Recent NSF study reveals regional concentration of scientists and engineers in the United States

According to a recently published report by the National Science Foundation, science and engineering (S&E) employment in the United States is geographically concentrated in a small number of states. Further, several major metropolitan areas within these states account for the highest S&E employment.

California, Texas and New York together account for more than one-fourth of all S&E employment, and cities in California--Santa Clara, Los Angeles and San Diego--together account for one in 10 of the total S&E employees nationwide. The states of Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts and Ohio make up a significant portion of S&E employment as well.

S&E expertise is an integral part of a region’s capacity to innovate because of the scientists’ and engineers’ high skill levels, creative ideas and contributions to scientific knowledge and to research and development.

For more information on this report, please contact Beethika Khan.

Please visit the NSF’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics for more reports and other products.


The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.


Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/