If the average person were asked to name the best U.S. metros for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals and companies, chances are they would select San Jose in California’s Silicon Valley, Boston, and San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC.
And they would not be wrong.
But a new analysis from CoworkingCafe highlights the rapid growth of STEM communities in midsize and smaller cities that are becoming tech hubs in their own right. Between 2019 and 2024 there was a 31% increase in STEM jobs nationwide. Impressively, related incomes soared 19% to reach an average of about $97,000 a year.
Midsized cities that have taken advantage of these trends include Durham, NC, Madison, WI, Omaha, NE, Huntsville, AL, and Lexington, KY. Smaller cities that have benefited and punch above their weight include Ann Arbor, MI, Boulder, CO, Burlington, VT, Trenton, NJ and Fargo, ND.
The cities were identified based on a series of metrics, including the number and density of STEM jobs and establishments, the growth of STEM jobs per 1,000 jobs, average annual STEM wages and their rate of growth, the number of doctorates per 100,000 residents, and the presence of nearby research universities. Affordability was also a factor.
Somewhat surprisingly, the report found “the South concentrates the most top-performing STEM hubs with Washington, D.C. and Durham, NC, boasting close to 14,000 STEM establishments and having nearly 20% of all job opportunities geared towards science professionals.”
Among the largest metropolitan areas, Washington is home to the second-highest number of STEM establishments and a high density of scientific institutions. And in Durham, in the heart of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, 635 tech companies have access to three great research universities and their graduates; 23% of jobs are in science-related fields.
The South is also home to two other midsized tech hubs. More than 23% of jobs in Huntsville are in STEM fields — the highest share in the nation — and 400 institutions offer them at an average salary of $94,000, also providing affordability. Lexington has made “a clear commitment to higher education,” according to the report, and tech salaries here average $97,280 a year.
In the Midwest, Madison and Ann Arbor stand out. Ann Arbor leads the list of cities with a high share of STEM employment and boasts a solid base of technology-related industries, as well as the renowned University of Michigan. Madison, home to the University of Wisconsin, ranks fourth nationally for career opportunities in STEM, with approximately one in six jobs being in a scientific field.
The Northeast is led by Boston, with its high concentration of academic institutions and research activity that has helped attract a 37% increase in science-focused workplaces since 2019.
Smaller metros are also making their presence felt. The report named Trenton as one of the top places for STEM, noting its strong performance across the board, high levels of scientific employment, and 540 STEM-related establishments. Burlington has the second-highest average STEM wage growth, a growing number of STEM jobs, and the fifth-highest average annual wage for these jobs.
Unsurprisingly, the West, led by Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, showed high annual median salaries exceeding $126,000 and a 51% surge in STEM jobs between 2019 and 2024. In Silicon Valley, one in four jobs is associated with one of 3,500 tech establishments, and scientists earned an average annual income of $142,000. Seattle also makes a strong showing, following a 62% spike in professional openings for scientists in the period. One in five jobs in the metro is science-related.
The West is also home to other cities with a strong presence in STEM fields. “Boulder has the largest share of establishments specialized in STEM,” with more than 700, the report stated. The seat of the University of Colorado, 22.2% of the metro’s job openings are in STEM and the average annual wage is $103,000. Tech wages in Fargo also average $103,000 after soaring 39% between 2019 and 2024, and it has a high density of tech jobs. However, Omaha surpasses both Boulder and Fargo, boasting an average wage of $112,000 for individuals working in technical or research departments, as well as several tech companies.
The report also offers expert suggestions on how metros can attract and retain STEM talent. Some options include creating dedicated zones for innovation, fostering partnerships between universities and corporations, supporting affordable housing, reliable public transit, and cultural amenities, as well as STEM-focused business parks in suburban areas. Quality of life and inclusive communities that encourage social and scientific interaction are also important.
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