Finding a job is one of the most stressful experiences in life. You are filled with anxiety while filling out applications, attending meet-ups and enduring interviews. Fortunately, if you are graduating with a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), you are going to have it easy compared to a lot of your friends. Positions for STEM grads are not only available, they are also poised to yield higher compensation rates than other graduates.
According NerdWallet’s recent ranking of best places for STEM grads, the unemployment rate for these graduates is less than half the national average. Plus, these fields are estimated to produce 9 million jobs in the next ten years, meaning these numbers are only going down. STEM positions are currently available and the robust job market is particularly lucrative in certain cities around the US.
Be sure to check out the list below of the top hiring cities for STEM graduates, based on percentage of jobs available and average yearly wage.
10. Austin-Round Rock, TX – 10.1 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $82,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Andy
9. Trenton-Princeton, NJ – 9.8 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $92,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Lucente Designs
8. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL – The average STEM salary in 2015 was $84,594 and had an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent in February of this year.
7. Kennewick-Richland, WA – 8.9 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $93,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / kevin76
6. San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA – 12.1 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $108,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Jeff Gunn
5. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC – 11.4 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $86,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / James Willamor
4. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA – 12.2 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $101,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Ian Sane
3. Boulder, CO – 14.3 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $91,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Let Ideas Compete
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA – 19.2 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $122,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Mike Boening Photography
1. Huntsville, AL – 15.2 percent of jobs belong to STEM graduates with an average salary of $95,000 per year. Photo: Flickr / Robert S. Donovan