Which states have the most STEM jobs in 2026? Here’s how WA ranked
Washington is among the nation’s leading innovative states, according to a new ranking from WalletHub.
Coming in at No. 5, the Evergreen State scored as one of the country’s most innovative states for 2026 in a report released March 18 by the personal finance company. WalletHub placed the District of Columbia in first, followed by Massachusetts, California and Colorado.
As for the least innovative states, per WalletHub’s calculations? Iowa came in at No. 47, North Dakota at No. 48 and West Virginia at No. 49. Louisiana landed second-to-last and Mississippi was last.
Washington also ranked high when taking a closer look at some of WalletHub’s subcategories.
For example, the Evergreen State scored second in the share of STEM professionals and the share of science and engineering grads ages 25 and older, behind only Washington, D.C. in both cases. Trailing behind Washington in the share of STEM professionals: Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia, in that order.
Washington also tied for first in R&D spending per capita, alongside California, New Mexico, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.
WalletHub applied 25 innovation-friendliness metrics to put together its “most innovative states” ranking. Factors considered include research and development (R&D) spending per capita, share of workers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), and tech-company concentration.
Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, explained that the most innovation-friendly states attract those who’ve majored in STEM. They boast ample career opportunities and investment funding for startups and for jobs at existing companies, he said in a statement.
“These states also instill young students with the skills they need to succeed in the current workforce, skills which are useful whether or not they pursue a STEM career,” Lupo said.
States were analyzed across two main dimensions: innovation environment and human capital.
The former considered states’ shares of technology companies, entrepreneurial activity, R&D spending per capita, net migration and more. In this category, Washington secured fourth.
Human capital, meanwhile, covered factors like the share of STEM professionals, AP exam participation and projected STEM job-demand by 2030, among others. Washington state came in sixth in terms of this grouping.
As for international rankings, the U.S. takes home the bronze in the Global Innovation Index of 139 nations, behind just Switzerland and Sweden, WalletHub notes.
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
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