NAICS 51

Information in Salinas, CA

Metro Market Score 32.5 (Favorable), ranked #75 of 294 metros. 98 establishments, 853 jobs.

Metro Market Score 32.5

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

🌱Emerging Market

Few information firms have established themselves in Salinas yet. The concentration index of 8.8 is well below the metro median, while employment growth is positive (trend: 61.9). That combination points to a market still building out.

Industry Concentration

8.8

LQ: 0.23

Rank #26 of 294 metros

Wage Competitiveness

57.1

$80,962 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 61.9

Employment growth index

Rank #113 of 294 metros

Wage Pressure

22.8

YoY wage change index

98 Information Firms in Salinas

Establishments

+2.1% YoY

853

Total Employment

-0.2% YoY

$80,962

Average Annual Wage

+6.0% YoY

0.23

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within California

#7 of 24

information metros in state

California state rank

#51 of 51

for information entry risk

vs State Median

-12.0

better than median (44.5)

Salinas vs California Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to California overall. The state ranks #51/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Salinas	CA Statewide
Overall Score	32.5 Favorable	56.6 High
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#75 of 294 metros	#51 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 Salinas

Construction 31.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 32.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 37.9 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 39.8 Other Services 50.2 Administrative and Support Services 51.2 Finance and Insurance 52.3 Retail Trade 53.7 Accommodation and Food Services 75.7

Information in Other California Metros

El Centro 12.3 #4/294 Merced 16.0 #10/294 Vallejo 26.8 #43/294 Bakersfield-Delano 28.7 #54/294 Napa 31.3 #67/294 Santa Cruz-Watsonville 31.9 #71/294 Modesto 33.7 #79/294 Visalia 37.0 #100/294 Stockton-Lodi 40.2 #117/294 Redding 41.3 #124/294

+ 13 more metros. View all in California →

Information Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Salinas's 32.5 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Erie, PA 32.4 #74/294 Michigan City-La Porte, IN 32.3 #73/294 Flint, MI 31.9 #72/294 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 31.9 #71/294 Kankakee, IL 33.1 #76/294 York-Hanover, PA 33.4 #77/294 Gainesville, GA 31.6 #69/294 Columbus, GA 31.6 #70/294 Pocatello, ID 33.5 #78/294 Decatur, AL 31.4 #68/294

Information in States Bordering California

State-level entry risk for information in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Arizona 49.2 #41/51 Oregon 52.0 #45/51 Nevada 56.3 #50/51

Browse Information in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for information across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

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 Salinas's information sector, the wage competitiveness component (57.1) 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

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Salinas, CA MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment