For those seeking employment in science, technology, engineering, and math, Colorado is a top option - the state emerged as one of top markets for STEM jobs in the country.
Both Denver and Boulder are among the top 15 markets for STEM talent in the U.S., according to a recent report by 24/7 Wall Street.
The list features the 15 U.S. major metropolitan areas in which at least 9 percent of the workforce is employed in a STEM field.
To identify those cities, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed metropolitan statistical area-level data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics database for 2017.
Boulder checked in at number four on the list, with 15.7 percent of the city's 178,000 workers in STEM fields. The most common STEM job in Boulder is physicists.
With Google and Amazon having satellite offices in the city, it's no surprise Boulder ranks highly on the list. The average STEM median wage in Boulder is $86,609.
The city continues to place a priority on STEM, with a number of startups working to inspire the next generation of STEM employees. There's Sphero, Modular Robotics and Bitsbox in the edtech space, and STEM playground, The Hopper, coming to Boulder in 2020.
Denver also snuck onto the list, coming in at 15th with 9.2 percent of the city's 1.4 million jobs in STEM fields. The top STEM jobs in the metropolitan area are mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers.
The city's STEM employment is bolstered by major employers Dish Network, CenturyLink and Kaiser Permanente. The average median wage for a STEM job in Denver is $81,672, $5,000 lower than Boulder’s figure.
Colorado joined North Carolina and California as the only states with multiple metropolitan areas on the list. California-Lexington Park, Maryland topped the list with a quarter of the area's 45,460 employees working in STEM fields.
To see the full report, click the link here.
