STEM demand is increasing, but unevenly across America
With the federal government pledging to create 1 million new jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to keep the U.S. competitive in the world market, demand is high for STEM professionals.
STEM jobs are some of the most profitable in the country, with little threat of prolonged unemployment and high salaries. In fact, at $79,640, the annual average salary of STEM professionals exceeds the national wage average of $46,440 by 71 percent. There’s no shortage of STEM jobs either, with the U.S. Department of Commerce predicting that STEM job growth will occur 1.7 times faster than non-STEM job growth from 2008 until 2018.
WalletHub, a personal finance social network, has published a study of the best and worst U.S. cities for STEM professionals. Analyzing the 100 most populated U.S. metro areas on criteria such as STEM job openings per capita and annual wage growth, WalletHub has created a comprehensive list of the best places to find a great, high-paying STEM job.
The ten top ranking cities for STEM jobs overall are reported as follows:
10. Cincinnati, OH
9. Columbus, OH
8. Salt Lake City, UT
7. Oklahoma City, OK
6. Seattle, WA
5. Omaha, NE
4. Denver, CO
3. Raleigh, NC
2. Austin, TX
1. Houston, TX
Florida is one of the worst places for the sector
Some of the worst ranking cities for STEM jobs included Stockton, Oxnard, Fresno, and Riverside California, as well as several cities in Florida, including Lakeland, Cape Coral, Deltona, North Port, and Miami.
The next generation of STEM geniuses
WalletHub also reports that the highest percentage of professionals working in STEM jobs are concentrated in San Jose, Washington D.C., Seattle, Raleigh, and Austin. The highest average salaries exist in New York, Dallas, Chattanooga, Spokane, and Knoxville; after adjusting for the cost of living, however, the highest average salaries can be found in Houston, Columbus, Memphis, Colorado Springs, and Bakersfield, California. Are you raising a teen with an aptitude for the sciences and math? Tucson, St. Louis, San Jose, Syracuse, and North Port are all listed by WalletHub as having great STEM focused high schools.
Whether you are looking to enter the profession, or perhaps are looking for a raise, it’s worth checking out WalletHub’s study to discover which cities might have a golden opportunity waiting for you.
