These Are the Best and Worst U.S. Metro Areas for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Professionals in 2026

A 2026 study by personal finance website WalletHub ranks the best and worst U.S. metropolitan areas for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals.

The analysis, published Jan. 21, 2026, compared the 100 most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical areas using 21 metrics grouped into three categories: Professional Opportunities, STEM-Friendliness, and Quality of Life. Data were drawn from publicly available sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and other national and private datasets, with figures collected as of Dec. 19, 2025.

According to the study, Boston ranked first overall, followed by Atlanta, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Austin. 

At the lower end of the rankings, Cape Coral, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; North Port, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; and Little Rock, Arkansas ranked among the least favorable metro areas for STEM professionals based on the same criteria.

The study also highlights variation across metros in STEM employment concentration and growth. San Jose, California had the highest share of workers employed in STEM fields, while Providence, Rhode Island recorded the highest recent STEM employment growth. Conversely, several metros ranked low due to smaller STEM workforces or slower growth.

WalletHub explained that where city-level data were missing, state-level information was used to represent metro areas in the rankings.

Overall Rank	Metro Area*	Total Score	Professional Opportunities Rank	STEM-Friendliness Rank	Quality of Life Rank
1	Boston, MA	69.43	3	1	67
2	Atlanta, GA	66.70	7	12	9
3	Seattle, WA	65.42	4	7	35
4	Pittsburgh, PA	65.07	24	13	5
5	Austin, TX	64.78	6	20	10
6	San Francisco, CA	64.26	5	3	61
7	Cincinnati, OH	62.05	15	33	6
8	Salt Lake City, UT	60.77	2	37	23
9	Minneapolis, MN	59.69	22	24	14
10	Orlando, FL	59.61	19	31	11
11	Worcester, MA	58.73	40	5	51
12	Sacramento, CA	58.59	55	10	25
13	San Jose, CA	58.19	10	6	79
14	Washington, DC	58.13	1	35	52
15	Portland, OR	57.48	34	43	7
16	Madison, WI	57.18	29	26	29
17	Hartford, CT	57.14	8	27	16
18	Tampa, FL	56.95	25	32	26
19	San Diego, CA	56.76	35	9	56
20	Chicago, IL	56.73	62	17	17
21	St. Louis, MO	56.35	17	45	24
22	Raleigh, NC	56.16	13	14	62
23	Denver, CO	55.88	9	23	57
24	Columbus, OH	55.53	54	15	30
25	Springfield, MA	54.94	98	2	4
26	Albany, NY	54.32	11	40	13
27	Boise, ID	53.58	23	76	12
28	Los Angeles, CA	52.93	76	4	70
29	Houston, TX	52.54	51	22	42
30	Providence, RI	51.22	42	29	40
31	Baltimore, MD	50.85	16	11	87
32	Dallas, TX	50.71	21	25	71
33	Cleveland, OH	50.68	45	30	53
34	Albuquerque, NM	50.60	39	74	20
35	Spokane, WA	50.41	64	41	28
36	Rochester, NY	50.29	49	36	36
37	New York, NY	49.99	48	8	85
38	Harrisburg, PA	49.91	12	57	15
39	Dayton, OH	49.87	20	66	1
40	Nashville, TN	49.31	30	19	80
41	Greenville, SC	48.68	18	54	18
42	Richmond, VA	48.65	14	56	60
43	Des Moines, IA	48.58	27	87	22
44	Tucson, AZ	48.54	68	59	27
45	Buffalo, NY	48.47	56	39	55
46	Columbia, SC	47.65	32	55	46
47	Omaha, NE	47.49	58	85	21
48	Knoxville, TN	47.11	61	50	33
49	Philadelphia, PA	47.10	65	21	72
50	Charleston, SC	46.31	26	91	34
51	New Haven, CT	46.16	79	18	68
52	Phoenix, AZ	45.72	59	72	39
53	San Antonio, TX	45.54	53	48	63
54	Syracuse, NY	45.50	47	62	3
55	Colorado Springs, CO	45.04	33	90	49
56	Milwaukee, WI	44.72	66	61	54
57	Grand Rapids, MI	44.50	46	75	45
58	El Paso, TX	44.50	71	67	41
59	Kansas City, MO	44.20	38	95	44
60	Allentown, PA	43.76	82	28	48
61	Charlotte, NC	43.64	28	69	74
62	Oklahoma City, OK	43.56	60	93	38
63	Virginia Beach, VA	42.93	52	71	66
64	Honolulu, HI	42.58	74	94	31
65	Jacksonville, FL	41.87	57	52	78
66	Miami, FL	41.71	41	53	82
67	Indianapolis, IN	41.53	37	46	90
68	Akron, OH	41.26	69	64	65
69	Bakersfield, CA	41.05	90	44	69
70	Ogden, UT	40.89	44	73	50
71	Provo, UT	40.85	50	70	43
72	Augusta, GA	40.54	36	83	76
73	Tulsa, OK	40.48	77	98	32
74	Las Vegas, NV	40.34	72	96	47
75	Riverside, CA	39.88	99	16	88
76	Birmingham, AL	39.69	43	92	73
77	Wichita, KS	38.36	85	51	81
78	Youngstown, OH	38.11	97	60	2
79	Palm Bay, FL	38.02	31	99	37
80	Toledo, OH	37.90	86	63	77
81	Louisville, KY	37.73	84	88	64
82	Scranton, PA	37.73	89	68	8
83	Detroit, MI	37.66	63	78	84
84	Baton Rouge, LA	37.29	67	81	83
85	Chattanooga, TN	37.21	70	80	75
86	New Orleans, LA	36.67	95	89	59
87	Bridgeport, CT	36.49	75	47	93
88	Lakeland, FL	36.16	87	58	58
89	Fresno, CA	35.74	93	42	92
90	Stockton, CA	35.51	100	38	89
91	Oxnard, CA	35.08	88	34	99
92	Greensboro, NC	34.91	80	65	91
93	Winston-Salem, NC	34.90	81	77	86
94	McAllen, TX	34.45	94	79	19
95	Deltona, FL	34.08	92	49	94
96	Little Rock, AR	29.43	73	97	95
97	Memphis, TN	29.27	83	84	97
98	North Port, FL	28.01	91	82	100
99	Jackson, MS	27.55	78	100	96
100	Cape Coral, FL	26.49	96	86	98

* Metro Area refers to a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Except for “Total Score,” all columns show relative ranks, where 1 indicates the best conditions in that category.

The study presents a comparative snapshot of STEM job markets. To provide additional context, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo responded to follow-up questions from DIW.

Q: What's the #1 mistake STEM professionals make when evaluating metros - and what critical factors do they typically overlook?

The biggest mistakes STEM professionals make when evaluating metro areas are zeroing in on a specific salary threshold and chasing a city’s tech reputation. High pay doesn’t always translate into better outcomes if housing is expensive, wage growth is slow, or job options are limited. 

People also tend to overlook what really drives long-term opportunity, like how many STEM jobs are available, how fast the sector is growing, and whether wages keep up with the cost of living. Just as important are factors such as R&D investment, strong engineering schools, and an active innovation ecosystem. 

With many STEM jobs allowing remote work, the smartest move often isn’t choosing the flashiest tech hub, but finding a place that balances opportunity, affordability, and quality of life.

Q: Your expert commentary mentioned AI weakening entry-level STEM hiring. Which specific metros or STEM fields are most/least affected by this shift, and how should recent grads adjust their strategies?

STEM jobs are still in high demand and pay well, but AI is changing the entry-level landscape by automating routine tasks, making some junior roles less plentiful. Graduates should focus on areas with high job growth and plenty of STEM openings, like Boston, Seattle, and Atlanta, while upskilling to take on tasks that are harder to automate. Smaller markets like North Port, FL and McAllen, TX offer fewer opportunities, so location and adaptability are key for early-career success.

Q: Federal defunding of basic science research was flagged as a major concern. Beyond research roles, how might this impact STEM professionals in digital tech, software engineering, and other private sector fields? Should they factor this into their metro decisions?

Federal research funding fuels innovation that private-sector STEM jobs rely on. Cuts or shifts in R&D could slow new tech development, limit collaboration with schools and labs, and affect high-tech job growth. Metros with strong R&D funding and innovation tend to have more STEM jobs, higher pay, and better long-term growth opportunities. Even if a job can be done remotely, being near these innovation hubs can make a real difference in career prospects. That said, it’s difficult to predict which areas will get the most funding years into the future. 

Q: For Gen Z STEM grads entering the market in 2026-2027, would you recommend a different top 5 metros than for experienced professionals? What changes based on career stage?

Gen Z STEM grads entering the job market should weigh entry-level opportunities more heavily than experienced professionals. While big cities such as Boston, Seattle, Austin, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh rank highly overall, new grads may benefit from areas with more job openings per capita and high starting pay. For example, Greenville, SC has the most per-capita STEM job openings (18.4 times more than North Port, FL), and San Jose, CA offers the highest average monthly earnings for new STEM employees (nearly four times higher than Lakeland, FL). Atlanta also ranks in the top 10 for median STEM earnings adjusted for the cost of living, at more than $110,000.

Career stage matters because early-career STEM workers prioritize getting their foot in the door, along with a strong starting salary and growth potential, whereas experienced professionals can weigh factors like STEM density, R&D intensity, quality-of-life rankings, and executive pay. For new grads, focusing on metro areas that maximize early opportunity can help launch a career even if overall rankings differ slightly.

Q: Looking at your 2026 data trends, which metros show the strongest momentum for growth - and what skills should STEM professionals prioritize to position themselves in these emerging markets?

Boston, Atlanta, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Austin show the strongest momentum for STEM growth. They combine abundant job openings, high wages, strong STEM education, and active innovation ecosystems. 

With STEM roles making up a large share of employment and salaries well above the national median, targeting these metro areas can boost career growth and earning potential while also offering quality-of-life advantages

Note: AI tools assisted with drafting and polishing this post. All content was human-reviewed and approved.

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