Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals (2024)

Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals (2024) (Courtesy of wallethub.com) — STEM workers are in fierce demand, and not just in the global epicenter of high tech known as Silicon Valley. According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics analysis, STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — professions are expected to grow 10.8% between 2022 and 2032, compared to just 2.3% for all other occupations. In addition, the median annual STEM wage is $97,980, compared to $44,670 for all non-STEM occupations.

To determine the best markets for STEM professionals, WalletHub compared the 100 largest metro areas across 21 key metrics. Our data set ranges from per-capita job openings for STEM graduates to the median wage growth for STEM jobs.

“STEM graduates have significantly higher earning potential than people in other fields, as well as access to more employment opportunities. Being in a city where STEM jobs are abundant can set people up for long-term success, as they can move between jobs without having to uproot their life. At the same time, the availability of remote work now allows people to do many STEM jobs from anywhere.”

Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst (pictured above)

Best Cities for STEM Jobs

Overall Rank	Metro Area*	Total Score	Professional Opportunities Rank	STEM-Friendliness Rank	Quality of Life Rank
1	Austin, TX	64.70	1	16	14
2	Seattle, WA	63.31	4	8	41
3	Atlanta, GA	63.28	12	11	10
4	Boston, MA	63.16	10	1	71
5	Sacramento, CA	61.86	46	5	17
6	San Jose, CA	61.71	2	7	59
7	San Francisco, CA	61.61	5	3	61
8	Pittsburgh, PA	61.52	33	15	6
9	Madison, WI	57.94	30	25	12
10	Minneapolis, MN	57.15	24	24	22
11	Springfield, MA	56.91	77	4	5
12	Orlando, FL	56.85	28	26	18
13	Salt Lake City, UT	56.18	6	33	33
14	Raleigh, NC	56.01	8	14	56
15	Worcester, MA	55.97	50	6	47
16	Tampa, FL	55.94	31	29	20
17	Washington, DC	55.62	3	44	40
18	Columbus, OH	55.10	53	17	24
19	Chicago, IL	55.09	70	20	16
20	Cincinnati, OH	54.04	40	52	7
21	St. Louis, MO	53.61	14	47	32
22	Spokane, WA	53.50	15	36	31
23	San Diego, CA	52.74	35	12	55
24	Denver, CO	52.61	9	28	58
25	Portland, OR	51.34	23	41	43
26	Philadelphia, PA	50.66	56	18	50
27	Los Angeles, CA	50.27	96	2	72
28	Hartford, CT	49.66	36	30	9
29	Boise, ID	49.45	69	59	15
30	Dallas, TX	49.34	25	21	74
31	Albuquerque, NM	49.12	32	75	27
32	Tucson, AZ	48.79	60	54	23
33	Richmond, VA	48.77	13	49	53
34	New York, NY	48.57	55	9	81
35	Greenville, SC	48.45	7	67	8
36	Colorado Springs, CO	48.41	16	90	30
37	Albany, NY	48.32	19	46	21
38	Houston, TX	48.05	62	19	64
39	Omaha, NE	47.72	45	79	25
40	Grand Rapids, MI	47.49	21	76	35
41	Knoxville, TN	47.34	27	53	44
42	Des Moines, IA	46.82	22	81	34
43	Phoenix, AZ	46.78	43	77	37
44	New Haven, CT	46.54	37	22	78
45	Baltimore, MD	46.32	34	10	91
46	Providence, RI	46.24	67	32	52
47	Harrisburg, PA	46.01	18	60	13
48	Rochester, NY	45.83	73	34	48
49	Allentown, PA	45.32	65	27	42
50	Charleston, SC	45.31	29	87	29
51	Cleveland, OH	45.01	58	31	73
52	Charlotte, NC	44.68	20	71	66
53	Nashville, TN	44.57	42	23	84
54	Palm Bay, FL	44.09	11	95	11
55	Buffalo, NY	43.95	84	39	62
T-56	Wichita, KS	43.77	39	51	69
T-56	Syracuse, NY	43.77	47	61	3
58	Provo, UT	43.64	17	70	45
59	Las Vegas, NV	43.25	63	97	28
60	Jacksonville, FL	43.18	61	48	65