Compensation Glossary

Standard Industrial Classification System (SIC)

The U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system is a U.S. federally designed system that identifies companies by industry with a standard numbering system. It provides other information and is used by securities analysts, market researchers, and others. The SIC was replaced by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) starting in 1997: both are still being used. The current SIC Division Structure may be found online at www.osha.gov/cgi-bin/sic/sicser5.