Nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services

Number of businesses without paid employees in professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), from the U.S. Census Bureau Nonemployer Statistics.

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Nonemployer Statistics: businesses with no paid employees that are subject to federal income tax, mostly the self-employed, counted from tax records, with receipts above small minimum amounts. Census says some years are not comparable with earlier ones, and they are marked as series breaks: 2018 in every sector (businesses were reclassified from their descriptions, which moved many out of other services), 2022 in every sector (new receipts cutoffs) and 2017 in utilities (the same reclassification). Most nonemployers are sole proprietors whose business may be a side activity. Published about 18 months after the reference year.

Key facts

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

Rankings

US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2024

Top 15. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

California: 594,336 countCalifornia594,336Florida: 394,826 countFlorida394,826Texas: 382,886 countTexas382,886New York: 307,048 countNew York307,048Georgia: 144,731 countGeorgia144,731Illinois: 143,762 countIllinois143,762New Jersey: 140,771 countNew Jersey140,771Pennsylvania: 135,272 countPennsylvania135,272North Carolina: 121,133 countNorth Carolina121,133Virginia: 113,200 countVirginia113,200Ohio: 112,755 countOhio112,755Massachusetts: 110,753 countMassachusetts110,753Colorado: 104,364 countColorado104,364Michigan: 100,630 countMichigan100,630Washington: 96,376 countWashington96,376California: 594,336 countCalifornia594,336Florida: 394,826 countFlorida394,826Texas: 382,886 countTexas382,886New York: 307,048 countNew York307,048Georgia: 144,731 countGeorgia144,731Illinois: 143,762 countIllinois143,762New Jersey: 140,771 countNew Jersey140,771Pennsylvania: 135,272 countPennsylvania135,272North Carolina: 121,133 countNorth Carolina121,133Virginia: 113,200 countVirginia113,200Ohio: 112,755 countOhio112,755Massachusetts: 110,753 countMassachusetts110,753Colorado: 104,364 countColorado104,364Michigan: 100,630 countMichigan100,630Washington: 96,376 countWashington96,376
count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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rank_places {"indicator":"nonemployer_establishments_professional_services","level":"region","within":"United States"}
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