NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

Metro Market Score 42.7 (Moderate), ranked #97 of 261 metros. 1,712 establishments, 8,364 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 42.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

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

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services wages in Lakeland-Winter Haven run well below the metro average (competitiveness index: 22.2), and year-over-year wage pressure is low at 41.5. For labor-intensive operations, this cost advantage could improve unit economics significantly.

Industry Concentration
34.9
LQ: 0.46
Rank #91 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
22.2
$73,919 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 33.0
Employment growth index
Rank #176 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
41.5
YoY wage change index

1,712 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Lakeland-Winter Haven

1,712
Establishments
+1.5% YoY
8,364
Total Employment
-1.0% YoY
$73,919
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY
0.46
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Lakeland-Winter Haven 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven FL Statewide
Overall Score 42.7 Moderate 38.2 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #97 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven

Information 28.8 Healthcare and Social Assistance 31.4 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 37.1 Construction 43.2 Administrative and Support Services 58.7 Other Services 59.4 Retail Trade 61.6 Accommodation and Food Services 62.6 Finance and Insurance 64.6

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 Port St. Lucie 42.7 #98/261 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor 51.0 #147/261 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota 52.8 #155/261

+ 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the employment growth component (67.0) 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.