NAICS 54

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

Entry risk 43.3 (Elevated), ranked #36 of 51 states. 39,315 establishments, 253,386 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 43.3
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 Washington 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
11.8%
Percentile within industry
Rank #46 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
42.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #15 of 51 states
Establishment Density
7.5
vs. national average
Rank #28 of 51 states
Market Volatility
34.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
9.6
Labor cost pressure

39,315 Establishments in Washington

39,315
Establishments
+6.2% YoY
253,386
Total Employment
-0.5% YoY
$147,551
Average Annual Wage
+2.8% YoY

Washington vs National Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Average

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

Metric WA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 43.3 40.5 +2.8
5-Year Retention 11.8% 51.0% -39.2
Growth Momentum 42.8 37.2 +5.6
Market Volatility 34.4 21.8 +12.6
Establishment Density 7.5 12.6 -5.1
Wage Pressure 9.6 34.0 -24.4

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

Washington Ranks #36 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Washington ranks #36 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
#36 Washington You 43.3 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 Washington 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 Washington's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

Idaho 34.9 #11/51 Oregon 45.2 #42/51

Other Industries in Washington

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 →