NAICS 54

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

Entry risk 34.8 (Moderate), ranked #10 of 51 states. 3,965 establishments, 16,954 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 34.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

🛡️Stable Market

North Dakota exhibits structural stability in professional, scientific, and technical services, with volatility at 33.2 and firm retention ranking in the top 10. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
88.2%
Percentile within industry
Rank #7 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
29.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #27 of 51 states
Establishment Density
7.1
vs. national average
Rank #27 of 51 states
Market Volatility
33.2
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
39.4
Labor cost pressure

3,965 Establishments in North Dakota

3,965
Establishments
+3.1% YoY
16,954
Total Employment
+2.0% YoY
$90,955
Average Annual Wage
+5.9% YoY

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

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

Metric ND National Difference
Entry Risk Score 34.8 40.5 -5.7
5-Year Retention 88.2% 51.0% +37.2
Growth Momentum 29.6 37.2 -7.6
Market Volatility 33.2 21.8 +11.4
Establishment Density 7.1 12.6 -5.5
Wage Pressure 39.4 34.0 +5.4

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

North Dakota Ranks #10 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

North Dakota ranks #10 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
#10 North Dakota You 34.8 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 Dakota 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 Dakota's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

South Dakota 32.9 #4/51 Montana 43.4 #37/51 Minnesota 49.2 #47/51

Other Industries in North Dakota

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 →