Boston is the best U.S. city for science, technology, engineering and math careers, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The finance company ranked cities based on metrics like STEM job availability and salary potential using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and theBureau of Labor Statistics. Excellent educational opportunities and investment in scientific advancement helped rocket Boston to a No. 1 ranking.

Beantown excelled in STEM research and development, which made up over 9% of the metro’s GDP. That’s the highest percentage in the country. Plus, innovation drove Boston’s No. 2 ranking for the most invention patents per capita.

Over 11% of all jobs in Boston are STEM-related, the sixth-highest rate in the country. And the sector is growing, according to WalletHub’s study. Tech jobs made up 12% of local job postings on Indeed, landing the metro at No. 9 for tech-related job openings nationwide.

Of course, education bolstered Boston’s top score. The metro boasts more universities that rank in the top 100 for engineering than any other city.

“Science, technology, engineering and math jobs tend to have high salaries, and job opportunities grow at three times the rate of non-STEM jobs,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “We can only expect this to accelerate in the future as new technologies continue to change the employment landscape. The top metro areas for STEM professionals have high-quality schools, an abundance of jobs and high pay.”