NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Jacksonville, NC

Metro Market Score 43.3 (Moderate), ranked #105 of 261 metros. 540 establishments, 2,774 jobs.

Metro Market Score 43.3

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Moderate

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

Despite a mature professional, scientific, and technical services presence (concentration: 73.2), Jacksonville is still adding jobs in this sector. Growth trend sits at 62.8, and the overall 43.3 market score lands in the upper half. Established markets with growth are worth a closer look.

Industry Concentration

73.2

LQ: 0.74

Rank #191 of 261 metros

Wage Competitiveness

6.5

$63,968 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 62.8

Employment growth index

Rank #98 of 261 metros

Wage Pressure

60.9

YoY wage change index

540 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Jacksonville

540

Establishments

+8.2% YoY

2,774

Total Employment

+1.1% YoY

$63,968

Average Annual Wage

+14.1% YoY

0.74

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within North Carolina

#5 of 9

professional, scientific, and technical services metros in state

North Carolina state rank

#20 of 51

for professional, scientific, and technical services entry risk

vs State Median

0.0

matches median (43.3)

Jacksonville 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	Jacksonville	NC Statewide
Overall Score	43.3 Moderate	37.8 Moderate
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#105 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 Jacksonville

Healthcare and Social Assistance 10.9 Finance and Insurance 24.0 Information 36.4 Construction 37.8 Other Services 49.4 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 53.0 Accommodation and Food Services 59.4 Administrative and Support Services 63.0 Retail Trade 69.7

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 Greensboro-High Point 49.9 #142/261 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 54.1 #165/261 Wilmington 61.5 #196/261 Durham-Chapel Hill 67.4 #221/261

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Jacksonville's 43.3 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Youngstown-Warren, OH 43.3 #104/261 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY 43.2 #103/261 Lancaster, PA 43.1 #102/261 Minot, ND 43.1 #101/261 Fairbanks-College, AK 43.0 #100/261 Rockford, IL 42.8 #99/261 Port St. Lucie, FL 42.7 #98/261 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 42.7 #97/261 Springfield, IL 43.8 #106/261 Columbia, MO 42.7 #96/261

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in States Bordering North Carolina

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

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

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 Jacksonville's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the industry concentration component (73.2) 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 Jacksonville, NC MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment