NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Bellingham, WA

Metro Market Score 60.1 (Difficult), ranked #189 of 261 metros. 1,045 establishments, 4,444 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 60.1
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

Market conditions for professional, scientific, and technical services in Bellingham are tougher than average. The 60.1 market score reflects a combination of high labor costs, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #189 of 261 metros.

Industry Concentration
63.2
LQ: 0.68
Rank #165 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
66.7
$93,380 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 37.9
Employment growth index
Rank #163 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
45.0
YoY wage change index

1,045 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Bellingham

1,045
Establishments
+2.8% YoY
4,444
Total Employment
-0.1% YoY
$93,380
Average Annual Wage
+6.3% YoY
0.68
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Bellingham vs Washington Statewide

How this metro's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to Washington overall. The state ranks #36/51 for entry risk.

Measure Bellingham WA Statewide
Overall Score 60.1 Difficult 43.3 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #189 of 261 metros #36 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 Bellingham

Administrative and Support Services 43.8 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 47.1 Healthcare and Social Assistance 50.5 Information 55.4 Retail Trade 58.5 Finance and Insurance 61.5 Other Services 70.1 Accommodation and Food Services 74.1 Construction 77.4

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Other Washington Metros

Yakima 17.6 #8/261 Mount Vernon-Anacortes 40.8 #85/261 Longview-Kelso 46.9 #128/261 Kennewick-Richland 56.5 #176/261 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard 62.6 #201/261 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater 71.5 #241/261 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 78.2 #252/261

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 Bellingham's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the employment growth component (62.1) 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.