NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Metro Market Score 67.4 (Difficult), ranked #221 of 261 metros. 4,314 establishments, 40,823 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 67.4
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

Durham-Chapel Hill is a specialized hub for professional, scientific, and technical services, with a location quotient of 1.71 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
98.5
LQ: 1.71
Rank #257 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
95.4
$134,526 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 69.0
Employment growth index
Rank #82 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
48.3
YoY wage change index

4,314 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Durham-Chapel Hill

4,314
Establishments
+2.8% YoY
40,823
Total Employment
+1.8% YoY
$134,526
Average Annual Wage
+7.9% YoY
1.71
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Durham-Chapel Hill vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #20/51 for entry risk.

Measure Durham-Chapel Hill NC Statewide
Overall Score 67.4 Difficult 37.8 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #221 of 261 metros #20 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 Durham-Chapel Hill

Construction 31.9 Accommodation and Food Services 40.0 Retail Trade 40.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 40.8 Other Services 49.7 Administrative and Support Services 50.5 Finance and Insurance 62.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 66.1 Information 80.0

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other North Carolina Metros

Goldsboro 18.3 #10/261 Greenville 32.3 #45/261 Burlington 37.0 #74/261 Rocky Mount 39.9 #81/261 Jacksonville 43.3 #105/261 Greensboro-High Point 49.9 #142/261 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 54.1 #165/261 Wilmington 61.5 #196/261

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 Durham-Chapel Hill's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the industry concentration component (98.5) 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.