NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Metro Market Score 78.2 (Difficult), ranked #252 of 261 metros. 22,691 establishments, 180,198 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 78.2
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

💰High-Cost Market

Market conditions for professional, scientific, and technical services in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue are tougher than average. The 78.2 market score reflects a combination of high labor costs, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #252 of 261 metros.

Industry Concentration
93.5
LQ: 1.24
Rank #244 of 261 metros
Wage Competitiveness
98.8
$164,183 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 24.5
Employment growth index
Rank #198 of 261 metros
Wage Pressure
37.3
YoY wage change index

22,691 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Firms in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue

22,691
Establishments
+3.6% YoY
180,198
Total Employment
-2.0% YoY
$164,183
Average Annual Wage
+2.5% YoY
1.24
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA Statewide
Overall Score 78.2 Difficult 43.3 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #252 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue

Accommodation and Food Services 53.4 Healthcare and Social Assistance 56.6 Retail Trade 60.7 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 62.5 Administrative and Support Services 67.7 Finance and Insurance 69.0 Other Services 69.3 Construction 74.5 Information 75.6

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 Bellingham 60.1 #189/261 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard 62.6 #201/261 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater 71.5 #241/261

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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue's professional, scientific, and technical services sector, the wage competitiveness component (98.8) 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.