10. Oregon
> Innovation index score: 51.8 out of 100
> Employment in STEM fields: 7.5% of all workers – 8th highest (136,860 people total)
> Avg. annual income in STEM jobs: $97,560 – 15th highest
> Venture capital investments; 2021: $1.6 billion – 21st highest (160 VC deals total)
> Patents issued in 2020: 96.4 per 100,000 people – 5th most (4,093 total)
9. Utah
> Innovation index score: 52.5 out of 100
> Employment in STEM fields: 7.6% of all workers – 7th highest (117,790 people total)
> Avg. annual income in STEM jobs: $86,430 – 22nd lowest
> Venture capital investments; 2021: $4.2 billion – 12th highest (209 VC deals total)
> Patents issued in 2020: 61.0 per 100,000 people – 11th most (2,036 total)
8. New Hampshire
> Innovation index score: 54.7 out of 100
> Employment in STEM fields: 7.3% of all workers – 9th highest (46,060 people total)
> Avg. annual income in STEM jobs: $100,760 – 12th highest
> Venture capital investments; 2021: $102.4 million – 8th lowest (38 VC deals total)
> Patents issued in 2020: 79.4 per 100,000 people – 7th most (1,103 total)
7. Delaware
> Innovation index score: 55.4 out of 100
> Employment in STEM fields: 7.2% of all workers – 13th highest (31,210 people total)
> Avg. annual income in STEM jobs: $105,100 – 8th highest
> Venture capital investments; 2021: $1.9 billion – 18th highest (275 VC deals total)
> Patents issued in 2020: 35.7 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (358 total)
6. California
> Innovation index score: 61.5 out of 100
> Employment in STEM fields: 7.9% of all workers – 6th highest (1,309,560 people total)
> Avg. annual income in STEM jobs: $123,210 – the highest
> Venture capital investments; 2021: $157.5 billion – the highest (5,342 VC deals total)
> Patents issued in 2020: 128.7 per 100,000 people – the most (50,496 total)
