- Average annual salary in 2009: $45,180
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.9%
Top industries:
- Technology industry (computer engineering)
- Whole Foods Market headquartered
- Upcoming hub for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $53,240
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 8.7%
Top industries:
- Mix of older industrial companies, “new economy” Internet and technology companies, service, design and clean technology companies
- Hotbed for start-up businesses, esp. green building and clean technologies (REUTERS/Anthony Bolante)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $60,090
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.0%
Top industries:
- Law firms, industry trade groups, and professional associations
- Education, finance, public policy and scientific research (REUTERS/Larry Downing)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $53,640
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.4%
Top industries:
- University of Colorado
- IBM
- Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. (City of Boulder)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $41,530
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.4%
Top industries:
- Government, trade, transportation, utilities, professional and business services (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $48, 190
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.5%
Top industries:
- Mayo Clinic
- IBM’s Rochester Campus (one of company’s most important manufacturing centers) (Don Anderson, visitrochestermn.com)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $42, 120
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 5.6%
Top industries:
- Insurance companies, one of which is Principal Financial Group (one of two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state
- In 2007, Forbes ranked the Des Moines metro area fourth on the list of “Best Places for Business and Careers” (REUTERS/Eric Thayer)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $44, 430
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.0%
Top industries:
- Education and health services
- Largest employer is Fletcher Allen Health Care and University of Vermont (Vermont Tourism)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $51, 520
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 8.3%
Top industries:
- Insurance industry, such as: Travelers, Aetna, The Hartford and The Phoenix Companies (Ronald C. Saari)
- Average annual salary in 2009: $38, 200
- Unemployment rate in 2009: 6.7%
Top industries:
-Largest employer is Kansas State, employing 8,400 (estimated; 69% of city’s government)
-Educational, health and social services industries