NAICS 541690 Quarterly Industry Report
Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 541690Sector: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This report provides information about NAICS 541690: Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services based on the 2022 NAICS classification system from the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Employment figures and business statistics are derived from Census Bureau data and represent Fair Market Value assessments of the industry. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], SBA[7].. For current classification guidance, refer to the official NAICS documentation[8] maintained by the Census Bureau.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the other scientific and technical consulting services industry.
NAICS Sector
54
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Industry Definition & Overview
Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (NAICS 541690) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on scientific and technical issues (except environmental). The industry includes diverse specialized consulting activities covering agricultural, biological, chemical, economic, energy, physics, radio, safety, and security consulting services. Per Census Bureau[5] data, the sector employs approximately 139,928 people across 14,031 active establishments.
This fragmented industry has no single dominant player. The consulting workforce is highly educated, with at least 85.5 percent of workers holding bachelor's degrees or higher. Geographic concentration is pronounced in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia regions, though California, Texas, and Florida represent the largest employment centers. Demand continues growing.
Increasing complexity in scientific and regulatory domains drives demand for specialized advisory services. Organizations across healthcare, energy, agriculture, and defense sectors require expert guidance on emerging technologies, compliance frameworks, and technical challenges that fall outside traditional management consulting categories. Market evolution accelerates with growing demand for expertise in data analytics, artificial intelligence applications, and cross-disciplinary scientific advisory work. Federal government spending on scientific and technical advisory services represents a substantial revenue source, particularly in defense, energy, and healthcare sectors. Small specialized firms compete alongside large consulting organizations for both private sector and government contracts.
What's Included in This Industry
- Agricultural consulting services
- Biological and life sciences consulting
- Chemical consulting services
- Economic consulting services
- Energy consulting services
- Motion picture and entertainment consulting
- Physics and materials science consulting
- Radio and telecommunications technical consulting
- Safety and risk assessment consulting
- Security consulting services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 |
| Subsector | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541 |
| Industry Group | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 5416 |
| NAICS Industry | Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services | 54169 |
| National Industry | Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services | 541690 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 541611 | Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services | Administrative management consulting provides operating advice on business strategy and organizational planning, complementing the specialized scientific and technical expertise offered by 541690 establishments. |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | Engineering services overlap with technical consulting in infrastructure, systems design, and project implementation across construction, manufacturing, and industrial sectors requiring specialized expertise. |
| 541370 | Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services | Surveying and mapping services apply scientific and technical knowledge for geographic data collection and specialized technical applications in real estate and infrastructure projects. |
| 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | Testing laboratories employ specialized scientific equipment and methodologies to verify product quality, safety compliance, and technical specifications for industrial and commercial clients. |
| 541618 | Other Management Consulting Services | Other management consulting covers specialized advisory functions beyond administrative management, human resources, marketing, and logistics that may intersect with technical consulting domains. |
| 541620 | Environmental Consulting Services | Environmental consulting provides specialized advice on environmental contamination, compliance, and remediation, representing a distinct but related scientific consulting specialty separate from 541690. |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 16.6% | 4,505 |
| 2 | Texas | 10.4% | 2,819 |
| 3 | Florida | 8.0% | 2,172 |
| 4 | New York | 5.6% | 1,514 |
| 5 | Colorado | 3.5% | 940 |
| 6 | Virginia | 3.3% | 887 |
| 7 | Washington | 3.0% | 827 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 2.9% | 797 |
| 9 | Illinois | 2.7% | 744 |
| 10 | Georgia | 2.7% | 730 |
% Of Establishments
0%
17%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
1,640
Total SBA Loans
$488.3M
Total Loan Volume
$298K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.89%
Average Interest Rate
10,688
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Under SBA[9] size standards, NAICS 541690 businesses are classified as small if they have average annual receipts of $19.0 million or less. This threshold applies to all Other Scientific and Technical Consulting establishments. Businesses meeting this standard may qualify for SBA programs including 8(a) Business Development, small business contracting opportunities, and other federal procurement set-asides. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[11] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeast Bank | 304 | $57.0M | $187K |
| 2 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 72 | $45.3M | $629K |
| 3 | Bank of America, National Association | 16 | $31.8M | $2.0M |
| 4 | Horizon Bank | 16 | $31.0M | $1.9M |
| 5 | First Internet Bank of Indiana | 16 | $30.2M | $1.9M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of consulting services are included in NAICS 541690?
NAICS 541690 covers agricultural consulting, biological consulting, chemical consulting, energy consulting, economic consulting, motion picture consulting, physics consulting, radio consulting, safety consulting, and security consulting. The industry excludes environmental consulting, which is classified separately under NAICS 541620. Census Bureau NAICS 541690[8]
How many businesses operate in scientific and technical consulting?
Approximately 14,031 companies are active in NAICS 541690 with estimated employment of 139,928 people. Earlier Census Bureau data[5] reported 24,458 businesses with 150,353 employees and annual payroll exceeding $14.5 billion.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541690?
The SBA[12] has established a size standard of $19.0 million in average annual receipts for NAICS 541690. Businesses meeting this threshold qualify as small businesses for SBA programs and federal contracting set-asides.
What education levels are typical for consultants in this industry?
The workforce is highly educated, with 85.5 percent of workers holding bachelor's degrees or higher. Top occupations include management analysts, market research analysts, and other specialized managers, positions that typically require strong scientific or technical backgrounds and professional credentials.
Where is the scientific and technical consulting industry concentrated?
The District of Columbia and Northern Virginia show the highest concentration of employees. However, California, Texas, and Florida represent the largest absolute employment centers. Consulting activity concentrates in major metropolitan areas with large corporate, government, and research institution presence. BLS Employment Data[13]
How does NAICS 541690 differ from management consulting codes?
NAICS 541690 focuses on scientific and technical expertise rather than business management advice. Management consulting codes (541611 through 541618) address business strategy, HR, marketing, and logistics. Scientific consulting provides specialized advice on technical topics, scientific issues, and domain-specific expertise not rooted in general management disciplines.
What are current market trends for scientific and technical consulting?
Growing demand for specialized expertise in healthcare, life sciences, AI integration, and digital transformation drives market expansion. Firms increasingly seek consultants with technical skills in data analysis, software engineering, and emerging technologies. Cross-disciplinary scientific advisory work represents a growing service category as organizations confront complex technical challenges.
What professional development resources exist for scientific consultants?
SBA certification options include Small Disadvantaged Business certification, Women-Owned Small Business certification, and the 8(a) Business Development program. Industry-specific certifications vary by consulting specialty, with relevant credentials available through professional associations in agriculture, energy, safety, economics, and other scientific fields. SBA Certifications[14]
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]official NAICS documentation census.gov
- [9]SBA sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
- [12]SBA sba.gov
- [13]BLS Employment Data bls.gov
- [14]SBA Certifications certify.sba.gov
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