Today we embark on a journey to discover the 10 top cities for tech jobs in the country.
The cities we will delve into are not simply physical spaces filled with apartment buildings and roads. They are living entities, brimming with untold stories, diverse perspectives and unexpected benefits, like a well-developed website. The world of technology is not confined to Silicon Valley anymore. The digital revolution, in its relentless pursuit of innovation, has spread its roots far and wide across the nation.
We’re living in a time when your physical location doesn’t necessarily dictate your career path. Despite that fact, the ecosystems of the cities featured below seem to draw tech professionals like worker bees to their queen. These are the places where brilliant minds converge, where startups blossom into tech giants and where the future is being crafted by a dynamic and diverse workforce.
As we dig a bit deeper into the 10 best cities for tech jobs, we’ll uncover the beating hearts of the tech industry in America, pulsating with ingenuity, innovation and the promise of a brighter future. Enjoy the journey and good luck finding your new place in one of the most tech-savvy cities in the country.
How we ranked the best tech cities
Not every city could make the list of best for tech jobs, so how did we determine what ranks and where it places in our top 10 list? According to our data sets, metros are ranked by number of tech jobs per 1,000, location quotient, median salary and the median salary’s 90th percentile. Taken together, this data provided an in-depth look at which metro areas are most likely to attract tech workers seeking new, lucrative opportunities and like-minded people.
For reference, a location quotient (LQ) is an analytical statistic that measures a region’s industrial specialization relative to a larger geographic unit, usually the nation. For example, an LQ of 1.0 in software engineering means that the region and the nation are equally specialized in that discipline; while an LQ of 1.8 means that the region has a higher concentration in software-engineering specialties than the nation.
10. Colorado Springs
At its core, the allure of Colorado Springs as one of the best cities for tech jobs is defined by the harmony of three elements: talent, technology and tolerance. With a young, educated population fostered by esteemed institutions like the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and the United States Air Force Academy, the city has a ready pool of innovative minds. This is paired with a flourishing tech scene, characterized by major tech companies, startups, venture capitalists and an entrepreneurial spirit that fuels innovation.
- Annual median salary: $105,650
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $170,860
- Job score: 9.7
- Location score: 9.7
- Total score: 52.9
Colorado Springs stands apart through its culture of inclusivity and diversity. In the tech world, the mingling of varied perspectives often drives innovation. The city’s environment allows individuals from all backgrounds to contribute their unique ideas, fostering a creative and dynamic tech ecosystem. Yet, what truly elevates Colorado Springs is its sheer livability. The city offers a high quality of life with its natural beauty, vibrant culture and affordability when compared to traditional tech hubs.
The robust infrastructure is also a draw for tech workers, with high-speed internet and a steadily expanding public transportation system. Couple that with a commitment to environmental sustainability, and these elements solidify Colorado Springs’ position as a tech city that’s much more than just a contender.
9. Raleigh
At the crossroads of talent, technology and tolerance, you’ll find Raleigh, North Carolina, confidently holding its own as one of the best cities for tech jobs. In terms of talent, Raleigh is home to the renowned Research Triangle Park, which is flanked by three tier-1 research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. These institutions produce a steady stream of talented graduates and generate groundbreaking research, fueling the tech industry with a robust pool of innovators.
- Annual median salary: $105,590
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $171,860
- Job score: 9.9
- Location score: 1
- Total score: 53.7
When it comes to technology, Raleigh is a powerhouse. It hosts a multitude of tech giants, startups and a rich network of venture capitalists, creating a vibrant and diverse tech ecosystem. A supportive local government and business-friendly policies further stimulate the city’s ethos of innovation. Equally important is Raleigh’s culture of tolerance. The city prides itself on its inclusive and diverse community, where unique ideas can come from anyone, regardless of their background, thereby fostering a dynamic tech scene.
Raleigh’s appeal extends beyond the work environment. It consistently ranks high for its quality of life, with its blend of southern charm, cultural richness and a bustling food scene. Moreover, Raleigh offers a comparatively lower cost of living than many traditional tech hubs, making it a comfortable place to call home while building a tech empire on a budget.
8. Austin
When speaking of the best cities for tech jobs, Austin undeniably deserves its place in the limelight. Austin’s talent pool is continually replenished and enriched by esteemed universities like the University of Texas at Austin, known for its rigorous computer science and engineering programs. The city’s education system not only attracts but also nurtures bright minds, creating a dynamic and innovative talent pipeline for the tech industry.
- Annual median salary: $97,650
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $165,970
- Job score: 12.0
- Location score: 12.0
- Total score: 55.8
Austin’s technological landscape is truly extraordinary. With a well-established presence of tech giants like Dell, IBM and Apple, alongside an effervescent startup scene, the city has carved out a reputation as the ‘Silicon Hills.’ The local government’s business-friendly policies and a strong network of investors further stimulate technological innovation, ensuring a pulsating and diverse tech ecosystem. Austin’s environment of tolerance, with its legendary motto ‘Keep Austin Weird,’ underlines its embrace of diversity, encouraging people from all walks of life to contribute to the tech community.
Yet, Austin’s allure extends beyond the tech scene. Austin is known for its vibrant music and cultural life, beautiful parks and burgeoning local economy. Austin’s unique synthesis of factors makes it not only one of the best cities for tech jobs but also a place where tech professionals can build a fulfilling life outside of work. The city isn’t just another stop on the tech trail; it is a burgeoning tech capital in its own right.
7. Durham
Let’s step away from some of the more predictable enclaves and journey towards the bright heart of North Carolina — Durham. Often overlooked in the rush to crown the next Silicon Valley, Durham is an embodiment of a delicate interplay between history, innovation and opportunity, all of which form a uniquely compelling argument for its status as a major tech hub.
- Annual median salary: $108,100
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $174,420
- Job score: 12.5
- Location score: 12.5
- Total score: 59.4
In Durham, an intricate dance of academia, research and entrepreneurial spirit takes center stage. Home to the renowned Research Triangle Park, one of the oldest and largest research parks in the nation, and Duke University, Durham’s exceptional mix of intellectual firepower and tech innovation is clear. But it isn’t just about the established players. Startups bloom like flowers in a fertile spring, thanks to the presence of incubators like American Underground and a flourishing investment ecosystem.
However, it’s not just the promising career prospects that make Durham one of the best cities for tech jobs. It’s a city where innovation meets Southern charm. The cost of living, unlike in the more recognized tech hubs, remains affordable, making it attractive for young professionals. Durham, in many ways, is a reminder that technological progress and high quality of life need not be mutually exclusive. In the fast-paced, often ruthless world of tech, it serves as a shining beacon that insists there’s more to the game than just the raw pursuit of ambition.
6. Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama, is a southern city that has stealthily and steadily transformed into an unexpected beacon for tech professionals. Its rise, much like the trajectory of a NASA rocket, provides a testament to the power of innovation, determination and an underlying tapestry of rich historical influence.
- Annual median salary: $105,110
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $172,620
- Job score: 13.9
- Location score: 13.9
- Total score: 61.4
The birthplace of the American space program, Huntsville has always had a storied relationship with technological innovation and exploration. Today, it is home to Cummings Research Park, the second-largest research park in the United States and fourth-largest in the world, which speaks volumes about the city’s dedication to fostering a thriving tech scene. From aerospace giants to an array of dynamic startups, the tech ecosystem in Huntsville is as diverse as it is vibrant.
Rocket City offers a balanced equation, with a low cost of living, high quality of life and an abundance of natural beauty. The city prides itself on its Southern hospitality, offering a friendly, community-centered lifestyle that provides a welcome contrast to the often relentless pace of the tech industry you’ll find in coastal cities. In Huntsville, the lines between technology, culture and community aren’t just blurred — they’re interwoven, producing a tech hub that is as invested in its people as it is in its technological advancement.
5. Washington D.C.
Washington D.C., the nation’s capital, is becoming an increasingly desirable place for the tech industry. This city, famous for its corridors of power, now leads with power of a different sort — digital innovation.
- Annual median salary: $ 125,660
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $181,410
- Job score: 14.4
- Location score: 14.4
- Total score: 66.4
Perhaps one of the overlooked factors that make D.C. one of the best cities for tech jobs is its unparalleled proximity to regulation. Being in the heart of where legislation is crafted offers tech companies in Washington a unique advantage. They are geographically positioned to be part of the conversation shaping future tech regulations and policies. This is not merely an accessory benefit but a transformative one, capable of reshaping the technology landscape as we know it.
Furthermore, let’s not forget the city’s richness in diversity and history, its entirely unique culture and its excellent education and research institutions. Washington D.C. has always been an epicenter of intellectual exchange, attracting the best minds from all over the globe. This creates a unique melting pot of ideas that fuels innovation. The city is also home to an impressive array of data centers, tech start-ups and established firms. With its unique blend of technology, policy, education and culture, Washington D.C. is fast emerging as one of the best cities for tech jobs, actively writing a fascinating new chapter in its storied history.
4. San Francisco
San Francisco can be likened to a well-orchestrated symphony of innovation. It isn’t one particular attribute that earmarks it as one of the best cities for tech jobs: Rather, it’s an intricate blend of several attributes that make it a veritable petri dish for technological evolution.
Silicon Valley’s insatiable thirst for innovation and its hunger for talent feed into the city, creating a palpable energy that is as infectious as it is inspiring. The architecture, too, is a testament to this drive. From the mesmerizing span of the Golden Gate Bridge to the subtle sophistication of the Transamerica Pyramid, every corner of this city tells a story of audacious ambition and groundbreaking triumphs.
- Annual median salary: $143,050
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $221,500
- Job score: 12.2
- Location score: 12.2
- Total score: 68.7
The symbiosis between the city and the tech industry also manifests in the seemingly mundane. San Francisco’s reputation as a tech hub magnetizes a diverse cohort of individuals from around the globe, each adding their unique flavor to the city. This potent blend of cultures, coupled with a forward-thinking societal mindset, fosters a unique environment that embraces diversity and celebrates novelty. It creates a cityscape that is not only brimming with ideas but is also eager to give them a fair chance.
Plus, San Francisco has location benefits. Its proximity to venture capitalists, prestigious academic institutions like Stanford and Berkeley, and the concentration of tech giants such as Google, Apple and Facebook, create an undeniably strong ecosystem. In this thriving landscape, ideas have the potential to be nurtured, receive funding — and ultimately, flourish into successful startups. The very geography of San Francisco serves as an incubator for ideas, ensuring a constant cycle of innovation and opportunity.
3. Seattle
There’s a curious, delicate interplay at the heart of Seattle, the kind of dynamic equilibrium that often proves to be the engine of great social and economic phenomena. To many, it is one of the best cities for tech jobs, not merely because it is the birthplace of tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, but because the city has cultivated an environment where both the established and the aspirational can flourish side-by-side. It is the sort of place where, if you were to eavesdrop in a coffee shop, you might overhear someone discussing cloud infrastructure as readily as they discuss the weekend’s best hiking spots or the latest punk band to take the scene by storm.
- Annual median salary: $134,700
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $199,580
- Job score: 14.9
- Location score: 14.9
- Total score: 70.7
Seattle’s often-overlooked strength, however, is its inherent balance. Picture this: a city that exudes an air of laid-back West Coast informality, layered with the intense, entrepreneurial energy typical of the East Coast. That combination, rare and potent, invites the kind of intellectual curiosity that has made the city a thriving hub for tech innovation.
Yet, one must remember, that what distinguishes Seattle isn’t just its physical location, or even its bustling tech scene, but the ethos that permeates the city. There’s a commitment to pushing boundaries, challenging norms and embracing change. This attitude is invaluable in a field like tech, where the next breakthrough is always over the horizon. Tech giants and start-ups alike flock to Seattle not only to tap into this mindset but to add to it.
2. Boulder
Boulder, AKA ‘Silicon Valley in the Rockies,’ consistently ranks among the best cities for tech jobs in the country. But why is this? Why is it that this idyllic mountain town is becoming a hub for the innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs of the tech industry?
- Annual median salary: $118,820
- Annual salary (90th percentile): $234,560
- Job score: 15.4
- Location score: 15.4
- Total score: 73.2
Firstly, let’s talk about its thriving tech ecosystem. Boulder is not just a place to live — it’s a community. Boulder’s culture of innovation and collaboration has bred a community of tech enthusiasts who thrive off of each other’s successes.
Start-ups and tech giants alike benefit from the city’s intricate network of venture capitalists, incubators and world-class research facilities, like the University of Colorado Boulder. Moreover, this landscape of innovation is fostered by a progressive city government that understands the importance of attracting tech-savvy talent and has established an economic environment conducive to business development.
But it’s more than just a fertile ground for tech firms. Boulder offers an exceptional quality of life that appeals to the creative minds in tech. These are individuals who aren’t just driven by their work but also by their surroundings. Boulder’s stunning natural landscape, with its picturesque mountain views and abundance of outdoor activities, provides a unique work-life balance that’s hard to match. It’s a city where you can code all day, then step outside for a rock-climbing break or a bike ride along the Boulder Creek Path. The best cities for tech jobs aren’t just about careers — they’re about a lifestyle that inspires and motivates.
1. San Jose
The first reason San Jose distinguishes itself as one of the best cities for tech jobs hinges on the power of proximity. It’s no secret that Silicon Valley, nestled in the heart of the city, has been a cradle of innovation for decades. The concentration of high-tech engineering, computer and microprocessor companies in such a condensed geographical area sparks a unique osmosis of ideas, talent and ambition. It creates an ecosystem of technological dynamism where the rising tide truly lifts all boats. By simply being in San Jose, you are at the epicenter of digital evolution, a mere stone’s throw from the garages and labs where tomorrow’s world is being dreamed up and developed.
- Annual median salary: $171,740
- Job score: 25.0
- Location score: 25.0
- Total score: 75.0
However, the story of why San Jose is one of the best cities for tech jobs doesn’t end with geography alone. It extends to its nurturing of a culture that’s ripe for the propagation of innovation. The city thrives on its synergy with Stanford University, one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions. Ideas born in the hallowed halls of this legendary academic institution, coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley, fuel an environment where risks are embraced rather than shunned.
San Jose’s leadership understands the vital link between quality of life and innovation. Thus, San Jose has made significant investments in infrastructure like transport, housing and recreational spaces. Meanwhile, the presence of venture capitalists willing to invest in promising tech startups underscores the city’s reputation as a fertile ground for tech professionals. So, in essence, San Jose isn’t just one of the best cities for tech jobs — it’s a place where tech dreams are nurtured and actualized every single day.
Find the best tech city for you
As we come to the close of our journey through the 10 best cities for tech jobs in America, it’s a good idea to take a second to reflect on what we have discovered. We’ve stepped into the thriving ecosystems of 10 cities, walked their streets, explored their tech scene and delved deep into their unique attributes. But the story doesn’t end here. It evolves, just like the very industry these cities are home to.
Remember that the true measure of a city’s prowess in the tech world doesn’t solely lie in its infrastructure, tax incentives or the number of tech firms it houses. It lies in the energy that fuels the city, the spirit of innovation that permeates its air and the tech professionals who call it home, constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As we stand on the precipice of the future, these cities represent the promise of what’s to come. In the world of tech, change is the only constant, and these 10 cities are at the forefront of this fascinating, ever-evolving trek.
Methodology
Data used for this article is on all Computer and Mathematical Occupations from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2022, which you can access here: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes150000.htm. Cities were scaled and ranked with even weights on the number of jobs per 1000, location quotient, median annual salary and the 90th percentile annual salary.
