Thousands of college students in STEM programs will graduate this year, at which point they will begin looking for jobs in their respective fields. The growing number of STEM-educated prospects is significantly more than ever before, and that has to do with the expansion we’ve seen in recent years in various technology sectors.
While a job is a job to some, others will be looking for a place to live that offers more than just a decent paycheck.
What are the top 5 places to live for STEM jobs?
Based on the widest pay gap between STEM job and non-STEM jobs, these are the top 5 places for STEM-educated professionals to live and work.
San Jose, CA
This probably doesn’t come as a surprise to many, considering San Jose is home to Silicon Valley. San Jose came in on top for two important reasons: STEM pay and cost of living. There are 209,330 STEM employees that comprise 21.5% of the total workforce and receive a median pay of $178,510.
Pay for STEM jobs average around $120,300 seems about right in order to attract high caliber talent to a place with such a high cost of living.
Huntsville, AL
This probably does come as a surprise to most people as anywhere in Alabama doesn’t exactly scream tech hub! But a tech hub it has become due to an initial investment from the government during WW2. Huntsville has an average STEM pay of $92,380 and non-STEM pay of $32,120. The disparity between the two is huge and the relatively low cost of living helps attract some of the finest minds.
The number of STEM employees in Huntsville clocks in at 34,900 and accounting for 16.7%.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco is a technology mainstay and is home to some legendary tech companies like Salesforce and Dolby Labs. This area is flush with top universities with top STEM programs and the pay reflects it. STEM pay is $106,180 and non-STEM pay is a paltry $46,790 so it’s tough living in the Bay Area on a non-STEM salary.
San Francisco has 131,290 STEM employees which account for 12.1% of the workforce.
Seattle, WA
Seattle rivals Silicon Valley and the bay area for tech hub supremacy and it is evident in the amount of companies that call Seattle home. Companies like Boeing, Amazon, and Microsoft are some of the top draws for STEM talent. STEM pay is $100,120 while non-STEM pay is $41,730.
Seattle is home to roughly 196,350 STEM employees which accounts for 13.2% of the workforce.
Washington, DC
The Nation’s capital is a lesser known STEM superpower but boasts a healthy average STEM pay of $100,950. It helps that even though the cost of living is high in the immediate DC area, the metro area is less expensive.
There are 67,470 STEM employees in the DC area that account for 12% of the total workforce.
Of course, there are many other great cities to live in that have great demand for people with STEM degrees. For more on where these places are and why they’re so great check out Bloomberg.com.
By Aaron LaBarbera
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