NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Modesto, CA

Metro Market Score 24.5 (Favorable), ranked #24 of 261 metros. 766 establishments, 5,532 jobs.

Metro Market Score 24.5

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

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

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market🌱Emerging Market

Employment in Modesto's professional, scientific, and technical services sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 81.6. Combined with a 24.5 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration

23.8

LQ: 0.40

Rank #62 of 261 metros

Wage Competitiveness

15.3

$71,396 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 81.6

Employment growth index

Rank #49 of 261 metros

Wage Pressure

46.2

YoY wage change index

766 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Modesto

766

Establishments

+1.1% YoY

5,532

Total Employment

+4.1% YoY

$71,396

Average Annual Wage

+6.9% YoY

0.40

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within California

#4 of 24

professional, scientific, and technical services metros in state

California state rank

#48 of 51

for professional, scientific, and technical services entry risk

vs State Median

-24.7

better than median (49.2)

Modesto 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	Modesto	CA Statewide
Overall Score	24.5 Favorable	51.2 Elevated
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#24 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 Modesto

Information 33.7 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 35.8 Finance and Insurance 43.8 Other Services 45.5 Construction 48.2 Administrative and Support Services 52.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 55.4 Retail Trade 64.0 Accommodation and Food Services 78.3

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 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 Chico 43.9 #107/261

+ 13 more metros. View all in California →

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Modesto's 24.5 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Springfield, OH 24.6 #25/261 Sebring, FL 24.8 #26/261 Sumter, SC 24.2 #23/261 El Paso, TX 23.8 #22/261 Hinesville, GA 25.7 #27/261 Fresno, CA 23.2 #21/261 Yuba City, CA 26.3 #28/261 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA 22.7 #20/261 Flagstaff, AZ 26.5 #29/261 Sandusky, OH 26.6 #30/261

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in States Bordering California

State-level entry risk for professional, scientific, and technical services in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Arizona 41.2 #28/51 Nevada 42.6 #34/51 Oregon 45.2 #42/51

Browse Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for professional, scientific, and technical services 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 Modesto's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the wage pressure component (46.2) 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 Modesto, CA MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment