NAICS 56

Administrative and Support Services in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Metro Market Score 76.0 (Difficult), ranked #260 of 267 metros. 764 establishments, 9,856 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 76.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national administrative and support services average.

⚡Rising Wages

Administrative and Support Services employment in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara contracted year-over-year, placing the growth trend in the bottom 10% at 5.2. Declining job counts can indicate consolidation, population shifts, or reduced local demand. Due diligence on the local economy is especially important here.

Industry Concentration
44.9
LQ: 0.77
Rank #120 of 267 metros
Wage Competitiveness
65.5
$51,108 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 5.2
Employment growth index
Rank #254 of 267 metros
Wage Pressure
100.0
YoY wage change index

764 Administrative and Support Services Firms in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

764
Establishments
+1.9% YoY
9,856
Total Employment
-14.9% YoY
$51,108
Average Annual Wage
+28.7% YoY
0.77
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara vs California Statewide

How this metro's administrative and support services market compares to California overall. The state ranks #27/51 for entry risk.

Measure Santa Maria-Santa Barbara CA Statewide
Overall Score 76.0 Difficult 42.0 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #260 of 267 metros #27 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

Construction 39.1 Finance and Insurance 42.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 45.9 Retail Trade 51.6 Other Services 54.0 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 61.3 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 65.8 Information 78.0 Accommodation and Food Services 84.9

Administrative and Support Services in Other California Metros

Merced 19.7 #2/267 Chico 26.0 #9/267 Fresno 34.7 #34/267 El Centro 37.6 #46/267 Redding 39.9 #56/267 Yuba City 44.4 #80/267 Stockton-Lodi 47.5 #102/267 Hanford-Corcoran 48.0 #106/267 Napa 49.2 #111/267 Vallejo 49.8 #114/267

+ 14 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Santa Maria-Santa Barbara's administrative and support services sector, the employment growth component (94.8) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.