9. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Advanced industries, share of employment: 12.8%
> Advanced industries, share of output: 38.4%
> Annual avg. wage: $63,880
> Largest advanced industry: Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services

The average wage among advanced industry workers in the Houston metro area was $121,220 in 2013, fourth highest compared to their peers in other large metro areas. The high wages in the industry helped raise the average overall annual earnings to nearly $64,000, seventh highest among large metro areas. Advanced industries tend to contribute more to economic output than other industries, and this was especially true in the Houston area. Advanced industries accounted for 38.4% of total GMP in 2013, the third highest advanced industry contribution among large metro areas. The largest industry within the advanced sector was architectural, engineering and other services followed by oil and gas extraction. The University of Texas presides in Houston, as well as one of Lockheed Martin’s engineering facilities. Both are among the region’s largest employers.

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8. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Advanced industries, share of employment: 13.3%
> Advanced industries, share of output: 22.8%
> Annual avg. wage: $67,370
> Largest advanced industry: Computer Systems Design and Related Services

As in other cities with prominent advanced industries, Boston metro area residents are relatively well educated. Nearly 45% of adults had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2013, the fifth highest share among large metro areas. Perhaps as a result, residents were also well paid. The average wage among all workers was $67,370 in 2013, the sixth highest average wage reviewed. Higher earnings among advanced industry workers helped raise the average wage as well as the percentage of households with especially high incomes. Ten percent of area households had incomes of at least $200,000 in 2013, the sixth highest share among large metro areas and twice the national proportion. Like Massachusetts as a whole, Boston area residents also had exceptionally high health insurance coverage. Just 4.2% of residents did not have health insurance in 2013, nearly the lowest among large metro areas.

7. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
> Advanced industries, share of employment: 13.4%
> Advanced industries, share of output: 21.7%
> Annual avg. wage: $47,350
> Largest advanced industry: Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing

Unlike most areas with strong advanced industries, residents of the Palm Bay metro area do not have especially high wages. The average wage among all residents was $47,350 in 2013, one of only five top 15 metro areas where wages were lower than the national figure of $50,130. While many of the areas with the most advanced jobs reported especially high annual GMP growth rates from 2010 to 2013, the Palm Bay metro area reported a decline in economic output of 1.5% over that period, nearly the worst decline. Audio and video equipment manufacturing companies were the largest advanced industry employers in the area. Advanced industries also contributed largely to economic output in 2013, accounting for nearly 22%.