NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Merced, CA

Metro Market Score 29.9 (Favorable), ranked #38 of 261 metros. 196 establishments, 1,054 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 29.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

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

✓Favorable Market

Merced's professional, scientific, and technical services market sits near the national metro median, ranking #38 of 261 with a market score of 29.9. 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
0.4
LQ: 0.18
Rank #1 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
3.1
$59,783 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 35.3
Employment growth index
Rank #170 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
47.9
YoY wage change index

196 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Merced

196
Establishments
+1.6% YoY
1,054
Total Employment
-0.6% YoY
$59,783
Average Annual Wage
+7.7% YoY
0.18
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Merced 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 Merced CA Statewide
Overall Score 29.9 Favorable 51.2 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #38 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 Merced

Information 16.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 17.5 Administrative and Support Services 19.7 Construction 30.0 Finance and Insurance 34.4 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.3 Other Services 43.0 Retail Trade 56.2 Accommodation and Food Services 64.8

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 Salinas 39.8 #80/261 Napa 41.9 #90/261 Chico 43.9 #107/261

+ 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 Merced's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the employment growth component (64.8) 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.