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 Assessment

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 GrowthFavorable 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

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other Pennsylvania Metros

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.

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.

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

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.