Top U.S. Cities for Women Working in STEM

These cities boast the largest female STEM workforces in the country.

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Point2 Editors • August 15, 2023

Women tech jobs technology working collaboratively — Jacob Lund / Shutterstock.com

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Point2.

Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic forced world leaders and the general public alike to look to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers sector in an effort to end panic.

Women in STEM were instrumental in developing the much-needed vaccines, and this has shone a light on those female scientists and engineers who’ve been striving to make our world a healthier place for many years.

To determine the best areas for women working in STEM, CommercialCafe looked at the U.S. cities that have excelled in representing females in the sector. Here are their findings.

1. New York, NY

New York City — Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com

Region: Northeast
Total Pts (of max. 30): 19.13
No. Jobs (all STEM): 240,442
% STEM of All Jobs: 6.3%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 49,205
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 1.8%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 79,806
% Women of STEM Jobs: 33%
No. STEM Women Change: 23,111
% STEM Women Change: 3.5%
Median Income (all STEM): $86,631
Median Income Change (all STEM): 11%
Median Income (W. STEM): $77,168
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 16%

2. Seattle, WA

Seattle, Washington — Edmund Lowe Photography / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 17.09
No. Jobs (all STEM): 92,698
% STEM of All Jobs: 20.8%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 28,272
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 6.0%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 27,751
% Women of STEM Jobs: 30%
No. STEM Women Change: 11,722
% STEM Women Change: 5.1%
Median Income (all STEM): $125,852
Median Income Change (all STEM): 34%
Median Income (W. STEM): $102,786
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 28%

3. San Jose, CA

The skyline of San Jose — stellamc / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 14.68
No. Jobs (all STEM): 93,577
% STEM of All Jobs: 18.6%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 13,825
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 3.9%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 22,053
% Women of STEM Jobs: 24%
No. STEM Women Change: 2,811
% STEM Women Change: -0.6%
Median Income (all STEM): $146,661
Median Income Change (all STEM): 21%
Median Income (W. STEM): $122,394
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 26%

4. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco neighborhood. — Bertl123 / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 14.45
No. Jobs (all STEM): 78,664
% STEM of All Jobs: 17.5%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 14,155
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 5.5%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 23,379
% Women of STEM Jobs: 30%
No. STEM Women Change: 5,911
% STEM Women Change: 2.6%
Median Income (all STEM): $132,271
Median Income Change (all STEM): 19%
Median Income (W. STEM): $103,534
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 9%

5. Fremont, CA

Fremont, California — John Roche / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 14.23
No. Jobs (all STEM): 38,902
% STEM of All Jobs: 33.8%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 3,805
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 4.1%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 10,356
% Women of STEM Jobs: 27%
No. STEM Women Change: 2,067
% STEM Women Change: 3.0%
Median Income (all STEM): $146,736
Median Income Change (all STEM): 22%
Median Income (W. STEM): $122,156
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 20%

6. Austin, TX

Austin, Texas — Roschetzky Photography / Shutterstock.com

Region: South
Total Pts (of max. 30): 13.02
No. Jobs (all STEM): 87,955
% STEM of All Jobs: 15.4%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 26,147
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 4.2%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 21,626
% Women of STEM Jobs: 25%
No. STEM Women Change: 7,847
% STEM Women Change: 2.3%
Median Income (all STEM): $94,465
Median Income Change (all STEM): 26%
Median Income (W. STEM): $78,679
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 20%

7. Los Angeles, CA

Highway traffic in Los Angeles, California — Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 12.47
No. Jobs (all STEM): 104,298
% STEM of All Jobs: 5.6%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 18,611
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 1.4%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 33,184
% Women of STEM Jobs: 32%
No. STEM Women Change: 9,532
% STEM Women Change: 4.2%
Median Income (all STEM): $83,985
Median Income Change (all STEM): 16%
Median Income (W. STEM): $80,841
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 42%

8. San Diego, CA

San Diego — bonandbon / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 12.34
No. Jobs (all STEM): 97,743
% STEM of All Jobs: 14.2%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 15,953
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 2.9%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 27,911
% Women of STEM Jobs: 29%
No. STEM Women Change: 6,560
% STEM Women Change: 2.5%
Median Income (all STEM): $95,367
Median Income Change (all STEM): 18%
Median Income (W. STEM): $79,194
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 13%

9. Chicago, IL

Chicago, Illinois — f11photo / Shutterstock.com

Region: Midwest
Total Pts (of max. 30): 12.07
No. Jobs (all STEM): 106,346
% STEM of All Jobs: 8.0%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 30,250
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 2.3%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 28,654
% Women of STEM Jobs: 27%
No. STEM Women Change: 7,451
% STEM Women Change: -0.9%
Median Income (all STEM): $83,544
Median Income Change (all STEM): 16%
Median Income (W. STEM): $74,976
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 13%

10. Washington, D.C.

Washington DC streetcar — Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock.com

Region: South
Total Pts (of max. 30): 11.55
No. Jobs (all STEM): 46,635
% STEM of All Jobs: 13.1%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 1,711
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 1.3%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 19,530
% Women of STEM Jobs: 42%
No. STEM Women Change: 164
% STEM Women Change: -1.2%
Median Income (all STEM): $108,483
Median Income Change (all STEM): 42%
Median Income (W. STEM): $94,768
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 33%

11. Arlington CDP, VA

Arlington, Virginia — Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Region: South
Total Pts (of max. 30): 10.99
No. Jobs (all STEM): 24,998
% STEM of All Jobs: 17.8%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 1,112
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 1.7%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 10,117
% Women of STEM Jobs: 40%
No. STEM Women Change: 2,489
% STEM Women Change: 8.5%
Median Income (all STEM): $101,972
Median Income Change (all STEM): 13%
Median Income (W. STEM): $92,766
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 19%

12. Oakland, CA

Oakland, California — EddieHernandezPhotography / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 10.51
No. Jobs (all STEM): 22,931
% STEM of All Jobs: 10.3%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 5,437
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 2.5%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 7,430
% Women of STEM Jobs: 32%
No. STEM Women Change: 1,486
% STEM Women Change: -1.6%
Median Income (all STEM): $113,188
Median Income Change (all STEM): 20%
Median Income (W. STEM): $102,778
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 26%

13. Portland, OR

Aerial view of Portland with Mount Hood in the background. — josemaria-toscano / Shutterstock.com

Region: West
Total Pts (of max. 30): 10.50
No. Jobs (all STEM): 41,730
% STEM of All Jobs: 11.6%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 13,909
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 4.0%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 12,599
% Women of STEM Jobs: 30%
No. STEM Women Change: 3,788
% STEM Women Change: -1.5%
Median Income (all STEM): $84,374
Median Income Change (all STEM): 19%
Median Income (W. STEM): $79,902
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 49%

14. Charlotte, NC

Charlotte North Carolina — Kevin Ruck / Shutterstock.com

Region: South
Total Pts (of max. 30): 10.37
No. Jobs (all STEM): 41,894
% STEM of All Jobs: 8.7%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 10,777
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 2.0%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 14,324
% Women of STEM Jobs: 34%
No. STEM Women Change: 6,945
% STEM Women Change: 10.5%
Median Income (all STEM): $83,544
Median Income Change (all STEM): 12%
Median Income (W. STEM): $70,539
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 15%

15. Atlanta, GA

Interstate 20, or I-20, in Atlanta — Billy F Blume Jr / Shutterstock.com

Region: South
Total Pts (of max. 30): 10.34
No. Jobs (all STEM): 28,650
% STEM of All Jobs: 10.9%
No. STEM Jobs Change: 7,795
% STEM of all Jobs Change: 2.7%
No. Jobs (W. STEM): 9,601
% Women of STEM Jobs: 34%
No. STEM Women Change: 4,093
% STEM Women Change: 7.1%
Median Income (all STEM): $83,394
Median Income Change (all STEM): 25%
Median Income (W. STEM): $79,938
Median Income Change (W. STEM): 40%

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