NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Altoona, PA

Metro Market Score 21.4 (Favorable), ranked #17 of 261 metros. 212 establishments, 1,744 jobs.

Metro Market Score 21.4

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

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

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market🌱Emerging Market

Altoona ranks in the top 10% for professional, scientific, and technical services market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 21.4, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration

28.0

LQ: 0.43

Rank #73 of 261 metros

Wage Competitiveness

17.2

$71,547 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 91.2

Employment growth index

Rank #24 of 261 metros

Wage Pressure

37.5

YoY wage change index

212 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Altoona

212

Establishments

-0.5% YoY

1,744

Total Employment

+6.5% YoY

$71,547

Average Annual Wage

+2.6% YoY

0.43

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within Pennsylvania

#1 of 14

professional, scientific, and technical services metros in state

Pennsylvania state rank

#6 of 51

for professional, scientific, and technical services entry risk

vs State Median

-21.7

better than median (43.1)

Altoona vs Pennsylvania Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to Pennsylvania overall. The state ranks #6/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Altoona	PA Statewide
Overall Score	21.4 Favorable	33.7 Moderate
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#17 of 261 metros	#6 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 Altoona

Construction 29.8 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 35.8 Accommodation and Food Services 42.1 Administrative and Support Services 43.1 Finance and Insurance 44.1 Information 46.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 49.9 Retail Trade 51.7 Other Services 53.6

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other Pennsylvania Metros

Chambersburg 30.4 #40/261 Erie 30.6 #41/261 Gettysburg 33.2 #52/261 Johnstown 40.8 #86/261 Williamsport 42.2 #92/261 Lebanon 42.5 #94/261 Lancaster 43.1 #102/261 Reading 46.2 #119/261 York-Hanover 46.3 #121/261 Harrisburg-Carlisle 52.6 #154/261

+ 3 more metros. View all in Pennsylvania →

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Altoona's 21.4 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Lewiston, ID 21.1 #16/261 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 21.9 #18/261 Sherman-Denison, TX 20.8 #15/261 Alexandria, LA 22.1 #19/261 Janesville-Beloit, WI 20.4 #14/261 Brunswick-St. Simons, GA 22.7 #20/261 Sheboygan, WI 20.1 #13/261 Elkhart-Goshen, IN 19.7 #12/261 Fresno, CA 23.2 #21/261 El Paso, TX 23.8 #22/261

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in States Bordering Pennsylvania

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

West Virginia 34.4 #8/51 Ohio 36.9 #17/51 Maryland 38.4 #23/51 Delaware 38.9 #24/51 New Jersey 45.4 #44/51 New York 52.4 #49/51

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 Altoona's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the wage pressure component (37.5) 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

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Altoona, PA MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment