The spatial distribution of ground‐state scandium atoms in a high‐pressure metal‐halide discharge has been measured by saturated laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF). Sc atoms were excited at 402.4 nm (y2D05/2←a2D5/2) and the laser‐induced fluorescence was detected at 399.7 nm (y2D05/2→a2D3/2). The LIF signals were corrected for the optical depth of the fluorescence. The LIF measurements were made under saturated conditions to minimize the spatial dependence of the fluorescence quantum efficiency. In the radial plane the Sc density was a maximum at reduced radii of 0.6–0.7 with a local minimum at the arc center. The shape of the radial profile and the magnitude of the LIF signals were sensitive to the axial position in the discharge and to variations in discharge power. The radial Sc profile was independent of the ac phase angle. LIF signals were also observed at wavelengths corresponding to fluorescence from they2D03/2,y2F05/2,7/2, andy2P01/2,3/2states. The radial dependence of the LIF signal at 393.3 nm (y2F05/2→a2D5/2) was compared with the radial dependence of the LIF signal at 399.7 nm.