NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Cedar Rapids, IA

Metro Market Score 45.2 (Moderate), ranked #86 of 378 metros. 843 establishments, 14,011 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 45.2
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

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

⚡Rising Wages

At #86 of 378 metros, Cedar Rapids's retail trade sector scores 45.2 on the market index. Concentration (21.7), wage levels (35.7), and growth (44.2) all track close to the median. Local factors like lease costs and client access will matter more than macro signals.

Industry Concentration
21.7
LQ: 1.01
Rank #82 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
35.7
$36,289 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 44.2
Employment growth index
Rank #212 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
70.5
YoY wage change index

843 Retail Trade Firms in Cedar Rapids

843
Establishments
+1.3% YoY
14,011
Total Employment
-0.5% YoY
$36,289
Average Annual Wage
+1.7% YoY
1.01
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Cedar Rapids vs Iowa Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Iowa overall. The state ranks #16/51 for entry risk.

Measure Cedar Rapids IA Statewide
Overall Score 45.2 Moderate 40.8 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #86 of 378 metros #16 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 Cedar Rapids

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 26.2 Accommodation and Food Services 34.4 Construction 49.8 Other Services 57.9 Information 70.9 Finance and Insurance 75.8

Retail Trade in Other Iowa Metros

Ames 28.5 #7/378 Dubuque 34.4 #20/378 Des Moines-West Des Moines 34.7 #23/378 Iowa City 42.0 #56/378 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 51.3 #155/378 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 60.0 #252/378 Sioux City 60.7 #264/378

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 Cedar Rapids's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (55.8) 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.