LinkedIn Industry List 2026: All 434 Industries (Complete V2 Update)

LinkedIn now offers 434 industry options for your profile — a major expansion from the legacy 149 categories. 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.

According to LinkedIn's Help Center and Microsoft Learn's Industry Codes V2 documentation, the new system aligns with the American Industry Classification System, making it easier to integrate with CRM systems and marketing tools. 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

Aspect	Legacy System	V2 System
Total industries	149	434
Hierarchy levels	Flat (1 level)	Up to 6 levels deep
Granularity	Broad categories	Specific sub-industries
Classification basis	Custom LinkedIn	American Industry Classification System
CRM compatibility	Limited	High (standardized codes)

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

Industry	Best For
Accounting	CPAs, auditors, bookkeepers
Airlines/Aviation	Pilots, flight attendants, airline staff
Alternative Dispute Resolution	Mediators, arbitrators
Alternative Medicine	Holistic practitioners, naturopaths
Animation	Animators, motion designers
Apparel & Fashion	Fashion designers, retail buyers
Architecture & Planning	Architects, urban planners
Arts & Crafts	Artists, craftspeople
Automotive	Auto industry professionals
Aviation & Aerospace	Engineers, pilots, aerospace workers
Banking	Bankers, loan officers
Biotechnology	Biotech researchers, scientists
Broadcast Media	TV/radio professionals
Building Materials	Construction suppliers
Business Supplies & Equipment	Office equipment vendors
Capital Markets	Investment professionals
Chemicals	Chemical engineers, researchers
Civic & Social Organization	Nonprofit workers
Civil Engineering	Civil engineers
Commercial Real Estate	Commercial realtors
Computer & Network Security	Cybersecurity professionals
Computer Games	Game developers
Computer Hardware	Hardware engineers
Computer Networking	Network engineers
Computer Software	Software developers, SaaS
Construction	Contractors, builders
Consumer Electronics	Electronics manufacturers
Consumer Goods	CPG professionals
Consumer Services	Service industry workers
Cosmetics	Beauty industry professionals

D-I Industries

Industry	Best For
Dairy	Dairy industry workers
Defense & Space	Defense contractors
Design	Graphic designers, UX/UI
E-Learning	Online education creators
Education Management	School administrators
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing	Electronics manufacturers
Entertainment	Entertainment industry
Environmental Services	Environmental consultants
Events Services	Event planners
Executive Office	C-suite executives
Facilities Services	Facility managers
Farming	Agricultural professionals
Financial Services	Financial advisors
Fine Art	Artists, gallery owners
Fishery	Fishing industry
Food & Beverages	F&B professionals
Food Production	Food manufacturers
Fund-Raising	Fundraising professionals
Furniture	Furniture industry
Gambling & Casinos	Gaming industry
Glass, Ceramics & Concrete	Manufacturing
Government Administration	Government workers
Government Relations	Lobbyists, policy advisors
Graphic Design	Graphic designers
Health, Wellness & Fitness	Personal trainers, wellness coaches
Higher Education	University professors, administrators
Hospital & Health Care	Healthcare workers
Hospitality	Hotel, restaurant industry
Human Resources	HR professionals
Import & Export	Trade professionals
Individual & Family Services	Social workers
Industrial Automation	Automation engineers
Information Services	Information professionals
Information Technology & Services	IT professionals, consultants
Insurance	Insurance agents, underwriters
International Affairs	Diplomats, international organizations
International Trade & Development	Trade specialists
Internet	Internet companies
Investment Banking	Investment bankers
Investment Management	Portfolio managers

J-O Industries

Industry	Best For
Judiciary	Judges, court officials
Law Enforcement	Police, security
Law Practice	Lawyers, attorneys
Legal Services	Paralegals, legal assistants
Legislative Office	Legislative staff
Leisure, Travel & Tourism	Travel industry
Libraries	Librarians
Logistics & Supply Chain	Supply chain managers
Luxury Goods & Jewelry	Luxury retail
Machinery	Machinery manufacturers
Management Consulting	Consultants
Maritime	Shipping industry
Market Research	Market researchers
Marketing & Advertising	Marketers, advertisers
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering	Engineers
Media Production	Production professionals
Medical Devices	Medical device companies
Medical Practice	Physicians, doctors
Mental Health Care	Therapists, counselors
Military	Military personnel
Mining & Metals	Mining industry
Motion Pictures & Film	Film industry
Museums & Institutions	Museum professionals
Music	Musicians, music industry
Nanotechnology	Nanotech researchers
Newspapers	Journalists
Non-Profit Organization Management	Nonprofit leaders
Oil & Energy	Energy industry
Online Media	Digital media
Outsourcing/Offshoring	BPO professionals

P-Z Industries

Industry	Best For
Package/Freight Delivery	Logistics, delivery
Packaging & Containers	Packaging industry
Paper & Forest Products	Paper industry
Performing Arts	Performers, actors
Pharmaceuticals	Pharma professionals
Philanthropy	Foundation workers
Photography	Photographers
Plastics	Plastics industry
Political Organization	Political workers
Primary/Secondary Education	Teachers, K-12
Printing	Print industry
Professional Training & Coaching	Coaches, trainers
Program Development	Program managers
Public Policy	Policy analysts
Public Relations & Communications	PR professionals
Public Safety	Emergency services
Publishing	Publishers, editors
Railroad Manufacture	Rail industry
Ranching	Ranch owners
Real Estate	Realtors, property managers
Recreational Facilities & Services	Recreation industry
Religious Institutions	Religious leaders
Renewables & Environment	Clean energy
Research	Researchers
Restaurants	Restaurant owners, chefs
Retail	Retail professionals
Security & Investigations	Security professionals
Semiconductors	Semiconductor industry
Shipbuilding	Shipbuilding industry
Sporting Goods	Sports equipment
Sports	Athletes, sports industry
Staffing & Recruiting	Recruiters
Supermarkets	Grocery industry
Telecommunications	Telecom professionals
Textiles	Textile industry
Think Tanks	Policy researchers
Tobacco	Tobacco industry
Translation & Localization	Translators
Transportation/Trucking/Railroad	Transportation
Utilities	Utility workers
Venture Capital & Private Equity	VCs, PE professionals
Veterinary	Veterinarians
Warehousing	Warehouse managers
Wholesale	Wholesalers
Wine & Spirits	Wine industry
Wireless	Wireless industry
Writing & Editing	Writers, editors

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

Your Role	Traditional Choice	Strategic Choice	Why
SaaS sales rep selling to healthcare	Computer Software	Hospital & Health Care	Appear in healthcare searches
Marketing consultant for law firms	Marketing & Advertising	Law Practice	Visible to law firm decision-makers
Executive coach for tech leaders	Professional Training & Coaching	Information Technology & Services	Found by tech executives
Fractional CFO for startups	Accounting	Venture Capital & Private Equity	Visible to funded startups

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:

Industry	Activity Level	Best For
Information Technology & Services	Very High	Tech professionals
Marketing & Advertising	Very High	Marketers
Financial Services	High	Finance professionals
Hospital & Health Care	High	Healthcare workers
Management Consulting	High	Consultants
Professional Training & Coaching	Medium-High	Coaches
Real Estate	Medium	Realtors

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:

Industry	V2 Status	Notes
Computer Software	Legacy (still selectable)	One of the top 5 most-used industries on LinkedIn
Information Technology & Services	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Broad IT category
Financial Services	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Banking, insurance, fintech
Hospital & Health Care	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Clinical and health admin
Marketing & Advertising	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Agencies and in-house teams
Management Consulting	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Strategy and advisory firms
Higher Education	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Universities and colleges
Retail	Legacy + V2 equivalents	E-commerce and brick-and-mortar
Accounting	Legacy + V2 equivalents	CPA firms and finance teams
Telecommunications	Legacy + V2 equivalents	Carriers and infrastructure

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.

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.

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.

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