NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Metro Market Score 58.7 (Challenging), ranked #241 of 378 metros. 11,350 establishments, 247,234 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 58.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

💰High-Cost Market⚡Rising Wages🌱Emerging Market

Wage costs in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler's retail trade sector are well above the metro average, with wage competitiveness at 98.2 and rising pressure at 84.5. New entrants should factor higher labor costs into their financial projections for this market.

Industry Concentration
29.6
LQ: 1.05
Rank #112 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
98.2
$49,201 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 67.2
Employment growth index
Rank #125 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
84.5
YoY wage change index

11,350 Retail Trade Firms in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

11,350
Establishments
+1.5% YoY
247,234
Total Employment
+0.3% YoY
$49,201
Average Annual Wage
+4.4% YoY
1.05
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler vs Arizona Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Arizona overall. The state ranks #32/51 for entry risk.

Measure Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ Statewide
Overall Score 58.7 Challenging 44.9 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #241 of 378 metros #32 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

Healthcare and Social Assistance 43.6 Other Services 49.6 Construction 55.5 Accommodation and Food Services 55.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 60.1 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 62.3 Administrative and Support Services 66.5 Finance and Insurance 67.0 Information 73.1

Retail Trade in Other Arizona Metros

Sierra Vista-Douglas 42.9 #69/378 Yuma 50.0 #138/378 Lake Havasu City-Kingman 59.0 #244/378 Tucson 60.5 #260/378 Prescott Valley-Prescott 63.2 #288/378 Flagstaff 64.4 #305/378

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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler's retail trade sector, the wage competitiveness component (98.2) 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.