Published
September 22, 2026 8:42 am
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Jenna Ross
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- Zack Aboulazm
The following content is sponsored by Michigan Central
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Ranked: U.S. Metro Areas With the Most Engineering Jobs
As billions pour into AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and next-generation mobility, engineering jobs are becoming increasingly important to the U.S. economy.
But engineering talent is far from evenly distributed. This graphic ranks U.S. metro areas by the number of employed engineers, revealing the country’s biggest engineering hubs. It’s created in partnership with Michigan Central and is the first piece in our Innovation Economy series.
Where the Most Engineering Jobs Are in America
Los Angeles has the most engineering jobs, with nearly 70,000 employed engineers. Its sheer size is a main reason it tops the ranking, given it’s the second-largest labor market among U.S. metro areas.
| Rank | U.S. Metro Area | Number of Employed Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles | 69.8K |
| 2 | Detroit | 60.7K |
| 3 | New York | 53.1K |
| 4 | Houston | 51.9K |
| 5 | Boston | 47.8K |
| 6 | Dallas | 45.8K |
| 7 | Washington DC | 41.0K |
| 8 | Chicago | 39.4K |
| 9 | San Jose | 39.3K |
| 10 | San Francisco | 36.8K |
| 11 | Seattle | 35.8K |
| 12 | Denver | 30.2K |
| 13 | Minneapolis | 29.2K |
| 14 | San Diego | 28.3K |
| 15 | Philadelphia | 27.5K |
| 16 | Phoenix | 26.3K |
| 17 | Atlanta | 24.3K |
| 18 | Austin | 22.4K |
| 19 | Portland | 18.6K |
| 20 | Baltimore | 18.3K |
| 21 | Miami | 18.2K |
| 22 | Huntsville | 17.3K |
| 23 | Cincinnati | 16.3K |
| 24 | Pittsburgh | 14.3K |
| 25 | Kansas City | 14.0K |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data includes all detailed engineering occupations within the Engineers (SOC 17-2000) occupational group. Estimated total employment is as of May 2025 and is rounded to the nearest 10, excluding self-employed individuals. Metro area names are shortened to the first-listed city for readability.
The Detroit metro area comes in second place with over 60,000 employed engineers. In comparison to LA, Detroit is a smaller labor market that is more specialized in engineering. In fact, engineering jobs make up 3.2% of employment in the Detroit metro area versus 1.1% in LA.
Part of Detroit’s engineering strength is due to its strong automotive roots, with the area being home to major manufacturers like Ford. On top of this, Michigan’s leading research universities create a strong talent pipeline in wide-ranging areas from computer engineering to mechanical engineering.
How Detroit is Building the Future
Michigan Central builds on Detroit’s deep engineering talent by providing the infrastructure, partnerships, and real-world testing environments companies need to turn ideas into products.
The 30-acre innovation district brings together startups, major corporations, investors, universities, and other partners, with 25 state-of-the-art infrastructure assets ranging from workshops and prototyping facilities to flexible manufacturing space.
Today, more than 240 companies across over 60 industries work within the Michigan Central ecosystem. Together, they advance technologies and programs that address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today. From 2023 to 2025, Michigan Central generated $5.2 billion in economic output.
Download Michigan Central’s Economic Impact Report to see how the district is helping drive Detroit’s next chapter of innovation.
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