Top 10 U.S. Cities With the Most F-1 STEM OPT Jobs

Mihailo Bozic
Mihailo Bozic
Updated July 30, 2026 · 4 min read

The U.S. cities with the most F-1 STEM OPT jobs are led by New York, Austin, and Seattle, the metros with the highest concentration of live F-1 STEM OPT openings. Migrate Mate is tracking 5,617 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs across these 10 metros as of July 30, 2026, updated daily. F-1 STEM OPT is your own work authorization, so the role only needs to relate to your field of study.

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Which U.S. cities have the most F-1 STEM OPT jobs?

Ranked by live F-1 STEM OPT jobs in each metro on Migrate Mate, updated daily

Editor’s note

How this list is ranked

These metros are ranked by how many F-1 STEM OPT jobs are live on Migrate Mate right now, so the list reflects where F-1 STEM OPT hiring is concentrated today rather than historical government filings. Counts change daily. A larger metro means more employers and more openings to work through, but confirm the specific role fits and that you are eligible before you apply.

  1. 01

    New York, New York

    New York leads with 971 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate, the most of any metro on this list.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in New York concentrates in Data Science & Analytics, Software Engineering, and Science & Research roles, with employers like Amazon.com, Columbia University, and NYU Langone Health posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Software Engineering
    • Science & Research
    • Project & Program Management
    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in New York
    AI & Workforce Signals Analyst
    New York, New York · Hybrid
    Apply
    Research Coordinator
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Project Manager
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    House Officer (Limited Permit Physician)
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    Emergency Medicine Physician
    New York, New York · On-site
    Apply
    See all 971 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in New York
  2. 02

    Austin, Texas

    Austin has 942 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Austin concentrates in Engineering (Non-Software), Software Engineering, and Electrical Engineering roles, with employers like Apple, Amazon.com, and The University of Texas at Austin posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • Software Engineering
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Austin
    Data Analyst IV
    Austin, Texas · Hybrid
    Apply
    Workflow Automation Specialist
    Austin, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Embedded Software Engineer
    Austin, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I
    Austin, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    Senior Palantir Engineer
    Austin, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    See all 942 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Austin
  3. 03

    Seattle, Washington

    Seattle lists 637 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Seattle concentrates in Software Engineering, Data Science & Analytics, and AI & Machine Learning roles, with employers like Amazon.com, TikTok, and Apple posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Software Engineering
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Cloud & DevOps
    • Technical Program Management
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Seattle
    Assistant Product Developer
    Seattle, Washington · Hybrid
    Apply
    Security Technologist I
    Seattle, Washington · On-site
    Apply
    Data Engineer II
    Seattle, Washington · On-site
    Apply
    Network Engineer
    Seattle, Washington · On-site
    Apply
    Software Development Engineer
    Seattle, Washington · On-site
    Apply
    See all 637 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Seattle

  4. Unlock every F-1 STEM OPT job in these cities

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  5. 04

    San Francisco, California

    There are 487 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs in San Francisco on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in San Francisco concentrates in Data Science & Analytics, Software Engineering, and Science & Research roles, with employers like Anthropic, University of California, San Francisco, and Amazon.com posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Software Engineering
    • Science & Research
    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • AI & Machine Learning
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in San Francisco
    Data Innovation Specialist
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    Corporate Security Engineer
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    Software Engineer III
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    Security Technologist I
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    Postdoctoral Fellow
    San Francisco, California · On-site
    Apply
    See all 487 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in San Francisco
  6. 05

    San Jose, California

    San Jose shows 487 open F-1 STEM OPT roles on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in San Jose concentrates in Software Engineering, Data Science & Analytics, and Engineering (Non-Software) roles, with employers like TikTok, ByteDance, and Adobe posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Software Engineering
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Electrical Engineering
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in San Jose
    Operations Support Analyst 1
    San Jose, California · On-site
    Apply
    Assay Development Scientist
    San Jose, California · On-site
    Apply
    Engineer I
    San Jose, California · On-site
    Apply
    Product Support Engineer
    San Jose, California · On-site
    Apply
    Software Development Engineer
    San Jose, California · On-site
    Apply
    See all 487 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in San Jose
  7. 06

    Boston, Massachusetts

    Boston has 449 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Boston concentrates in Science & Research, Data Science & Analytics, and Software Engineering roles, with employers like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel Lahey Health, and Boston University posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Science & Research
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Software Engineering
    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • Project & Program Management
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Boston
    Engineer III, Device Development
    Boston, Massachusetts · On-site
    Apply
    CMC Analytical Research & Development Scientist
    Boston, Massachusetts · On-site
    Apply
    Research Assistant
    Boston, Massachusetts · On-site
    Apply
    Transportation Civil Engineer
    Boston, Massachusetts · Hybrid
    Apply
    Project Manager
    Boston, Massachusetts · Hybrid
    Apply
    See all 449 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Boston
  8. 07

    Atlanta, Georgia

    Atlanta lists 439 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Atlanta concentrates in Science & Research, Data Science & Analytics, and Engineering (Non-Software) roles, with employers like Emory University, The Home Depot, and 4P Consulting Inc. posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Science & Research
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • Project & Program Management
    • Software Engineering
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Atlanta
    Electrical Engineer
    Atlanta, Georgia · On-site
    Apply
    Associate, Strategic Operations
    Atlanta, Georgia · On-site
    Apply
    Plumbing Engineering Consultant
    Atlanta, Georgia · On-site
    Apply
    AI & Workforce Signals Analyst
    Atlanta, Georgia · Hybrid
    Apply
    Senior Project Engineer
    Atlanta, Georgia · On-site
    Apply
    See all 439 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Atlanta

  9. See F-1 STEM OPT jobs across all 10 cities and thousands more

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  10. 08

    Houston, Texas

    There are 425 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Houston on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Houston concentrates in Engineering (Non-Software), Science & Research, and Civil & Structural Engineering roles, with employers like MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, and KBR posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • Science & Research
    • Civil & Structural Engineering
    • Project & Program Management
    • Data Science & Analytics
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Houston
    Data Analyst
    Houston, Texas · Hybrid
    Apply
    Functional Analyst
    Houston, Texas · Hybrid
    Apply
    Sr. Patching and Vulnerability Management Analyst
    Houston, Texas · Hybrid
    Apply
    Senior AI Cloud Developer
    Houston, Texas · Hybrid
    Apply
    Civil Project Engineer
    Houston, Texas · On-site
    Apply
    See all 425 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Houston
  11. 09

    Chicago, Illinois

    Chicago shows 402 open F-1 STEM OPT roles on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Chicago concentrates in Engineering (Non-Software), Science & Research, and Data Science & Analytics roles, with employers like Rush University Medical Center, Burns & McDonnell, and University of Chicago posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • Science & Research
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Project & Program Management
    • Software Engineering
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Chicago
    Oracle Fusion Cloud Reporting Specialist Senior Consultant
    Chicago, Illinois · Hybrid
    Apply
    Clinical Research Associate (CRA)
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    Automation Technician
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    Chemical Process Engineer
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    Product Designer
    Chicago, Illinois · On-site
    Apply
    See all 402 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Chicago
  12. 10

    Sunnyvale, California

    Sunnyvale has 378 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate.

    F-1 STEM OPT hiring in Sunnyvale concentrates in Software Engineering, Data Science & Analytics, and Engineering (Non-Software) roles, with employers like Google, Apple, and Walmart posting openings now.

    Roles hiring now

    • Software Engineering
    • Data Science & Analytics
    • Engineering (Non-Software)
    • Cloud & DevOps
    • Technical Program Management
    Open F-1 STEM OPT roles in Sunnyvale
    Security Technologist I
    Sunnyvale, California · On-site
    Apply
    Photonic Engineer
    Sunnyvale, California · On-site
    Apply
    Software Engineer III
    Sunnyvale, California · On-site
    Apply
    Security Engineer
    Sunnyvale, California · On-site
    Apply
    Software Engineer II
    Sunnyvale, California · Hybrid
    Apply
    See all 378 F-1 STEM OPT jobs in Sunnyvale

How F-1 STEM OPT works

STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of OPT for students with an eligible STEM degree. The student applies through their DSO and USCIS; the employer does not file a petition but must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a Form I-983 training plan. The role must relate to the STEM degree, and pay must be commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers.

Related on Migrate Mate

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Top F-1 STEM OPT Cities: Frequently Asked Questions

Which U.S. cities have the most F-1 STEM OPT jobs?

New York leads, with 971 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs on Migrate Mate, followed by Austin (942) and Seattle (637). Across the 10 metros on this list, Migrate Mate is tracking 5,617 live F-1 STEM OPT jobs, updated daily.

Who is eligible for F-1 STEM OPT?

F-1 STEM OPT eligibility requires an active F-1 status, completion of an initial 12-month OPT period, and a degree in a STEM-designated field recognized by your DSO. Your new role must directly relate to that degree's CIP code. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a Form I-983 training plan. You file Form I-765 through your DSO up to 90 days before your current EAD expires.

Can my spouse or family work on F-1 STEM OPT?

No. F-2 dependents, the spouse and children of an F-1 student, can accompany the student but are not authorized to work.

How does F-1 STEM OPT compare to H-1B?

Unlike H-1B, F-1 STEM OPT has no lottery, so selection is not a barrier. The trade-off is eligibility: H-1B is open to any specialty occupation worldwide, while F-1 STEM OPT is limited to specific nationalities or roles. If you qualify for F-1 STEM OPT, it is often the faster and more predictable route; if you do not, H-1B may be the only option.

How much does F-1 STEM OPT cost?

F-1 STEM OPT is student work authorization, so there is no employer sponsorship fee. The student pays the USCIS filing fee for the work-authorization application, plus any costs their school charges. Fee amounts change from time to time, so check the current figure before you rely on it.

How do I find a F-1 STEM OPT job in these cities?

To find a F-1 STEM OPT job, search Migrate Mate for roles at E-Verify-enrolled employers, which is the core requirement for STEM OPT authorization. Roles are concentrated in the top metros but many employers hire remotely or support relocation. Confirm the position directly relates to your STEM-designated degree before accepting an offer, since your DSO must approve the Form I-983 training plan before you can start.

Find 28,000+ F-1 STEM OPT jobs