2015’s Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals

With “getting a better job” being one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions in the U.S. and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) jobs expected to grow 1.7 times faster than non-STEM professions between 2008 and 2018, the leading personal finance social network WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015’s Best & Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals.

2015′s Best and Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals

On the heels of our earlier report on the Best & Worst Cities to Find Job, WalletHub analyzed the 100 most populated metropolitan statistical areas across 11 key metrics to help STEM professionals find the best markets for their valuable occupations. Our data set ranges from job openings per capita for STEM graduates to annual median wage growth for STEM jobs.

Best Metro Areas for STEM Professionals		Worst Metro Areas for STEM Professionals
1	Houston, TX	91	Lakeland, FL
2	Austin, TX	T-92	El Paso, TX
3	Raleigh, NC	T-92	Stockton, CA
4	Denver, CO	94	Cape Coral, FL
5	Omaha, NE	95	Deltona, FL
6	Seattle, WA	96	Oxnard, CA
7	Oklahoma City, OK	97	Fresno, CA
8	Salt Lake City, UT	98	North Port, FL
9	Columbus, OH	99	Riverside, CA
10	Cincinnati, OH	100	Miami, FL

Key Stats

The job openings per capita for STEM graduates are 12 times higher in San Jose, Calif., than in North Port, Fla.
The percentage of all workers in STEM occupations is five times higher in San Jose, Calif., than in McAllen, Texas.
The projected number of STEM jobs needed in 2018 per capita is 13 times higher in Washington than in Baton Rouge, La.
The unemployment rate for people with a bachelor’s degree or higher is four times higher in Riverside, Calif., than in Ogden, Utah.
The annual median wage for STEM workers (adjusted for cost of living) is two times higher in Houston than in Honolulu.
The housing affordability for STEM professionals is two times higher in Winston-Salem, N.C., than in Honolulu.