STEM Diversity: By the Numbers

While the skills gap is often brought up when discussing the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforces, these areas also have several gaps in diversity. General STEM Workforce and Education Facts Occupations in science, technology, engineering, and math in the U.S. have jumped from 9.7 million to 17.3 million since 1990, signifying a 79% increase. Full-time STEM workers earn more on average than non-STEM occupations. The average salary for workers who graduated with a degree in a STEM subject is $101,100, while employees with degrees in other majors have an average salary of $87,600. STEM workers are two times more likely than those in other fields to have earned their bachelor’s degree or higher education. For STEM workers with some college education but no degree, the average salary is $54,745, compared to similarly educated non-STEM employees earning 26% less. STEM workers faced lower unemployment compared to those not working in STEM (2% vs. 4%) in 2019, a pattern also seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.