With STEM jobs projected to grow 10.8% between 2021 and 2031, compared to 4.9% for other occupations, the personal-finance website WalletHub followed up on its 2023’s Best Cities for Jobs report with an in-depth analysis of 2023’s Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals, as well as expert commentary.
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 median wage growth for STEM workers.
| Best Metro Areas for STEM Professionals | Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals |
| 1. Seattle, WA | 91. Stockton, CA |
| 2. Austin, TX | 92. Winston, NC |
| 3. Boston, MA | 93. Tulsa, OK |
| 4. Atlanta, GA | 94. Bridgeport, CT |
| 5. San Francisco, CA | 95. North Port, FL |
| 6. San Jose, CA | 96. Augusta, GA |
| 7. Pittsburgh, PA | 97. Memphis, TN |
| 8. Minneapolis, MN | 98. Little Rock, AR |
| 9. Madison, WI | 99. Cape Coral, FL |
| 10. Sacramento, CA | 100. Jackson, MS |
Best vs. Worst
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has the most per-capita overall STEM job openings for STEM graduates, 298.68, which is 38 times higher than in Deltona, Florida, the metro area with the fewest at 7.87.
- San Jose, California, has the highest average monthly earnings for new employees in STEM industries, $14,904, which is 3.3 times higher than in Little Rock, Arkansas, the metro area with the lowest at $4,570.
- San Jose, California, has the highest share of all workers in STEM occupations, 22.10 percent, which is 11.2 times higher than in McAllen, Texas, the metro area with the lowest at 1.97 percent.
- Raleigh, North Carolina, has the highest median annual wage for STEM workers (adjusted by cost of living), $106,932, which is 2.5 times higher than in Honolulu, the metro area with the lowest at $42,483.
