NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Chico, CA

Metro Market Score 43.9 (Moderate), ranked #107 of 261 metros. 426 establishments, 2,079 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 43.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national professional, scientific, and technical services average.

Chico's professional, scientific, and technical services market sits near the national metro median, ranking #107 of 261 with a market score of 43.9. No single metric stands out as an outlier, which means entry conditions depend more on your specific business model than on broad market forces.

Industry Concentration
19.5
LQ: 0.38
Rank #51 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
33.0
$78,180 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 26.1
Employment growth index
Rank #194 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
42.8
YoY wage change index

426 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Chico

426
Establishments
-0.7% YoY
2,079
Total Employment
-1.7% YoY
$78,180
Average Annual Wage
+5.2% YoY
0.38
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Chico vs California Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to California overall. The state ranks #48/51 for entry risk.

Measure Chico CA Statewide
Overall Score 43.9 Moderate 51.2 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #107 of 261 metros #48 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 Chico

Administrative and Support Services 26.0 Finance and Insurance 45.3 Healthcare and Social Assistance 45.3 Other Services 49.4 Information 49.8 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 51.5 Accommodation and Food Services 53.8 Construction 64.2 Retail Trade 74.5

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other California Metros

El Centro 10.5 #3/261 Visalia 17.2 #7/261 Fresno 23.2 #21/261 Modesto 24.5 #24/261 Yuba City 26.3 #28/261 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 28.0 #33/261 Hanford-Corcoran 29.6 #35/261 Merced 29.9 #38/261 Salinas 39.8 #80/261 Napa 41.9 #90/261

+ 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 Chico's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the employment growth component (74.0) 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.