TX
Texas: 2026 Business Market Risk & Industry Survival
Rank #34 of 51 state markets. 10 industries tracked. Population: 29,145,505.
Texas ranks #34 out of 51 state markets by average entry risk (44.9). Real Estate and Rental and Leasing carries the lowest risk at 41.4 (Moderate), while Finance and Insurance is the most challenging at 50.4 (Elevated). The 9.1-point spread signals moderate variation across sectors. Healthcare and Social Assistance is the largest tracked employer with 1,671,855 jobs.
Texas: 44.9 Average Entry Risk
667,232
Total Establishments
Across tracked industries
8,725,626
Total Employment
Across tracked industries
44.9
Average Entry Risk
Across all industries
Texas at a Glance
Best Industries for New Entrants in Texas
Industries with the lowest entry risk in Texas.
Entry Risk by Industry in Texas
Compare market entry conditions across industries in Texas. Rank indicates position vs. all 50 states.
Lower is better
Low Mod Elev High
Information
#20
Retail Trade
#17
Construction
#29
Other Services
#36
Texas Industry Data: 667,232 Establishments
| Industry | Entry Risk | Rank | Establishments | Employment | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing NAICS 53 | 41.4 | #28/51 | 43,376 | 256,463 | $82,311 |
| Information NAICS 51 | 41.5 | #20/51 | 15,452 | 225,306 | $132,041 |
| Retail Trade NAICS 44-45 | 41.6 | #17/51 | 85,556 | 1,400,612 | $42,727 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 54 | 42.2 | #30/51 | 132,852 | 1,046,565 | $122,527 |
| Administrative and Support Services NAICS 56 | 43.0 | #34/51 | 48,894 | 893,892 | $61,525 |
| Accommodation and Food Services NAICS 72 | 46.0 | #38/51 | 65,336 | 1,346,478 | $27,231 |
| Construction NAICS 23 | 46.3 | #29/51 | 64,262 | 857,532 | $83,416 |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance NAICS 62 | 46.8 | #36/51 | 101,227 | 1,671,855 | $61,610 |
| Other Services NAICS 81 | 50.1 | #36/51 | 61,653 | 376,798 | $54,286 |
| Finance and Insurance NAICS 52 | 50.4 | #25/51 | 48,624 | 650,125 | $119,659 |
Largest Industries in Texas by Employment
How Texas Compares to Neighboring States
Average entry risk across all tracked industries. Lower scores indicate better conditions for new businesses.
| State | Avg Entry Risk | vs TX |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 44.9 | — |
| Arkansas | 38.6 | -6.3 |
| Louisiana | 44.5 | -0.4 |
| Oklahoma | 44.9 | 0.0 |
| New Mexico | 47.2 | +2.3 |