NAICS 54

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

Entry risk 32.9 (Moderate), ranked #4 of 51 states. 5,600 establishments, 18,298 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 32.9
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 Dakota exhibits structural stability in professional, scientific, and technical services, with volatility at 30.5 and firm retention ranking in the top 5. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
98.0%
Percentile within industry
Rank #2 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
25.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #32 of 51 states
Establishment Density
14.0
vs. national average
Rank #36 of 51 states
Market Volatility
30.5
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
34.6
Labor cost pressure

5,600 Establishments in South Dakota

5,600
Establishments
+2.5% YoY
18,298
Total Employment
+2.1% YoY
$87,663
Average Annual Wage
+5.4% YoY

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

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

Metric SD National Difference
Entry Risk Score 32.9 40.5 -7.6
5-Year Retention 98.0% 51.0% +47.0
Growth Momentum 25.6 37.2 -11.6
Market Volatility 30.5 21.8 +8.7
Establishment Density 14.0 12.6 +1.4
Wage Pressure 34.6 34.0 +0.6

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

South Dakota Ranks #4 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

South Dakota ranks #4 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 You 32.9 moderate
#5 Mississippi 33.4 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 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 South Dakota's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

Iowa 31.1 #2/51 Nebraska 31.6 #3/51 North Dakota 34.8 #10/51 Wyoming 36.5 #16/51 Montana 43.4 #37/51 Minnesota 49.2 #47/51

Other Industries in South 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 →