MSP Industry Statistics 2026: Jobs, Wages, and Firm Counts in Managed IT Services
MSP industry statistics usually come from vendor surveys. This report uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which counts every employer covered by unemployment insurance. In NAICS 541513, the industry code closest to managed IT services, the number of firms is rising, the number of jobs is falling, and pay is climbing.
Smaller firms, fewer people, higher pay
The three numbers above combine into one pattern. The average NAICS 541513 establishment employed 12.6 people in Q1 2023 and 10.8 in Q1 2026. Over the most recent year alone, employment fell 1.4%. Rising wages alongside falling headcount fits a shift toward fewer, more senior staff per firm, though QCEW cannot show job titles, so that reading is an inference.
Employment index across computer services
541513Computer systems design 541512Other computer related services 541519Index of quarterly private employment, Q1 2023 = 100. Quarterly employment is the average of the three monthly figures.
The decline is not unique to managed services. Computer systems design (541512), by far the largest of the three, lost a similar share of jobs. Other computer related services (541519) grew, and the three codes combined changed -3.4% between Q1 2023 and Q1 2026.
| Industry | Jobs Q1 2023 | Jobs Q1 2026 | Change | Weekly wage Q1 2026 | Wage change | Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
541513 Computer facilities management (MSP core) |
79,383 | 75,313 | -5.1% | $3,306 | +14.3% | 6,972 |
541512 Computer systems design |
1,136,131 | 1,078,408 | -5.1% | $3,194 | +18.4% | 179,455 |
541519 Other computer related services |
128,900 | 144,575 | +12.2% | $3,184 | +20.4% | 36,371 |
State league table: managed IT jobs, Q1 2023 to Q1 2026
States with at least 1,000 NAICS 541513 jobs in Q1 2023, ranked by employment change. Across all 51 jurisdictions with disclosed data in both periods, 26 added jobs and 25 lost them.
| # | State | Q1 2023 | Q1 2026 | Change | Weekly wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | 1,262 | 1,699 |
|
+34.6% | $1,983 |
| 2 | Illinois | 1,429 | 1,515 |
|
+6.0% | $2,729 |
| 3 | Oregon | 1,284 | 1,351 |
|
+5.2% | $2,531 |
| 4 | Arizona | 1,791 | 1,874 |
|
+4.6% | $2,551 |
| 5 | Missouri | 1,763 | 1,803 |
|
+2.3% | $2,149 |
| 6 | Georgia | 6,030 | 6,100 |
|
+1.2% | $3,531 |
| 7 | Texas | 4,706 | 4,722 |
|
+0.3% | $2,771 |
| 8 | Florida | 8,294 | 8,308 |
|
+0.2% | $3,023 |
| 9 | Ohio | 2,104 | 2,042 |
|
-2.9% | $2,560 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 1,115 | 1,080 |
|
-3.1% | $3,549 |
| 11 | California | 11,813 | 11,113 |
|
-5.9% | $6,410 |
| 12 | Virginia | 5,364 | 4,972 |
|
-7.3% | $2,122 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 1,910 | 1,705 |
|
-10.7% | $2,317 |
| 14 | Kentucky | 1,215 | 1,078 |
|
-11.3% | $1,674 |
| 15 | New Jersey | 4,609 | 3,899 |
|
-15.4% | $4,156 |
| 16 | Hawaii | 1,059 | 889 |
|
-16.1% | $2,196 |
| 17 | Indiana | 1,345 | 1,119 |
|
-16.8% | $1,900 |
| 18 | Michigan | 4,420 | 3,538 |
|
-20.0% | $3,429 |
| 19 | Washington | 1,310 | 1,009 |
|
-23.0% | $2,747 |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,488 | 1,062 |
|
-28.6% | $2,727 |
| 21 | New York | 2,046 | 1,418 |
|
-30.7% | $3,759 |
| 22 | Arkansas | 1,220 | 760 |
|
-37.7% | $2,023 |
Private ownership only. Smaller states are in the download; their percentages swing widely on small counts.
What this means for MSP owners
A growing count of establishments with shrinking average headcount means more, smaller competitors. QCEW does not say why headcount fell; automation, offshore delivery, and consolidation into larger firms classified elsewhere are all possible explanations. For hiring, the wage data matters most: the average weekly wage in this industry rose 14.3% in three years, so a contract priced on 2023 labor costs now carries a materially higher wage bill per employee.
Frequently asked questions
How many people work in the MSP industry?
BLS counts 75,313 private-sector jobs in NAICS 541513, computer facilities management services, in Q1 2026 (average of monthly employment). This is the industry code closest to managed IT services. Many MSPs are classified under 541512 or 541519 instead, so this is a floor, not a total.
Is the MSP industry growing?
In firm count, yes: establishments in NAICS 541513 rose from 6,304 to 6,972 between Q1 2023 and Q1 2026 (+10.6%). Employment fell 5.1% over the same period, so the average establishment shrank from 12.6 to 10.8 employees.
How much do MSP employees earn?
The average weekly wage in NAICS 541513 was $3,306 in Q1 2026, up 14.3% from $2,892 in Q1 2023. Across all four quarters of 2025 the average weekly wage was $2,868, about $149,136 a year; the first quarter runs above the annual average ($3,328 in Q1 2025), a seasonal pattern that is why this report compares first quarters only.
Which states have the most MSP jobs?
In Q1 2026: California (11,113), Florida (8,308), and Georgia (6,100) in NAICS 541513.
What is NAICS 541513?
Computer Facilities Management Services: establishments that provide on-site management and operation of clients’ computer systems or data processing facilities, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS manual.
Methodology
Source. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), industry data files for NAICS 541512, 541513, and 541519, Q1 2023 to Q1 2026, downloaded October 2026. National figures use private ownership (own code 5) at the national industry level; state figures use the state industry level.
Calculations. Quarterly employment is the mean of the three monthly employment levels. Wage comparisons are first quarter to first quarter because first-quarter wages run above other quarters. Average establishment size is employment divided by establishments. The 2025 annual wage is the mean of four quarterly average weekly wages times 52.
Limitations. QCEW classifies each establishment by its primary activity, so MSPs filed under 541512 or 541519 are not counted in 541513. Q1 2026 data are preliminary and subject to revision. An establishment is a single location, not a company.
Not advice. This is published labor data, not business or compensation advice.
Cite as:The Uptime Report. "MSP Industry Statistics 2026: Jobs, Wages, and Firm Counts in Managed IT Services." October 2026. https://theuptimereport.com/msp-industry-statistics-2026/
References
- BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Accessed October 2026.
- BLS QCEW open data access. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 541513 definition. Accessed October 2026.
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