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Numbers, research, and discovery: STEM employment projected to take off!

December 09, 2025

STEM employment, which includes occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is projected to grow by 8.1 percent from 2024 to 2034. In comparison, employment in non-STEM occupations is projected to grow 2.7 percent over this period. The median wage for STEM occupations ($103,580) was more than twice the median wage for non-STEM occupations ($48,000) in 2024.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM occupations, projected 2024–34 employment change and 2024 median annual wages
Occupation category Employment change (percent), 2024–34 Median annual wage (dollars), 2024

Total, all occupations

 3.1 49,500

STEM occupations

 8.1 103,580

Non-STEM occupations

 2.7 48,000

These data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The Occupational Outlook Handbook has more information on occupations in architecture and engineering; mathematics; computer and information technology; life, physical, and social science. Also, see these data on STEM occupations and "Employment and wages for alternate definitions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations."

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Numbers, research, and discovery: STEM employment projected to take off! at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/numbers-research-and-discovery-stem-employment-projected-to-take-off.htm (visited December 10, 2025).