To determine the best markets for STEM workers, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest metro areas across 21 key metrics. The data set ranges from per-capita job openings for STEM graduates to annual median wage growth for STEM workers.
Best Metro Areas for STEM Professionals
Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals
1. Seattle, WA
91. North Port, FL
2. Boston, MA
92. Memphis, TN
3. Austin, TX
93. Lakeland, FL
4. Atlanta, GA
94. McAllen, TX
5. Pittsburgh, PA
95. Deltona, FL
6. San Francisco, CA
96. Toledo, OH
7. Raleigh, NC
97. Stockton, CA
8. Madison, WI
98. Jackson, MS
9. Minneapolis, MN
99. Little Rock, AR
10. San Diego, CA
100. Cape Coral, FL
Best vs. Worst
• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has the most per-capita overall STEM job openings for STEM graduates, 114.12, which is 35.1 times higher than in Deltona, Florida, the metro area with the fewest at 3.25.
• San Jose, California, has the highest average monthly earnings for new employees in STEM industries, $11,798, which is 3.7 times higher than in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the metro area with the lowest at $3,175.
• San Jose, California, has the highest share of all workers in STEM occupations, 21.00%, which is 15 times higher than in McAllen, Texas, the metro area with the lowest at 1.40%.
• Houston has the highest annual median wage for STEM workers (adjusted by cost of living), $98,886, which is 2.3 times higher than in Honolulu, the metro area with the lowest at $42,293.
To view the full report and your metro area’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/
View this YouTube video summarizing the study.
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April 1, 2022Ask the Experts
Like all professions, STEM occupations pose challenges to graduates who wish to pursue such careers. For guidance, we asked a panel of experts to share their advice for both job seekers and local governments that stand to benefit from growth in the field. Click on the experts’ profiles at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/ to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
1. How do STEM graduates perform in the labor market relative to graduates from other fields?
2. According to recent census figures, the majority of STEM graduates do not ultimately work in a STEM occupation. Why is that the case?
3. How can the U.S. stay ahead of other countries in attracting and training the best STEM professionals?
4. How can local authorities make their cities more appealing to STEM graduates and technology companies?
5. How can government, employers and educators increase the number of women and minorities in STEM fields?
Methodology and Sources
Methodology
In order to determine the best job markets for STEM professionals, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs metro areas, for short) across 3 key dimensions:
1. Professional Opportunities
2. STEM-Friendliness
3. Quality of Life
We evaluated those dimensions using 21 relevant metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for STEM professionals. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.
Finally, we determined each metro area’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
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Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Patent and Trademark Office, National Center for Education Statistics, National Science Foundation, Council for Community and Economic Research, Indeed, U.S. News & World Report, Meetup, iD Tech and WalletHub research.
More from WalletHub
• Best & Worst Places to Start a Career
• Best & Worst Entry-Level Jobs
• Hardest-Working Cities in America
About the Author: Adam McCann is Financial Writer, Wallet Hub. For more information, please visit https://wallethub.com/.