NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Missoula, MT

Metro Market Score 56.6 (Challenging), ranked #177 of 261 metros. 1,419 establishments, 4,781 jobs.

Metro Market Score 56.6

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Challenging

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

📈Rapid Growth

Market conditions for professional, scientific, and technical services in Missoula are tougher than average. The 56.6 market score reflects a combination of high labor costs, mixed growth signals, and an already crowded field. Rank: #177 of 261 metros.

Industry Concentration

87.7

LQ: 1.03

Rank #229 of 261 metros

Wage Competitiveness

70.1

$96,114 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 76.6

Employment growth index

Rank #62 of 261 metros

Wage Pressure

50.5

YoY wage change index

1,419 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Missoula

1,419

Establishments

+9.4% YoY

4,781

Total Employment

+3.1% YoY

$96,114

Average Annual Wage

+9.0% YoY

1.03

Location Quotient

Above national avg

Within Montana

#3 of 4

professional, scientific, and technical services metros in state

Montana state rank

#37 of 51

for professional, scientific, and technical services entry risk

vs State Median

0.0

matches median (56.6)

Missoula vs Montana Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to Montana overall. The state ranks #37/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Missoula	MT Statewide
Overall Score	56.6 Challenging	43.4 Elevated
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#177 of 261 metros	#37 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 Missoula

Construction 47.4 Accommodation and Food Services 52.2 Retail Trade 58.9 Other Services 65.1

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other Montana Metros

Great Falls 29.8 #36/261 Billings 46.8 #125/261 Bozeman 70.1 #232/261

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Missoula's 56.6 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Kennewick-Richland, WA 56.5 #176/261 Urban Honolulu, HI 56.7 #178/261 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 57.1 #179/261 St. George, UT 55.9 #175/261 Columbia, SC 55.8 #174/261 Augusta-Richmond County, GA 57.3 #180/261 Las Cruces, NM 55.8 #173/261 Lynchburg, VA 57.8 #181/261 Akron, OH 55.3 #172/261 Eau Claire, WI 55.3 #171/261

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in States Bordering Montana

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

South Dakota 32.9 #4/51 North Dakota 34.8 #10/51 Idaho 34.9 #11/51 Wyoming 36.5 #16/51

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 Missoula's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the industry concentration component (87.7) 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 Missoula, MT MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment