By Outrider Editorial Team · Updated August 20, 2026
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in translating written material and interpreting speech from one language to another and establishments primarily engaged in providing sign language services.
FY2025 obligations
$372.5M
Contract actions
8,552
IDVs
1,360
Top buying agencies
- Department of Justice$151.6M
- Department of Defense$91.2M
- Department of Homeland Security$28.3M
- Department of State$26.1M
- Social Security Administration$25.2M
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
NAICS 541930 obligated $372 million in FY2025 across 8,552 contract actions, an average around $43,000. DOJ leads at $152 million, driven by immigration court interpretation through the Executive Office for Immigration Review. DoD follows at $91 million on linguist support, DHS at $28 million, State at $26 million, and SSA at $25 million for disability hearing interpretation. That SSA line is one of the few places the agency appears in any code's top five.
What belongs here
Translating written material, interpreting speech between languages, and providing sign language services.
- Litigation support and document review surrounding the translated material is 541199.
- Language instruction is a training code, not this one.
- Broad administrative support that includes some translation is often 561499.
Competing in this code
1,360 IDVs against 8,552 actions is very heavy vehicle usage, and it reflects how this work is bought: blanket purchase agreements and multiple-award contracts with hourly or per-event ordering, called on short notice. Capacity and responsiveness beat credentials in evaluation, because agencies are solving a scheduling problem. Two credentials do move awards: certified court interpreter status in the specific language pair for DOJ work, and cleared linguists for DoD requirements. Low-density languages are where a small firm builds an irreplaceable position, since the incumbents cannot always fill them either.
Frequently Asked
NAICS 541930 questions, answered.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541930?
SBA sets it at $22.5 million in average annual receipts, averaged over your last five completed fiscal years. Come in at or under that and you are small on every NAICS 541930 solicitation, including the set-asides.
Which agencies buy translation and interpretation under NAICS 541930?
FY2025 obligations: DOJ ($152 million), DoD ($91 million), DHS ($28 million), State ($26 million), SSA ($25 million). DOJ leads on immigration court interpretation, and SSA's disability hearing interpretation is a rare appearance for that agency in any code's top five.
How is interpretation work ordered in NAICS 541930?
Through blanket purchase agreements and multiple-award contracts, on short notice, priced hourly or per event. The code carried 1,360 IDVs against 8,552 actions in FY2025 at an average around $43,000. Agencies are solving a scheduling problem, so demonstrated fill rate and response time weigh more heavily than corporate size.
How does a small language services firm compete here?
By covering low-density languages. Certified court interpreter status in a specific language pair is what DOJ needs, and cleared linguists are what DoD needs, but the durable position comes from languages the large incumbents cannot reliably staff. Those requirements recur and rarely attract a crowd.
Register Under NAICS 541930
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