While estimates vary depending on source and geography, one thing is clear—STEM jobs are still growing, and there may not be enough skilled professionals to fill those roles.
For example, in the latest 10-year projections from 2024 to 2034, overall STEM employment is expected to grow by 8.1%, driven heavily by computer and information technology jobs, which alone will see about 317,700 annual openings.
Stats show gaps at every level, from K–12 enrollment to college graduation rates and workforce diversity. The result is a skills shortage employers are already feeling, and the consequences are real.
The following STEM education statistics and STEM job quick facts are drawn from federal agencies, peer-reviewed research, and major industry surveys. Some haven't been updated recently, but cover workforce growth, the education pipeline, and demographic representation (which are the core areas where data tells the most important story about the future of STEM in the United States).
Please note: This page compiles STEM education statistics from primary government sources, peer-reviewed research, and industry surveys. Where possible, we link directly to the original report or dataset. Key sources include:
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): occupational projections, wage data, and employment counts
- National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) / NSF: workforce composition and degree attainment
- Pew Research Center: demographic breakdowns of the STEM workforce
- National Science Board: diversity and equity in STEM pipelines
I review and update this page annually, so some statistics reflect the most recently available survey cycle, which may lag real-world conditions by a few years. Where a projection's target date has passed, I present the figure as historical context rather than a current forecast and fact. If you spot a figure that needs updating, let me know.
STEM Education Stats
Below is a quick look at a few of the more popular STEM education statistics, with details below each.
1. STEM jobs are projected to grow 8.1%.
Between 2024 and 2034, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 8.1%, significantly outpacing the 2.7% growth rate for all non-sTEM occupations. This growth is driven by increasing demand in areas such as computing, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. (Via US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
2. Specifically, software development employment is projected to grow 15%.
Regarding the job outlook from 2024-2034, employment in software development is projected for 15% growth. (Via US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
3. Employment in STEM occupations has grown 20% over the past decade
Between 2011 and 2021, the STEM workforce expanded from 29.0 million to 34.9 million workers, marking a 20% increase. This growth reflects the rising demand for professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. (Via National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, NCSES)
4. A computer science major can earn 40% more than the college average.
The lifetime earnings of a computer science major is reported to be 1.67M, which is 40% more than the $1.19M lifetime earnings of a college graduate. (Via Code.org)
5. The median annual wage for STEM workers is $103,580.
In 2024, the median annual wage for STEM occupations was $103,580, compared with $49,500 for all occupations (Via US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
6. The U.S. ranked 28th in math and 10th in science in PISA 2022 among 81 participating school systems.
This is according to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)—which is regarded as one of the biggest cross-national tests of its kind. (Via Chalkbeat)
7. Only 16% of U.S. high school graduates are prepared for college-level coursework in STEM majors.
NSF's official reporting notes that the percentage of high school graduates meeting the combined ACT college readiness benchmarks for both mathematics and science dropped explicitly to 16%. (US National Science Foundation)
8. 74% of middle school girls express an interest in engineering, science, and math...
But only 0.4% choose computer science as a major when they get to college. (Reported by girlswhocode.org and mentioned by the National Girls Collaborative Project, August 2016)
9. 2 out of 3 US women say they were not encouraged to pursue a career in STEM. Just 31% of women with a STEM bachelor’s degree go on to pursue a career in the field.
In the 2019 STEM survey by Emerson, it was stated that 2 of 3 US women said they weren't encouraged to pursue a STEM career, and this impacts even those who are highly qualified. (From Emerson.com, August 2019 and the Society of Women Engineers.)
Read More: The Benefits of Encouragement
10. Women make up only about 35% of the STEM workforce
As of 2022-23, women comprised only 26% of the STEM workforce, indicating ongoing gender disparities in these fields. (Via STEM Women). While still not enough, women now make up about 35% of the STEM workforce in the U.S. (Via NGCP).
11. 63% of middle school girls who know women in STEM feel powerful doing STEM.
In comparison, 46% of middle school girls who don't personally know women in STEM feel powerful doing STEM. Similarly, 73% of those girls who personally know women in STEM understand the relevancy of STEM, and 72% know how to pursue a STEM career. This is compared to 51% and 47% of those who don't personally know women in STEM, respectively. (Via Microsoft and a study done in partnership with KRC research, March 2018)
12. Moms who communicate on STEM leads to girls being +20 points more interested in pursuing their studies.
From the same study above, "Having an encouraging mom who communicates about STEM is associated with girls being an average +20 points more interested in all STEM subjects compared to those girls who do not." Having an encouraging teacher is associated with +21 points; having an encouraging dad is associated with +17 points.
13. 40% of black students switch out of STEM majors before earning a degree.
This is according to a study published in the journal, Education Researcher, and highlighted by the Education Advisory Board (October 2019). There is a lot of work to be done in addressing this trend, and promoting diversity in STEM starts at the university and K-12 level.
14. Black workers make up 11% of the US workforce, but represent 9% of STEM workers.
This is in addition to Latino STEM workers, who make up 16% of the workforce, but only 7% of all STEM workers. And, of those employed adults who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, 7% are black workers and 6% are Hispanic workers of the STEM workforce." Plus, recent headlines have exposed Silicon Valley's diversity problem and how much work there is still to do to improve equity in tech. (Stats via Pew Research Center, January 2018)
15. The U.S. Department of Education invested $578 million in STEM education in FY 2020, after investing $540 million in FY 2019.
The White House "Charting a Course for Success Report" identified a need to bolster support for STEM education at both the K-12 and collegiate level. These funds included efforts to recruit and train quality STEM teachers, increase diverse representation, and provide curriculum and materials for schools. (Via The Department of Education).
16. The US Bureau of Labor predicts 15% growth across healthcare professions by 2029.
STEM infuses virtually all aspects of the healthcare industry. By encouraging kids to pursue STEM, they’ll be prepared to find an exciting career within a wide range of options and increasing demand. (Via Bureau of Labor Statistics)
17. About 58% of U.S. high schools offer computer science courses.
That's right—according to a 2023 study sponsored by Code.org, just more than half of US schools offer computer science curriculum. That begs the question: are kids going to be ready to meet the evolving, growing landscape of STEM professions. (Via Code.org, 2023)
18. Of the 13.1 million people employed science and engineering-oriented STEM professions, over 60% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
In order to have the most opportunities in STEM fields, a college degree can be a big help. Read more about how to prepare for STEM success in college and beyond. (Via National Science and Engineering Indicators)
19. Among adults in households earning less than $30,000 annually, approximately 43% still do not have home broadband services, and 41% do not own a desktop or laptop computer.
While tech adoption rates among lower-income Americans have made gains, they are still nowhere near universal compared to higher-income brackets. By comparison, households earning over $100,000 a year enjoy near-ubiquitous access to all major connected devices. (Via World Economic Forum, 2021.)
20. Despite representing 35% of college undergraduates, Black and Latino students represent just 25% of STEM degree earners.
Notably, this is not due to lack of interest: underrepresented minority students enroll in STEM college programs at the same rates as their peers, but they are more likely to change majors before graduation (Riegele-Crumb et al., 2019). (Via The National Science Board, July 2022)
21. Currently, federal investment in diversifying STEM education and opportunity focuses on the college level and higher, with less funding dedicated to K-12 education.
This leaves a critical window of missed opportunity at the K-12 level. (Via The National Science Foundation, July 2022).
22. Evidence suggests that by participating in STEM summer programs, underrepresented communities of students are more likely to graduate from high school, attend four-year colleges, and earn STEM degrees.
According to a recent study, students who participated in STEM summer programs boosted their chances of earning a STEM degree and graduating from high school. The most significant increase in STEM degree attainment, 33%, reflected the group who participated in the longest and most in-depth STEM summer program. The students who attained STEM degrees also increased their post-graduation earning potential by 2-6% (Via Cohodes et. al, 2022).
So where does that leave us?
First of all, there are hundreds of stats and related studies. Some are old, others newer. Overall, though, these themes hold true.
STEM is important. STEM is an economic driver. STEM presents opportunity. We need to prepare way more people to meet such opportunity.
The fix, of course, is not easy. I’m not the first to talk about it, nor will I be the last. There are many people talking about it, and others working to do something about it.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the fact that we provide STEM summer camps; and relevant to today's world, coding classes for kids, and online math tutoring—programs and opportunities that aren’t inexpensive at that, due to our world-class staff, live instruction, and premium tech tools.
To better serve a wider breadth of families, we also provide these life-changing STEM experiences for underrepresented students through a number of social impact initiatives.
The bottom line is that STEM needs to be where the kids are. In school, after-school; during the summer, and in our local communities, introduced at a young age when they are most curious. Kids need STEM mentors and role models to look up to. They need more education about STEM degrees and related jobs so they can look forward to bright futures in these fields.
STEM needs to be the sport your child is playing, the show they are watching, and the hero they are emulating. It’s not that kids don’t have the time or capacity to “fit in” STEM, but rather that time needs to be reshaped to include STEM.
Read more about how to get into STEM