NAICS 52

Finance and Insurance in Asheville, NC

Metro Market Score 59.2 (Challenging), ranked #240 of 331 metros. 764 establishments, 3,328 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 59.2
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national finance and insurance average.

Asheville's finance and insurance sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 3.6). That contraction, combined with a 59.2 market score, puts this metro in the lower half for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
16.9
LQ: 0.44
Rank #56 of 331 metros
Wage Competitiveness
62.8
$94,094 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 3.6
Employment growth index
Rank #320 of 331 metros
Wage Pressure
51.7
YoY wage change index

764 Finance and Insurance Firms in Asheville

764
Establishments
-11.6% YoY
3,328
Total Employment
-14.5% YoY
$94,094
Average Annual Wage
+8.4% YoY
0.44
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Asheville vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's finance and insurance market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #17/51 for entry risk.

Measure Asheville NC Statewide
Overall Score 59.2 Challenging 48.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #240 of 331 metros #17 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 Asheville

Construction 56.7 Information 64.8 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 65.0 Retail Trade 72.8 Other Services 75.1 Accommodation and Food Services 85.4

Finance and Insurance in Other North Carolina Metros

Jacksonville 24.0 #17/331 Rocky Mount 25.5 #22/331 Goldsboro 27.5 #29/331 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 33.1 #64/331 Greenville 39.1 #97/331 Wilmington 39.7 #102/331 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 41.8 #116/331 Fayetteville 43.0 #127/331 Burlington 61.4 #252/331 Durham-Chapel Hill 62.0 #259/331

+ 4 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

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 Asheville's finance and insurance sector, the employment growth component (96.4) 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.