NAICS 51

Information in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Metro Market Score 78.0 (Difficult), ranked #292 of 294 metros. 214 establishments, 3,791 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 78.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

💰High-Cost Market

Information employment in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara contracted year-over-year, placing the growth trend in the bottom 10% at 9.5. Declining job counts can indicate consolidation, population shifts, or reduced local demand. Due diligence on the local economy is especially important here.

Industry Concentration
91.2
LQ: 0.94
Rank #268 of 294 metros
Wage Competitiveness
94.2
$146,713 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 9.5
Employment growth index
Rank #267 of 294 metros
Wage Pressure
22.8
YoY wage change index

214 Information Firms in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

214
Establishments
-7.0% YoY
3,791
Total Employment
-12.5% YoY
$146,713
Average Annual Wage
+6.0% YoY
0.94
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara vs California Statewide

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

Measure Santa Maria-Santa Barbara CA Statewide
Overall Score 78.0 Difficult 56.6 High
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #292 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 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 Administrative and Support Services 76.0 Accommodation and Food Services 84.9

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 Salinas 32.5 #75/294 Modesto 33.7 #79/294 Visalia 37.0 #100/294 Stockton-Lodi 40.2 #117/294

+ 13 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 information sector, the employment growth component (90.5) 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.