The highest-paying STEM occupation was “computer and information systems managers” with an annual mean wage of $162,930, according to a report released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data was measured in May 2021.

Systems managers were followed by “architectural and engineering managers” at $158,970, “natural sciences managers” at $156,110 and physicists at $151,580.

Looking at all computer-related occupations, the annual mean wage was $99,620. For software developers, the annual mean wage was $120,990. Software developers rank as the most numerous category among STEM jobs with 1.4 million in the US.

Lowest-paying STEM occupations were forest and conservation technicians at $43,420 and agricultural technicians at $44,850.

Overall, the annual mean wage for all STEM occupations was $100,900, compared to $55,260 for non-STEM occupations.

There were nearly 9.3 million STEM jobs in the US, representing 6.6% of total US employment. Areas with the highest employment shares of STEM occupations were the California-Lexington Park area in Maryland, at 24.4% and the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area in California at 22.1%.