Data / Rankings / Nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services / US states

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

California had the highest nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services of 51 states in 2016, at 554,028. North Dakota had the lowest, at 5,210. The median was 39,504 and the figure for the United States was 3.44 million. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest554,028California
Lowest5,210North Dakota
Median39,50451 states
United States3,441,179History

Map of states, 2016

Alabama: 33,753 countAlaska: 6,830 countArizona: 66,495 countArkansas: 18,051 countCalifornia: 554,028 countColorado: 85,971 countConnecticut: 46,382 countDelaware: 8,964 countDistrict of Columbia: 16,066 countFlorida: 240,709 countGeorgia: 104,421 countHawaii: 15,516 countIdaho: 15,888 countIllinois: 127,899 countIndiana: 45,749 countIowa: 20,703 countKansas: 24,902 countKentucky: 29,684 countLouisiana: 39,954 countMaine: 13,992 countMaryland: 77,770 countMassachusetts: 99,862 countMichigan: 85,451 countMinnesota: 60,738 countMississippi: 18,668 countMissouri: 47,057 countMontana: 11,283 countNebraska: 13,878 countNevada: 31,285 countNew Hampshire: 17,438 countNew Jersey: 116,289 countNew Mexico: 16,494 countNew York: 263,335 countNorth Carolina: 91,224 countNorth Dakota: 5,210 countOhio: 97,787 countOklahoma: 29,953 countOregon: 48,505 countPennsylvania: 119,826 countRhode Island: 12,121 countSouth Carolina: 39,504 countSouth Dakota: 6,280 countTennessee: 57,234 countTexas: 272,975 countUtah: 36,931 countVermont: 9,030 countVirginia: 94,719 countWashington: 84,057 countWest Virginia: 9,411 countWisconsin: 44,667 countWyoming: 6,240 count
  • Under 13K
  • 13K to 18K
  • 18K to 40K
  • 40K to 63K
  • 63K to 99K
  • 99K and over
count, 2016. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2016

California: 554,028 countCalifornia554,028Texas: 272,975 countTexas272,975New York: 263,335 countNew York263,335Florida: 240,709 countFlorida240,709Illinois: 127,899 countIllinois127,899Pennsylvania: 119,826 countPennsylvania119,826New Jersey: 116,289 countNew Jersey116,289Georgia: 104,421 countGeorgia104,421Massachusetts: 99,862 countMassachusetts99,862Ohio: 97,787 countOhio97,787Virginia: 94,719 countVirginia94,719North Carolina: 91,224 countNorth Carolina91,224Colorado: 85,971 countColorado85,971Michigan: 85,451 countMichigan85,451Washington: 84,057 countWashington84,057Maryland: 77,770 countMaryland77,770Arizona: 66,495 countArizona66,495Minnesota: 60,738 countMinnesota60,738Tennessee: 57,234 countTennessee57,234Oregon: 48,505 countOregon48,505Missouri: 47,057 countMissouri47,057Connecticut: 46,382 countConnecticut46,382Indiana: 45,749 countIndiana45,749Wisconsin: 44,667 countWisconsin44,667Louisiana: 39,954 countLouisiana39,954South Carolina: 39,504 countSouth Carolina39,504Utah: 36,931 countUtah36,931Alabama: 33,753 countAlabama33,753Nevada: 31,285 countNevada31,285Oklahoma: 29,953 countOklahoma29,953Kentucky: 29,684 countKentucky29,684Kansas: 24,902 countKansas24,902Iowa: 20,703 countIowa20,703Mississippi: 18,668 countMississippi18,668Arkansas: 18,051 countArkansas18,051New Hampshire: 17,438 countNew Hampshire17,438New Mexico: 16,494 countNew Mexico16,494District of Columbia: 16,066 countDistrict of Columbia16,066Idaho: 15,888 countIdaho15,888Hawaii: 15,516 countHawaii15,516Maine: 13,992 countMaine13,992Nebraska: 13,878 countNebraska13,878Rhode Island: 12,121 countRhode Island12,121Montana: 11,283 countMontana11,283West Virginia: 9,411 countWest Virginia9,411Vermont: 9,030 countVermont9,030Delaware: 8,964 countDelaware8,964Alaska: 6,830 countAlaska6,830South Dakota: 6,280 countSouth Dakota6,280Wyoming: 6,240 countWyoming6,240North Dakota: 5,210 countNorth Dakota5,210California: 554,028 countCalifornia554,028Texas: 272,975 countTexas272,975New York: 263,335 countNew York263,335Florida: 240,709 countFlorida240,709Illinois: 127,899 countIllinois127,899Pennsylvania: 119,826 countPennsylvania119,826New Jersey: 116,289 countNew Jersey116,289Georgia: 104,421 countGeorgia104,421Massachusetts: 99,862 countMassachusetts99,862Ohio: 97,787 countOhio97,787Virginia: 94,719 countVirginia94,719North Carolina: 91,224 countNorth Carolina91,224Colorado: 85,971 countColorado85,971Michigan: 85,451 countMichigan85,451Washington: 84,057 countWashington84,057Maryland: 77,770 countMaryland77,770Arizona: 66,495 countArizona66,495Minnesota: 60,738 countMinnesota60,738Tennessee: 57,234 countTennessee57,234Oregon: 48,505 countOregon48,505Missouri: 47,057 countMissouri47,057Connecticut: 46,382 countConnecticut46,382Indiana: 45,749 countIndiana45,749Wisconsin: 44,667 countWisconsin44,667Louisiana: 39,954 countLouisiana39,954South Carolina: 39,504 countSouth Carolina39,504Utah: 36,931 countUtah36,931Alabama: 33,753 countAlabama33,753Nevada: 31,285 countNevada31,285Oklahoma: 29,953 countOklahoma29,953Kentucky: 29,684 countKentucky29,684Kansas: 24,902 countKansas24,902Iowa: 20,703 countIowa20,703Mississippi: 18,668 countMississippi18,668Arkansas: 18,051 countArkansas18,051New Hampshire: 17,438 countNew Hampshire17,438New Mexico: 16,494 countNew Mexico16,494District of Columbia: 16,066 countDistrict of Columbia16,066Idaho: 15,888 countIdaho15,888Hawaii: 15,516 countHawaii15,516Maine: 13,992 countMaine13,992Nebraska: 13,878 countNebraska13,878Rhode Island: 12,121 countRhode Island12,121Montana: 11,283 countMontana11,283West Virginia: 9,411 countWest Virginia9,411Vermont: 9,030 countVermont9,030Delaware: 8,964 countDelaware8,964Alaska: 6,830 countAlaska6,830South Dakota: 6,280 countSouth Dakota6,280Wyoming: 6,240 countWyoming6,240North Dakota: 5,210 countNorth Dakota5,210
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.

Full ranking

RankStates2016
count		Change on 2015
1California554,028+0.9%
2Texas272,975-0.8%
3New York263,335+1.6%
4Florida240,709-3.1%
5Illinois127,899+0.2%
6Pennsylvania119,826+1%
7New Jersey116,289+1.2%
8Georgia104,421-0.5%
9Massachusetts99,862+1.6%
10Ohio97,787+0.7%
11Virginia94,719+2%
12North Carolina91,224+2.2%
13Colorado85,971+2.5%
14Michigan85,451+0.4%
15Washington84,057+2.6%
16Maryland77,770+0.8%
17Arizona66,495+1.6%
18Minnesota60,738+0.6%
19Tennessee57,234+2.6%
20Oregon48,505+1.9%
21Missouri47,057+3.1%
22Connecticut46,382+0.8%
23Indiana45,749+1.3%
24Wisconsin44,667+1.7%
25Louisiana39,954+3%
26South Carolina39,504+3.3%
27Utah36,931+4%
28Alabama33,753+2.4%
29Nevada31,285+2.2%
30Oklahoma29,953+1.1%
31Kentucky29,684+1.8%
32Kansas24,902+0.9%
33Iowa20,703+2.1%
34Mississippi18,668+2.2%
35Arkansas18,051+1.5%
36New Hampshire17,438+1.2%
37New Mexico16,494+0.1%
38District of Columbia16,066+1.7%
39Idaho15,888+2.6%
40Hawaii15,516+1.2%
41Maine13,992+2.4%
42Nebraska13,878+2.5%
43Rhode Island12,121+2%
44Montana11,283+1.1%
45West Virginia9,411-0.5%
46Vermont9,0300%
47Delaware8,964+3.8%
48Alaska6,830-1.5%
49South Dakota6,280+4.4%
50Wyoming6,240+4.2%
51North Dakota5,210+3%

Other periods

About this ranking

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

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.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms (US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/

MLA 9

Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms, US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2016. U.S. Census Bureau, 21 June 2018, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-professional-services/us-states?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2018. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms. US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-professional-services/us-states?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2018) Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms, US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-professional-services/us-states?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_nonemployer_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms: US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2016}},
  year = {2018},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-professional-services/us-states?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms: US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services, 2016
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/06/21
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-professional-services/us-states?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonemployer-businesses-professional-services/us-states?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Nonemployer Statistics, state and US files: establishments (ESTAB), professional, scientific, and technical services (NAICS 54), all legal forms. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/datasets/2016/historical-datasets/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank US states by nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"nonemployer_establishments_professional_services","level":"region","within":"United States","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=nonemployer_establishments_professional_services&level=region&within=United%20States&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which state has the highest nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services?

California, with 554,028 in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest nonemployer businesses: professional, scientific and technical services?

North Dakota, with 5,210 in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: 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.

US states: more rankings