NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in South Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 34.7 (Moderate), ranked #9 of 51 states. 33,212 establishments, 133,787 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 34.7
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💎Hidden Gem

South Carolina exhibits structural stability in professional, scientific, and technical services, with volatility at 21.0 and firm retention ranking in the top 15. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
78.4%
Percentile within industry
Rank #12 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
39.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #17 of 51 states
Establishment Density
15.0
vs. national average
Rank #38 of 51 states
Market Volatility
21.0
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
39.4
Labor cost pressure

33,212 Establishments in South Carolina

33,212
Establishments
+10.4% YoY
133,787
Total Employment
+4.1% YoY
$97,732
Average Annual Wage
+5.9% YoY

South Carolina vs National Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Average

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

Metric SC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 34.7 40.5 -5.8
5-Year Retention 78.4% 51.0% +27.4
Growth Momentum 39.5 37.2 +2.3
Market Volatility 21.0 21.8 -0.8
Establishment Density 15.0 12.6 +2.4
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.

South Carolina Ranks #9 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

South Carolina ranks #9 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
#9 South Carolina You 34.7 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

North Carolina 37.8 #20/51 Georgia 43.5 #38/51

Other Industries in South Carolina

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 →