Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services Revenue Benchmarks

The average other scientific and technical consulting services business in the United States generates $1.2M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 24,458 other scientific and technical consulting services businesses in the U.S., employing 150,353 workers with an average profit margin of 22.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $116K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).

What Does a Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Business Actually Do?

Specialty technical consultants — biotech, materials science, forensic engineering, patent consulting, physics-adjacent expertise. Often PhD-holders selling narrow expertise to corporate/legal buyers.

Who buys: Corporations needing specialized technical expertise, law firms needing expert witnesses, insurance companies for forensic work.

Average Revenue

$1.2M

per year

Profit Margin

22.0%

industry average

Revenue / Employee

$194K

per year

Total Businesses

24,458

in the US

Est. Owner Income

$263K

small business avg

Labor Cost

50.0%

of revenue

Avg Employee Wage

$116K

per year (BLS)

Market Saturation

7.4

firms per 100K people

How Much Do Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services Charge?

Specialty technical consultants (biotech, materials, chemistry, physics) charge hourly with subject-matter expertise commanding premium.

ServiceTypical range
Junior consultant
$125–250/hour
Senior consultant (PhD)
$275–600/hour
Expert witness
$400–1,500/hour
Project engagement
$25,000–500,000+

Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.

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Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes

Approximate P&L breakdown for the other scientific and technical consulting services industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.

50%
14%
22%
CategoryPer $100 revenue
Client-related expenses
$4
Wages & benefits
$50
Rent & facilities
$6
Marketing & advertising
$4
Other operating costs
$14
Net profit
$22

Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.

Average Revenue by Business Size

1-4 employees
$201K
5-9 employees
$1.0M
10-19 employees
$2.4M
20-99 employees
$7.1M
100-499 employees
$31.1M
500+ employees
$57.5M

Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)

New Business Rate

19.09%

openings/year

Closure Rate

14.74%

closings/year

Net Job Growth

+4.04%

annual

Businesses Closed

21,311

in 2023

Firm Count Trend

19
20
21
22
23
134,017 firms162,559 firms

Should You Start a Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Business?

Startup Cost

$10K$75K

Break-Even

2 months

5-Year Survival Rate

60.0%

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a other scientific and technical consulting services business do?
Specialty technical consultants — biotech, materials science, forensic engineering, patent consulting, physics-adjacent expertise. Often PhD-holders selling narrow expertise to corporate/legal buyers. Corporations needing specialized technical expertise, law firms needing expert witnesses, insurance companies for forensic work.
How much do other scientific and technical consulting services charge?
Specialty technical consultants (biotech, materials, chemistry, physics) charge hourly with subject-matter expertise commanding premium. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
How much does the average other scientific and technical consulting services make per year?
The average other scientific and technical consulting services business generates $1.2M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $263K per year at a 22.0% profit margin.
How many other scientific and technical consulting services businesses are there in the US?
There are 24,458 other scientific and technical consulting services businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 150,353 workers.
How much does it cost to start a other scientific and technical consulting services business?
Startup costs for a other scientific and technical consulting services business typically range from $10K to $75K, with a 5-year survival rate of 60.0%.
What is the average salary in the other scientific and technical consulting services industry?
The average employee in the other scientific and technical consulting services industry earns $116K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).

Industry Growth & Survival

45%
Est. 5-year survival rate
+4.0%
Net job growth rate
162,559
Total firms (2023)

The other scientific and technical consulting services industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.0% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (19.1% entry vs 14.7% exit), indicating healthy demand.

Approximately 45% of other scientific and technical consulting services businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 21,311 firms in this industry closed permanently.

Employment & Wages

$116,008
Avg annual pay
55,696
Establishments
212,865
Total employees
4
Avg employees/business

The average employee in the other scientific and technical consulting services industry earns $116,008/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 55,696 establishments employing 212,865 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.

Industry Trend (2000–2023)

58K89K119K149K179K20002005201020152020Number of Firms

The other scientific and technical consulting services industry has grown 150% since 2000 (from 64,966 to 162,559 firms).

See full historical statistics →

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