NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Metro Market Score 62.6 (Difficult), ranked #199 of 261 metros. 955 establishments, 4,314 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 62.6
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

💰High-Cost Market

Santa Cruz-Watsonville scores 62.6 on the Metro Market Score for professional, scientific, and technical services, placing it in the bottom quartile. High wage costs, strong existing competition, or slowing growth contribute to tougher entry conditions compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
55.6
LQ: 0.59
Rank #145 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
77.8
$102,478 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 32.2
Employment growth index
Rank #178 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
44.4
YoY wage change index

955 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Santa Cruz-Watsonville

955
Establishments
+1.7% YoY
4,314
Total Employment
-1.2% YoY
$102,478
Average Annual Wage
+6.0% YoY
0.59
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Santa Cruz-Watsonville 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville CA Statewide
Overall Score 62.6 Difficult 51.2 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #199 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville

Information 31.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 44.3 Construction 47.5 Healthcare and Social Assistance 49.2 Administrative and Support Services 54.0 Finance and Insurance 61.0 Retail Trade 64.7 Other Services 78.6 Accommodation and Food Services 83.7

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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the employment growth component (67.8) 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.