Boston tops WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the best cities for science, technology, engineering and math jobs.
The personal finance website compared 100 of the most populated U.S. metropolitan statistical areas across three dimensions: professional opportunities, STEM-friendliness and quality of life.
WalletHub evaluated those dimensions using 21 metrics, ranging from job openings for STEM graduates per capita to singles-friendliness. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the best job markets for STEM professionals. Each metropolitan area’s overall score is based on its weighted average across all metrics. More information about the methodology is available here.
The best cities for STEM professionals, according to the analysis:
1. Boston
2. Atlanta
3. Seattle
4. Pittsburgh
5. Austin, Texas
6. San Francisco
7. Cincinnati
8. Salt Lake City
9. Minneapolis
10. Orlando, Fla.
The worst cities for STEM professionals, according to the analysis:
1. Cape Coral, Fla.
2. Jackson, Miss.
3. North Port, Fla.
4. Memphis, Tenn.
5. Little Rock, Ark.
6. Deltona, Fla.
7. McAllen, Texas
8. Winston-Salem, N.C.
9. Greensboro, N.C.
10. Oxnard, Calif.
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