NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 37.8 (Moderate), ranked #20 of 51 states. 61,995 establishments, 334,395 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 37.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

📈Growth Opportunity💎Hidden Gem

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector in North Carolina is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
37.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #33 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 57.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #12 of 51 states
Establishment Density
11.9
vs. national average
Rank #33 of 51 states
Market Volatility
15.3
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
32.7
Labor cost pressure

61,995 Establishments in North Carolina

61,995
Establishments
+1.6% YoY
334,395
Total Employment
+1.3% YoY
$110,883
Average Annual Wage
+5.2% YoY

North Carolina vs National Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Average

How North Carolina's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 37.8 40.5 -2.7
5-Year Retention 37.3% 51.0% -13.8
Growth Momentum 57.5 37.2 +20.3
Market Volatility 15.3 21.8 -6.5
Establishment Density 11.9 12.6 -0.7
Wage Pressure 32.7 34.0 -1.3

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within professional, scientific, and technical services only.

North Carolina Ranks #20 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

North Carolina ranks #20 out of 51 states for professional, scientific, and technical services market entry conditions.

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Alabama 29.4 low
#2 Iowa 31.1 moderate
#3 Nebraska 31.6 moderate
#4 South Dakota 32.9 moderate
#5 Mississippi 33.4 moderate
#20 North Carolina You 37.8 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 38.0 · #21 Alabama — 29.4 · #1 Arkansas — 37.3 · #18 Arizona — 41.2 · #28 California — 51.2 · #48 Colorado — 46.4 · #46 Connecticut — 45.1 · #41 District of Columbia — 44.8 · #40 Delaware — 38.9 · #24 Florida — 38.2 · #22 Georgia — 43.5 · #38 Hawaii — 33.8 · #7 Iowa — 31.1 · #2 Idaho — 34.9 · #11 Illinois — 42.6 · #33 Indiana — 56.7 · #50 Kansas — 44.7 · #39 Kentucky — 35.7 · #14 Louisiana — 36.4 · #15 Massachusetts — 41.5 · #29 Maryland — 38.4 · #23 Maine — 40.2 · #26 Michigan — 41.2 · #27 Minnesota — 49.2 · #47 Missouri — 45.5 · #45 Mississippi — 33.4 · #5 Montana — 43.4 · #37 North Carolina — 37.8 · #20 North Dakota — 34.8 · #10 Nebraska — 31.6 · #3 New Hampshire — 37.5 · #19 New Jersey — 45.4 · #44 New Mexico — 59.3 · #51 Nevada — 42.6 · #34 New York — 52.4 · #49 Ohio — 36.9 · #17 Oklahoma — 45.4 · #43 Oregon — 45.2 · #42 Pennsylvania — 33.7 · #6 Rhode Island — 35.3 · #13 South Carolina — 34.7 · #9 South Dakota — 32.9 · #4 Tennessee — 39.4 · #25 Texas — 42.2 · #30 Utah — 42.2 · #31 Virginia — 42.3 · #32 Vermont — 43.0 · #35 Washington — 43.3 · #36 Wisconsin — 35.0 · #12 West Virginia — 34.4 · #8 Wyoming — 36.5 · #16
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does North Carolina stack up against other states for professional, scientific, and technical services?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

South Carolina 34.7 #9/51 Tennessee 39.4 #25/51 Virginia 42.3 #32/51 Georgia 43.5 #38/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →