NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Rockford, IL

Metro Market Score 42.8 (Moderate), ranked #99 of 261 metros. 541 establishments, 3,363 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 42.8
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 conditions in Rockford are mixed. The 42.8 market score puts it at #99 of 261, with no metric pulling sharply in either direction. Wages, growth, and competition are all within a normal range for this industry.

Industry Concentration
15.3
LQ: 0.35
Rank #40 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
32.2
$77,889 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 24.1
Employment growth index
Rank #199 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
40.7
YoY wage change index

541 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Rockford

541
Establishments
-1.6% YoY
3,363
Total Employment
-2.0% YoY
$77,889
Average Annual Wage
+4.2% YoY
0.35
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Rockford vs Illinois Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to Illinois overall. The state ranks #33/51 for entry risk.

Measure Rockford IL Statewide
Overall Score 42.8 Moderate 42.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #99 of 261 metros #33 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 Rockford

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.5 Construction 39.4 Administrative and Support Services 44.0 Information 46.5 Other Services 50.7 Finance and Insurance 53.0 Accommodation and Food Services 54.4 Retail Trade 60.5 Healthcare and Social Assistance 69.1

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other Illinois Metros

Springfield 43.8 #106/261 Decatur 49.0 #137/261 Champaign-Urbana 53.4 #161/261

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 Rockford's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the employment growth component (75.9) 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.