The United States has been a leading innovator in the world for a long time. This can be attributed to the fact that public research and development programs are well-funded. The federal government’s annual budget for R&D is over $191 billion. Additionally, the private sector, consisting of both small start-ups and large corporations, is a major source of innovation. Amazon alone spent over $73.2 billion on R&D in the previous fiscal year, which is more than the GDPs of several small countries combined.
Located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, several of the most innovative states in the US are home to major companies in various sectors including information technology and defense. These states also boast a high concentration of large research institutions, making them renowned for their innovative contributions. Additionally, STEM jobs located in these states tend to offer higher salaries compared to STEM jobs in less innovative states. For instance, the average yearly income for STEM workers in the five least innovative states is less than $85,000, while the average STEM wage in the five most inventive states is more than $120,000.
- Mississippi
Work in the STEM industries: 3.3% of all workers – the lowest (36,840 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $74,410 – 2nd lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $11.3 million – the lowest (2 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 6.9 per 100,000 people – the fewest (205 total) - Louisiana
Work in the STEM industries: 3.6% of all workers – 2nd lowest (64,200 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $82,900 – 12th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $86.8 million – 6th lowest (27 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 11.1 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (512 total) - North Dakota
Work in the STEM industries: 4.2% of all workers – 6th lowest (16,780 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $78,620 – 7th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $47.7 million – 4th lowest (4 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 17.8 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (138 total) - West Virginia
Work in the STEM industries: 4.1% of all workers – 5th lowest (27,280 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $76,880 – 5th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $29.1 million – 2nd lowest (10 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 7.5 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (134 total) - Arkansas
Work in the STEM industries: 3.9% of all workers – 4th lowest (47,020 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $81,150 – 9th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $131.1 million – 12th lowest (33 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 17.7 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (535 total) - Nebraska
Employment in STEM fields: Work in the STEM industries: 6.0% of all workers – 24th highest (57,400 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $83,030 – 14th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $317.7 million – 20th lowest (43 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 21.7 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (427 total) - South Dakota
Work in the STEM industries: 4.8% of all workers – 9th lowest (20,330 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $77,270 – 6th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $168.7 million – 13th lowest (10 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 18.4 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (165 total) - Iowa
Work in the STEM industries: 5.6% of all workers – 19th lowest (82,550 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $86,610 – 23rd lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $205.3 million – 16th lowest (42 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 37.6 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (1,202 total) - Kentucky
Work in the STEM industries: 4.3% of all workers – 7th lowest (79,320 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $76,040 – 4th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $200.0 million – 15th lowest (50 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 19.3 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (869 total) - Oklahoma
Work in the STEM industries: 5.1% of all workers – 16th lowest (79,710 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $84,710 – 19th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $109.4 million – 9th lowest (17 VC deals total)
Patents issued in 2020: 2020 patents granted: 17.3 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (689 total) - Tennessee
Work in the STEM industries: 5.1% of all workers – 14th lowest (151,010 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $82,960 – 13th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.0 billion – 25th highest (124 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 21.4 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (1,494 total) - Hawaii
Work in the STEM industries: 5.1% of all workers – 15th lowest (28,010 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $89,180 – 25th highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $63.1 million – 5th lowest (12 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 11.2 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (161 total) - Maine
Work in the STEM industries: 5.0% of all workers – 12th lowest (29,820 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $85,750 – 21st lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $115.3 million – 10th lowest (32 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 16.6 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (228 total) - Kansas
Work in the STEM industries: 5.7% of all workers – 22nd lowest (76,500 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $83,470 – 17th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $283.9 million – 19th lowest (32 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 30.8 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (905 total) - Nevada
Work in the STEM industries: 3.9% of all workers – 3rd lowest (49,740 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $81,680 – 10th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.7 billion – 19th highest (111 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 33.2 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (1,045 total) - Montana
Work in the STEM industries: 5.7% of all workers – 21st lowest (26,850 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $71,740 – the lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $510.0 million – 23rd lowest (34 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 16.3 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (180 total) - Alabama
Work in the STEM industries: 5.9% of all workers – 25th highest (114,200 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $92,290 – 22nd highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $245.9 million – 17th lowest (57 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 12.0 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (607 total) - Missouri
Work in the STEM industries: 5.6% of all workers – 17th lowest (151,620 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $85,080 – 20th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.2 billion – 24th highest (103 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 26.9 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (1,657 total) - Alaska
Work in the STEM industries: 6.5% of all workers – 18th highest (19,330 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $92,340 – 21st highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $32.5 million – 3rd lowest (11 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 9.1 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (67 total) - South Carolina
Work in the STEM industries: 4.8% of all workers – 10th lowest (99,820 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $83,320 – 15th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $252.3 million – 18th lowest (52 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 26.6 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (1,382 total) - Ohio
Work in the STEM industries: 5.9% of all workers – 25th lowest (304,580 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $88,620 – 25th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $2.4 billion – 15th highest (179 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 45.7 per 100,000 people – 18th most (5,386 total) - Indiana
Work in the STEM industries: 4.9% of all workers – 11th lowest (146,350 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $82,710 – 11th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $490.5 million – 22nd lowest (143 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 37.2 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (2,529 total) - Wisconsin
Work in the STEM industries: 6.1% of all workers – 22nd highest (168,090 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $83,430 – 16th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $541.5 million – 24th lowest (86 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 49.8 per 100,000 people – 15th most (2,939 total) - Illinois
Work in the STEM industries: 5.7% of all workers – 20th lowest (319,900 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $96,950 – 18th highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $7.3 billion – 6th highest (412 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 48.7 per 100,000 people – 16th most (6,175 total) - Wyoming
Work in the STEM industries: 4.4% of all workers – 8th lowest (11,570 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $75,620 – 3rd lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $119.5 million – 11th lowest (28 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 27.5 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (159 total) - Georgia
Work in the STEM industries: 6.0% of all workers – 23rd highest (262,590 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $96,130 – 19th highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $4.2 billion – 11th highest (261 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 31.2 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (3,365 total) - Vermont
Work in the STEM industries: 5.8% of all workers – 23rd lowest (16,540 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $84,640 – 18th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $657.9 million – 25th lowest (35 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 55.6 per 100,000 people – 12th most (359 total) - Rhode Island
Work in the STEM industries: 6.3% of all workers – 20th highest (28,820 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $101,890 – 11th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $89.8 million – 7th lowest (27 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 45.9 per 100,000 people – 17th most (503 total) - Pennsylvania
Work in the STEM industries: 6.3% of all workers – 21st highest (349,380 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $90,730 – 23rd highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $6.7 billion – 8th highest (384 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 36.5 per 100,000 people – 25th most (4,737 total) - New York
Work in the STEM industries: 5.6% of all workers – 18th lowest (481,860 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $109,870 – 6th highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $49.6 billion – 2nd highest (2,140 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 53.1 per 100,000 people – 14th most (10,540 total) - Minnesota
Work in the STEM industries: 7.2% of all workers – 11th highest (197,520 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $97,140 – 17th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.3 billion – 23rd highest (173 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 82.9 per 100,000 people – 6th most (4,734 total) - Arizona
Work in the STEM industries: 6.5% of all workers – 19th highest (188,040 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $95,180 – 20th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $2.0 billion – 17th highest (167 VC deals total)
Patents issued in 2020: 2020 patents granted: 43.2 per 100,000 people – 20th most (3,140 total) - North Carolina
Work in the STEM industries: 6.8% of all workers – 16th highest (300,820 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $97,830 – 13th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $3.5 billion – 13th highest (329 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 37.1 per 100,000 people – 24th most (3,917 total) - Florida
Work in the STEM industries: 5.1% of all workers – 13th lowest (434,920 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $87,090 – 24th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $6.0 billion – 9th highest (500 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 25.3 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (5,513 total) - Idaho
Employment in STEM fields: Work in the STEM industries: 5.8% of all workers – 24th lowest (44,160 people total)
Avg. annual income in STEM jobs: STEM career average yearly salary: $80,060 – 8th lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $370.3 million – 21st lowest (40 VC deals total)
Patents issued in 2020: 2020 patents granted: 63.8 per 100,000 people – 10th most (1,213 total) - Texas
Work in the STEM industries: 6.6% of all workers – 17th highest (811,790 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $97,680 – 14th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $9.0 billion – 4th highest (794 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 44.7 per 100,000 people – 19th most (13,192 total) - Connecticut
Work in the STEM industries: 7.0% of all workers – 14th highest (109,580 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $104,020 – 10th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.7 billion – 20th highest (176 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 96.5 per 100,000 people – 4th most (3,478 total) - Michigan
Work in the STEM industries: 7.2% of all workers – 10th highest (293,880 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $90,070 – 24th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.4 billion – 22nd highest (162 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 74.4 per 100,000 people – 8th most (7,478 total) - New Jersey
Work in the STEM industries: 7.2% of all workers – 12th highest (276,770 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $115,110 – 3rd Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $5.6 billion – 10th highest (226 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 54.2 per 100,000 people – 13th most (5,027 total) - New Mexico
Work in the STEM industries: 6.9% of all workers – 15th highest (53,280 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $97,390 – 16th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $169.3 million – 14th lowest (41 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 24.1 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (509 total) - Oregon
Work in the STEM industries: 7.5% of all workers – 8th highest (136,860 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $97,560 – 15th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.6 billion – 21st highest (160 VC deals total)
Patents issued in 2020: 2020 patents granted: 96.4 per 100,000 people – 5th most (4,093 total) - Utah
Work in the STEM industries: 7.6% of all workers – 7th highest (117,790 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $86,430 – 22nd lowest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $4.2 billion – 12th highest (209 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 61.0 per 100,000 people – 11th most (2,036 total) - New Hampshire
Work in the STEM industries: 7.3% of all workers – 9th highest (46,060 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $100,760 – 12th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $102.4 million – 8th lowest (38 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 79.4 per 100,000 people – 7th most (1,103 total) - Delaware
Work in the STEM industries: 7.2% of all workers – 13th highest (31,210 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $105,100 – 8th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $1.9 billion – 18th highest (275 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 35.7 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (358 total) - California
Work in the STEM industries: 7.9% of all workers – 6th highest (1,309,560 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $123,210 – the highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $157.5 billion – the highest (5,342 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 128.7 per 100,000 people – the most (50,496 total) - Virginia
Work in the STEM industries: 9.3% of all workers – 3rd highest (349,310 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $109,370 – 7th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $2.6 billion – 14th highest (257 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 34.7 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (3,002 total) - Colorado
Work in the STEM industries: 9.2% of all workers – 4th highest (242,380 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $104,420 – 9th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $6.8 billion – 7th highest (459 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 64.3 per 100,000 people – 9th most (3,740 total) - Maryland
Work in the STEM industries: 10.1% of all workers – 2nd highest (258,230 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $110,690 – 5th Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $2.2 billion – 16th highest (176 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 40.3 per 100,000 people – 21st most (2,482 total) - Washington
Work in the STEM industries: 10.2% of all workers – the highest (326,530 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $117,950 – 2nd Highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $8.6 billion – 5th highest (549 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 117.7 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (9,112 total) - Massachusetts
Work in the STEM industries: 9.1% of all workers – 5th highest (310,450 people total)
STEM career average yearly salary: $115,060 – 4th highest
Venture capital financing in 2021: $35.5 billion – 3rd highest (1,096 VC deals total)
2020 patents granted: 125.8 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (8,790 total)
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