NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Huntsville, AL

Metro Market Score 44.8 (Moderate), ranked #81 of 378 metros. 1,798 establishments, 27,295 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 44.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

📈Rapid Growth🌱Emerging Market

Huntsville ranks in the top quartile for retail trade market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 44.8, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
27.5
LQ: 1.04
Rank #104 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
66.4
$39,600 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 75.7
Employment growth index
Rank #93 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
70.0
YoY wage change index

1,798 Retail Trade Firms in Huntsville

1,798
Establishments
+2.1% YoY
27,295
Total Employment
+0.8% YoY
$39,600
Average Annual Wage
+1.6% YoY
1.04
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Huntsville vs Alabama Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Alabama overall. The state ranks #36/51 for entry risk.

Measure Huntsville AL Statewide
Overall Score 44.8 Moderate 46.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #81 of 378 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 Huntsville

Other Services 23.1 Accommodation and Food Services 30.1 Construction 32.5 Finance and Insurance 34.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 34.9 Information 39.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 40.2 Administrative and Support Services 55.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 70.2

Retail Trade in Other Alabama Metros

Tuscaloosa 32.9 #14/378 Auburn-Opelika 35.6 #27/378 Decatur 37.0 #31/378 Gadsden 41.9 #55/378 Montgomery 49.9 #137/378 Birmingham 51.8 #161/378 Anniston-Oxford 52.9 #175/378 Mobile 54.9 #195/378 Florence-Muscle Shoals 61.9 #276/378 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley 62.9 #285/378

+ 1 more metros. View all in Alabama →

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 Huntsville's retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (66.4) 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.