NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL

Metro Market Score 68.7 (Difficult), ranked #227 of 261 metros. 1,666 establishments, 13,147 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 68.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

🏭Industry Hub💰High-Cost Market

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin is a specialized hub for professional, scientific, and technical services, with a location quotient of 1.52 and industry concentration in the bottom quartile. Higher-than-average firm density means more competition for talent and customers, but also a deeper local supply chain and client pool.

Industry Concentration
96.5
LQ: 1.52
Rank #252 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
75.1
$100,014 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 41.8
Employment growth index
Rank #153 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
41.5
YoY wage change index

1,666 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin

1,666
Establishments
+4.0% YoY
13,147
Total Employment
+0.0% YoY
$100,014
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY
1.52
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin vs Florida Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to Florida overall. The state ranks #22/51 for entry risk.

Measure Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin FL Statewide
Overall Score 68.7 Difficult 38.2 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #227 of 261 metros #22 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 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin

Healthcare and Social Assistance 30.9 Construction 44.9 Other Services 45.9 Retail Trade 59.5 Finance and Insurance 60.9 Information 62.1 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 65.1 Administrative and Support Services 68.3 Accommodation and Food Services 71.9

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other Florida Metros

Sebring 24.8 #26/261 Ocala 29.8 #37/261 Panama City-Panama City Beach 35.4 #59/261 Homosassa Springs 36.2 #66/261 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach 41.2 #87/261 Wildwood-The Villages 41.5 #89/261 Punta Gorda 42.2 #93/261 Lakeland-Winter Haven 42.7 #97/261 Port St. Lucie 42.7 #98/261 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor 51.0 #147/261

+ 8 more metros. View all in Florida →

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 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the industry concentration component (96.5) 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.