Office of Technology, Office of Life Sciences, or Office of Finance.
How to Use This SIC Code Lookup Tool
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Browse the Directory
The SIC code list loads automatically with 20 entries per page. Each entry shows the SIC code, industry title, and the SEC office responsible for overseeing that industry.
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Navigate Pages
Use the Previous and Next buttons at the bottom of the table to navigate through the full SIC code directory. The current page number and total count are displayed in the table header.
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Export & Refresh
Click the Export CSV button to download the current page of results for offline analysis. Use the Refresh button to reload the latest SIC code data from the SEC.
Why Use Our SIC Code Lookup Tool?
SEC-Official Codes
Access the same SIC codes used by the SEC to classify and regulate publicly traded companies in the United States.
Regulatory Mapping
See which SEC office oversees each industry — useful for understanding regulatory jurisdiction and filing requirements.
100% Free
No subscription, no hidden fees. Access the complete SIC code directory with CSV export completely free of charge.
Understanding SIC Code Structure
SIC codes follow a hierarchical structure. The first two digits represent the major industry group (e.g., 20–39 for Manufacturing), the third digit identifies the industry group within that major group, and the fourth digit specifies the particular industry. For example, SIC code 3674 refers to "Semiconductors and Related Devices" within the broader Electronic Components industry group. This hierarchical design makes it easy to analyze industries at different levels of granularity.
The SEC assigns each SIC code to a specific regulatory office. For instance, technology companies are overseen by the Office of Technology, while pharmaceutical and biotech firms fall under the Office of Life Sciences. This mapping helps investors understand the regulatory landscape for any given industry.