A new study reveals that Eugene, in Oregon, is the area in the US where there has been the highest salary increase for computer and mathematical occupations.
The study, conducted by software development company Inoxoft, analyzed median wages for computer and mathematical occupations across all metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2018 and May 2023. The study’s purpose was to compare these wages to identify where the highest increases in salaries for these occupations occurred.
Homosassa Springs, Florida, comes in second with a growth rate of 69.7%. The median wage jumped from $53,414 in 2018 to $90,626 in 2023, translating to an average annual growth rate of 11.2%. The region also saw an expansion in its employment rate, rising from almost nonexistent levels in 2018 to 1.6 per 1,000 in 2023.
First place went to Eugene, Oregon which touted an impressive growth rate of 83.1%. This increase is based on a comparison of the 2023 annual median wage of $103,979 with the 2018 median wage of $56,784. Over the five-year period, salaries in Eugene rose at an average annual rate of 12.9%. However, despite this substantial wage growth, the employment rate per 1,000 jobs declined by 18.5%, decreasing from 1.6 in 2018 to 1.3 in 2023.
In third place is Cumberland, Maryland, which recorded a growth rate of 66.4%. The median wage in this area rose from $67,725 in 2018 to $112,674 in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of 10.7%. Notably, Cumberland experienced a significant increase in employment, with the rate rising from 1.3 per 1,000 in 2018 to 3.8 per 1,000 in 2023, marking a 192.8% rise.
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metropolitan area in North Carolina ranks fourth with a growth rate of 65.3%. The median wage in this region increased from $55,661 in 2018 to $91,998 in 2023, which reflects an average annual growth rate of 10.6%. Employment opportunities also expanded, with the employment rate rising from 0.0 per 1,000 to 1.3 per 1,000.
Grand Junction, Colorado, takes fifth place with a growth rate of 64.5%. The median wage increased from $70,762 in 2018 to $116,376 in 2023, showing an annual growth rate of 10.5%. However, the employment rate per 1,000 dropped significantly from 0.7 in 2018 to 0.0 in 2023, indicating a sharp decline in the availability of jobs, despite the substantial wage growth.
Cleveland in Tennessee, Lima in Ohio, Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent in Florida, Corvallis in Orgeon and Stockon-Lodi in California occupy positions six to 10.
