NAICS 54

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

Entry risk 42.2 (Elevated), ranked #30 of 51 states. 132,852 establishments, 1,046,565 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 42.2
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector in Texas is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
15.7%
Percentile within industry
Rank #44 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 60.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #11 of 51 states
Establishment Density
4.1
vs. national average
Rank #16 of 51 states
Market Volatility
9.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
38.5
Labor cost pressure

132,852 Establishments in Texas

132,852
Establishments
+3.3% YoY
1,046,565
Total Employment
+0.9% YoY
$122,527
Average Annual Wage
+5.8% YoY

Texas vs National Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Average

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

Metric TX National Difference
Entry Risk Score 42.2 40.5 +1.7
5-Year Retention 15.7% 51.0% -35.3
Growth Momentum 60.5 37.2 +23.3
Market Volatility 9.9 21.8 -11.9
Establishment Density 4.1 12.6 -8.5
Wage Pressure 38.5 34.0 +4.5

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

Texas Ranks #30 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Texas ranks #30 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
#30 Texas You 42.2 elevated
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 Texas 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 Texas's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

Louisiana 36.4 #15/51 Arkansas 37.3 #18/51 Oklahoma 45.4 #43/51 New Mexico 59.3 #51/51

Other Industries in Texas

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 →