Shellfish Fishing Revenue Benchmarks
The average shellfish fishing business in the United States generates $536K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,007 shellfish fishing businesses in the U.S., employing 1,698 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $78K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Shellfish Fishing Business Actually Do?
Shellfish Fishing: Businesses that grow crops, raise livestock, or harvest natural resources from land and forests.
Who buys: Food processors, wholesalers, retailers, direct consumers.
Sector-level description — a more specific write-up is available for high-traffic industries.
Average Revenue
$536K
per year
Profit Margin
22.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$318K
per year
Total Businesses
1,007
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$118K
small business avg
Labor Cost
20.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$78K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Shellfish Fishing Charge?
Shellfish Fishing: Agriculture sells at commodity market prices, negotiated per unit weight or volume. The specifics vary within the shellfish fishing category — the ranges below are typical for the sector.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Grain (per bushel) | commodity market |
Livestock (per head or per lb) | commodity market |
Specialty produce | premium of 30–200% over commodity |
Sector-typical ranges — individual services within this industry may fall higher or lower.
Complete shellfish fishing business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a shellfish fishing business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the shellfish fishing industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Seed, feed, fertilizer | $35 | $186K | Inputs — the direct materials to produce the crop or raise the animal. |
Wages & benefits | $20 | $107K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $31K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $9K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $16 | $84K | Equipment depreciation, fuel, insurance, veterinary, water rights. |
Net profit | $22 | $118K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
16.17%
openings/year
Closure Rate
19.66%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-11.27%
annual
Businesses Closed
224
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Shellfish Fishing Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
15 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a shellfish fishing business do?
- Shellfish Fishing: Businesses that grow crops, raise livestock, or harvest natural resources from land and forests. Food processors, wholesalers, retailers, direct consumers.
- How much do shellfish fishing charge?
- Shellfish Fishing: Agriculture sells at commodity market prices, negotiated per unit weight or volume. The specifics vary within the shellfish fishing category — the ranges below are typical for the sector. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average shellfish fishing make per year?
- The average shellfish fishing business generates $536K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $118K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
- How many shellfish fishing businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,007 shellfish fishing businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 1,698 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a shellfish fishing business?
- Startup costs for a shellfish fishing business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the shellfish fishing industry?
- The average employee in the shellfish fishing industry earns $78K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The shellfish fishing industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 11.3% per year. More establishments are closing (19.7%) than opening (16.2%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 33% of shellfish fishing businesses survive their first 5 years. This is below the national average (~50%) — new entrants face elevated risk of failure. Ensure adequate capitalization. In 2023, 224 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the shellfish fishing industry earns $78,435/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 1,064 establishments employing 1,978 people, the typical business has about 2 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The shellfish fishing industry has declined 3% since 2000 (from 1,383 to 1,344 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Shellfish Fishing revenue with other industries: