Looking for the best cities for tech jobs? Our comprehensive guide provides an in-depth analysis of the top cities for tech professionals in the United States. From Silicon Valley to Boston, our guide covers everything you need to know about the best cities for tech jobs, including job opportunities, cost of living, and quality of life. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced tech professional, IT Exams will help you make an informed decision about where to take your career next. So, if you’re ready to take your tech career to the next level, check out our guide on the best cities for tech jobs today.
What Makes A Great Tech City?
No precise criterion determines which cities are the “best cities for tech jobs,” from Bengaluru to Beijing to Bogotá to the Bay Area and beyond.
So, how did we make our decision?
Our top IT cities, on the other hand, have a number of advantages:
- They may be worldwide cities with the greatest number of IT employment;
- These IT towns provide a climate suited to technology jobs.
- They work throughout the whole technology spectrum, from development to cyber security to QA and beyond.
- It is home to prestigious universities, notably those with top-tier IT majors.
- Excellent public transit and ride-sharing services;
- There are already world-renowned businesses, startups, and agencies headquartered there.
We also mention each city’s Savills Tech Cities Tier, a ranking that divides the greatest technology cities into three tiers:
- “Global connectivity, complementary industries, and a deep talent pool make Tech Megacities highly appealing to scaling and established businesses.”
- “Tech Lifestyle Cities” – “Tech Lifestyle Cities provide city living on a smaller scale.” This implies shorter commutes for business and leisure without compromising the energy of a larger city.”
Rising Global Tech Contenders – “The tech cities to watch are the Rising Global Tech Contenders.” These cities’ economic expansion is being fueled by expanding IT industries.”
4 Benefits Of Working In A Big Tech City
People always talk about finding the best cities for tech jobs so that you can pave the way for one of the brightest futures ahead. Working in a big tech city has numerous advantages, from experiencing local culture, cuisine, and entertainment to working for some of the world’s most prestigious corporations. While remote work has grown the greatest in the previous two years, in-person or remote employment in these specific tech towns provides more job options, higher incomes, connections to a community of other tech workers, and mentorships with industry leaders. Furthermore, choosing a boot camp in these places means receiving assistance from boot camp career teams, who are likely to have contacts in these areas.
1. Access to Tech Jobs – There were 800,000 remote IT jobs accessible nationwide in 2019-2020. In 2022, technology employment alone will account for 8.9 million jobs in the United States. While large metro regions remain the best tech employment cities, several of the other best tech job cities are gaining pace as headquarters move away from these traditional metro centers.
2. High-Paying Tech Jobs – While software workers are among the highest paid in the modern workforce, pay is frequently affected by the local economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical wage for developers and programmers is between $78,000 and $109,000, although developers in tech towns are earning or exceeding the upper end of those ranges.
- Data Analysts: $67,000
- Cybersecurity Professionals: $120,000
- Software Developers: $109,000
- Computer Programmers: $93,000
- Web Developers and Digital Designers: $78,000
3. Connection & Networking with Other Tech Pros
The communities built in the tech realm are a significant benefit of beginning a tech job. There are several in-person and virtual networking opportunities and events for people working in technology in a big tech hub!
Meetups and groups that focus on connecting people who have traditionally received fewer resources may have in-person chances in major tech centers. Among these groupings are:
- Women in Tech is a global network that connects women in technology while also campaigning for education, involvement, and gender diversity in the field.
- Blacks in Technology, by linking members with community, media, and mentorship, are “stomping the divide” in global technology.
- Out In Tech organizes and advocates for the LGBTQ+ tech community through networking, events, mentorship, and the use of technology for social change.
- Community Tech Network provides technology workers with the resources they need to improve their quality of life through digital literacy.
The best tech job cities may also offer unique, in-person tech conferences, such as:
- SXSW (Austin, Texas)
- TechCrunch Disrupt (San Francisco, CA)
- Women Tech Global Conference (NYC, Toronto, Berlin, Barcelona)
4. Mentorships with Tech Leaders
When starting a tech profession, having an experienced mentor to offer guidance can make all the difference. Mentorship opportunities with senior tech experts in the city will allow you to broaden your network, make more informed career decisions, and boost productivity over time. They could also be valuable references if you’re seeking a competitive position at a prominent IT business in the city!
The 16 Best Tech Cities In The US
The top cities for tech jobs stretch from coast to coast! These locations have a thriving tech sector that includes both existing enterprises and new startups, and they are known to hire for hundreds of tech positions. Cost of living, the number of accessible tech jobs, and predicted tech career growth over the next five years are all factors that contribute to the best tech job towns. Below are among the Best Places For IT Jobs In the USA. Let’s explore!
1. Atlanta, GA (Population: 497,461)
Atlanta is becoming one of the nation’s leading tech cities. Despite the fact that there are fewer tech-specific enterprises, there is still a great demand for skilled tech experts as established corporations adapt to emerging technology and tools. Atlanta has made deliberate steps to educate local talent in order to prepare them for this changing workforce and has spent more than $7 billion on local digital startups. Atlanta’s median compensation for tech workers is $96,000, which is even sweeter when you consider that the cost of living is 4% lower than the national average!
The biggest industries in Atlanta are tech development, commerce, and communications. Atlanta continues to be home to major companies like Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, UPS, and The Home Depot. Other major companies that make Atlanta one of the best tech job cities include Microsoft, Assurant, Accenture, Cox Communications, and IBM.
Atlanta’s most important industries are technology development, commerce, and communications. Atlanta is still home to large corporations such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, UPS, and Home Depot. Microsoft, Assurant, Accenture, Cox Communications, and IBM are among the other significant corporations that make Atlanta one of the best tech job cities.
The following are the top coding boot camps in Atlanta:
- DigitalCrafts
- Georgia Tech Boot Camps
- Operation Spark
2. Austin, TX (Population: 964,177)
Austin, home to 5,500 startups and tech companies, is now known as a “new” tech headquarters as big corporations such as Google and Meta relocate there. Austin offers an average income of $91,000 for IT professionals despite having a 3-4% lower cost of living than the national average.
Austin’s most important industries include technology development, banking, and e-commerce, as represented by firms such as Google, IBM, Tesla, IBM, Dell, The Home Depot, Charles Schwab, Amazon, Apple, and Visa.
Austin’s top coding boot camps include:
- Austin Coding Academy
- Inventive Academy
- UT Austin Boot Camps
3. Boston, MA (Population: 654,776)
Boston is a burgeoning tech powerhouse, with sectors such as health tech, edtech, finance, and robotics thriving. With over 91,000 job posts, Boston saw an almost 26% increase in tech jobs in 2022! NLP Engineer, Mobile Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Front End Engineer, and Security Engineer are popular tech jobs in Boston. The average tech salary in Boston is $147,000, which more than compensates for the city’s 54% higher cost of living than the national average.
Fintech, automotive, and e-commerce are major industries in Boston, with both established companies and startups. Amazon, Zipcar, Wayfair, TripAdvisor, HubSpot, General Electric, and Liberty Mutual are the top IT businesses in Boston.
The following are the best boot camps for coding in Boston:
- Launch Academy
- Per Scholas
- Resilient Coders
4. Charlotte, NC (Population: 879,709)
Charlotte has continuously been ranked as one of the best tech job cities on the East Coast. North Carolina is rich in diversity; 37% of CEOs in Charlotte’s tech enterprises are women. North Carolina has a flat income tax rate regardless of annual earnings, as well as low property and sales taxes, on top of a cost of living that is 1.7% lower than the national average. This means that your $93,600 median salary will go further in Charlotte, NC.
Charlotte’s most important industries include banking, technology development, home improvement, communications, and healthcare. Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Humana, Lowe’s corporations, Microsoft, IBM, and VMware are among the major corporations that hire in Charlotte.
The following are the best coding boot camps in Charlotte:
- IBG Institute
- Parsity
- Tech Elevator
- UNC Charlotte Boot Camps
5. Dallas, TX (Population: 1.288 million)
According to the CompTIA Tech Town Index 2020, Dallas witnessed a record increase in job placement, only for the number of available tech jobs– with over 32,000 new employees in 2020. Dallas is anticipated to grow by 10.5% in tech jobs over the next five years. The median compensation for technology professionals in Dallas is $97,000, which is in line with the cost of living, which is slightly lower than the national average.
Banking firms such as Capital One, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, USAS, and Wells Fargo, as well as communications and technology firms such as Verizon and IBM, as well as corporations such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and ExxonMobile, are among the largest organizations and industries hiring for tech jobs in Dallas.
Among the greatest coding boot camps in Dallas are:
- Codeup
- Colaberry
- DevMountain
- Divergence Academy
- SMU Boot Camps
6. Denver, CO (Population: 711,463)
Denver, located amid national forests and grasslands, provides a one-of-a-kind living experience for individuals seeking a city lifestyle combined with outdoor leisure. The average compensation for an IT professional in Denver is $105,000, which goes a long way when compared to the cost of living, which is only 12% higher than the national average.
Health technology, software development, cloud technology, aerospace, machine learning, and robots are among the most important tech industries in Denver. Google, Oracle, HomeAdvisor, Wells Fargo, and Hinge are among the top tech companies in Denver.
The best coding boot camps in Denver include:
- Flatiron School
- Turing
7. Huntsville, AL (Population: 216,963)
From 2020 to 2021, Huntsville climbed four points on the CompTIA Tech Town Index! Over 14,000 tech jobs were listed in Huntsville in 2021, up from 15,000 the previous year, with an 8.2% growth in tech jobs projected over the next five years. Huntsville has traditionally been recognized for aerospace technology and military defense, but businesses including technology development, pharmaceutical production, and logistics are expanding. While the cost of living in Huntsville is 3.8% lower than the national average, tech jobs pay an average of $98,000!
Machine production, such as armament and automotive, logistics and system development, tech innovation, and pharmaceutical services are major industries that hire tech people in Huntsville. Northrop Grumman, The Boeing Company, SAIC, Raytheon, Leidos, Deloitte, Dynetics Incorporated, Torch Technologies, and Lockheed Martin are among the major companies seeking tech workers.
8. Miami, FL (Population: 439,890)
Miami is a booming cultural and technological hub. As venture capital firms move in eager to invest, and as more of Miami’s tech grads are typically underrepresented compared to any other tech metropolis in the country, the city promotes the growth of its local talent. When you consider that the average salary for software engineers in Miami is $152,000, the cost of living is 21% higher than the national average.
Aerospace and aviation, information technology, security, manufacturing, and life sciences are the top industries in Miami. Microsoft, Apple, SAP, Dell, Oracle, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Amazon are all headquartered in Miami. Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Burger King are among the well-known enterprises located in Miami.
The following are the top coding boot camps in Miami:
- 4Geeks Academy
- BrainStation
- Ironhack
- LaunchCode
- TechLaunch Academy
- Techtorial Academy
9. New York, NY (Population: 8.468 million)
NYC is home to a diverse range of worldwide sectors that are ideal for creative and inventive individuals. In 2021, there were 204,883 open tech jobs in NYC, with a 7.7% increase expected by 2026. The average wage for an IT professional in NYC is $108,000, but the city’s 37% higher cost of living than the national average makes it difficult to live in. With job advertising for hundreds of remote tech jobs, New York City is one of the best tech cities to work remotely.
Fashion, banking, manufacturing, and healthcare are just a few of the businesses that call New York City home. JP Morgan Chase, IBM, Wells Fargo, Bloomberg, and Anthem Blue Cross are among the Major tech companies in New York. In addition, Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, and TikTok have all reserved excellent real estate in Manhattan for 2021.
The following are the greatest coding boot camps in New York City:
- App Academy
- Brainstation
- Codesmith
- Flatiron School
- General Assembly
- NYC Data Science Academy
- The Marcy Lab School
10. Portland, OR (Population: 641,162)
Portland is one of the top places in the country for IT employment because of its enormous talent pool, which supports competitive pay and constant innovation. Over 75,000 tech workers will be employed in Portland by 2022, a roughly 6% growth in the sector overall and a nearly 11% salary increase for IT jobs. Despite Portland’s 27% higher cost of living than the national average, IT jobs there typically pay between $84,000 and $106,000 annually, with some paying as much as $130,000.
Some of the biggest tech companies in the nation are based in Portland, including Google, Nike, Columbia, Airbnb, Squarespace, Mozilla, and Salesforce.
The top coding boot camps in Portland, Oregon are as follows:
- Epicodus
- PDX Code Guild
- The Tech Academy
11. Raleigh, NC (Population: 469,124)
North Carolina has a thriving tech environment, and Raleigh is a great place to work for software engineers and developers. Since Apple relocated to Raleigh in April 2021, a $1 billion investment has been made in an engineering cluster that will create 3,000 jobs in software engineering, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, as well as plans to sponsor local school and community activities throughout North Carolina. Raleigh’s cost of living is about 3% lower than the national average, and tech jobs in Raleigh pay an average of $96,000!
Major firms in fields such as finance, technology development, and innovation, such as Deloitte, Red Hat, Accenture, Wells Fargo, IBM, and Splunk, promote tech careers in Raleigh.
The following are the top coding boot camps in Raleigh:
- JUMP by Cognixia
- Momentum
- Parsity
- UNC-Chapel Hill Boot Camps
12. San Diego, CA (Population: 1.382 million)
San Diego is a tech city well-known for its vibrant outdoor, arts, and food sectors. Software engineer, data scientist, AI engineer, and information security analyst are the top five in-demand IT jobs in San Diego. The average wage for an IT professional in San Diego is $86,000, but software engineers earn closer to $140,000, which is comparable to the national average’s 47% higher cost of living.
Health tech, e-commerce, fashion, software, semiconductor, data and analytics, cloud, finance, sales software, and transportation are the top tech industries in San Diego. Teradata, Audatex US, Kyocera Mobile, Bing, and MiFiHotspot are among the top technology companies in San Diego.
The following are the top coding boot camps in San Diego:
- LEARN Academy
- LearningFuze
- University of San Diego Tech Bootcamps
13. San Francisco, CA (Population: 815,201)
For decades, San Francisco has been one of the best cities for tech jobs and home to numerous large tech companies. The cost of living in San Francisco is 65% more than the national average, yet the $132,800 average salary helps to balance that out.
Finance, technology development, mobile app development, and commerce are all supported by San Francisco. Meta, Amazon, Uber, Salesforce, Microsoft, Accenture, Airbnb, Asana, and Lucid Motors are the top firms employing tech experts in San Francisco.
The following are the top coding boot camps in San Francisco:
- App Academy
- Hackbright Academy
- Interview Kickstart
- Rithm School
14. San Jose, CA (Population: 983,489)
For many years, San Jose has been recognized as one of the best places for tech jobs, with over half of all funding made accessible to US tech startups being distributed in San Jose alone. The talent pool is oversaturated, and the cost of living is 45% more than the national average, as seen by the typical pay of $148,000.
Apple, Google, Microsoft, Cisco, Amazon, and Uber are the top corporations employing tech talent in San Jose.
The following are the top coding boot camps in San Jose:
- Berkeley Boot Camps
- Kickstart Coding
- Magnimind
- Techtonica
15. Seattle, WA (Population: 733,919)
Seattle is largely regarded as one of the best tech job cities in the world, with many prominent tech firms establishing headquarters there. The Seattle startup scene has grown from zero unicorn enterprises to 12 by 2022 in just five years! When the cost of living and the median wage is considered, Seattle is one of the top destinations for tech jobs. When compared to West Coast counterparts, Seattle’s cost of living is 22.6% higher than the national average, while tech professionals earn an average salary of $131,000 per year.
Seattle is home to some of the world’s largest technology businesses and corporations, including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, T-Mobile, Deloitte, Salesforce, Expedia, and Boeing Company.
The following are the best coding boot camps in Seattle:
- Ada Developers Academy
- Code Fellows
- Epicodus
- UW Coding Boot Camp
16. Washington, DC (Population: 712,816)
Washington, DC is the national government’s headquarters and is becoming a destination for major corporations such as Amazon. Aside from large businesses, Washington, DC has targeted inclusion in the tech industry, creating 5,000 new tech positions for underrepresented workers and 500 new tech startups launched by underrepresented entrepreneurs. The average pay of a tech professional in Washington, DC is $113,000, which compares favorably to the 17.4% higher cost of living than the national average in nearby tech cities.
Aviation, aerospace, automotive, government, e-commerce, AI, IT, and fintech are among the major businesses in Washington, DC. Amazon, Microsoft, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, and CACI are among the largest technology corporations in Washington, DC.
The following are the top coding boot camps in Washington, DC:
- Cydeo
- The Data Incubator
How To Judge The Best Tech Cities
Career Opportunities
People will naturally relocate to where the money is.
The pandemic had a significant impact on the labor market, causing unemployment to increase; nevertheless, with further changes on the horizon, some industries such as e-commerce, marketing, healthcare, and education are all looking to technology to assist them continue operations as usual. This shift in emphasis is creating a plethora of professional options for both fresh and experienced coding talent, and it will only get better.
Consider a coding boot camp like App Academy if you want to delve headfirst into a new city focused on tech but want to get your professional foot in the door first. Our 16-week in-person programs are available in New York and San Francisco (read on to learn more about these tech hotspots! ), as well as full-time and part-time online alternatives. Our boot camp skills will help you find a career in software engineering in a couple of months.
Networking: Personal & Professional
Outside of employment, one of the most important factors young people consider when deciding where to reside is their capacity to network and form friendships, love connections, and professional collaborations.
Do meet-ups, happy hours, social sports leagues, or social venues (think pubs or music venues) exist in the city you want to visit? Are there any other prospects for specialist networking through your personal or professional interests?
Can you network online with people in your field or social network before making a move to test the waters and develop connections? It might help you make your final decision or perhaps lay the groundwork before you start apartment shopping or moving your belongings.In a couple of months, p can help you find a career in software engineering.
Housing Investments
Every city’s housing market is unique, but depending on your age and financial condition, investing in real estate may be high on your priority list. Furthermore, if you anticipate that this relocation will be long-term, you may want to consider a real estate investment.
Cities on our list, such as Austin, Seattle, and Durham, NC, topped 2020’s list of the greatest real estate markets in the US, and they’re all still great areas for young tech professionals looking to rent.
Taking the effort to identify your average pay (or intended average salary) and property aspirations might have a significant influence on which locations are best for you.
Activities
There is a city for every passion or pastime, from winter sports to sea sports, live music to gastronomic scenes. Many people aspire to relocate to a place where they may immerse themselves in their chosen pastime on a daily basis.
Skiing? Boating? Hiking? Visiting microbreweries? Determine what you enjoy doing and reduce your options to places that specialize in those activities.
Fresh Start
Who doesn’t need a new beginning after the pandemic? Moving to a new place and starting over may be precisely what you need to get over the pandemic’s lethargy and truly jumpstart your professional trajectory again.
Regardless of the other causes motivating your relocation, a fresh start is unavoidable. It is a chance to reinvent oneself, meet new people, and pursue new hobbies.
FAQs
What are the biggest tech cities in the world?
According to Urban Gateway, the United States has five of the top ten biggest tech job cities in the world. San Francisco and New York are ranked first and second, respectively.
London, England comes in third, followed by Los Angeles, California, and Seoul, South Korea comes in fifth. Singapore, Taipei, Vancouver, Stockholm, and Bangalore were also among the top 25 biggest and best cities for tech jobs.
The number of patents filed, start-ups, and tech venture capitalists per capita were all considered when compiling this ranking.
What tech company hires the most tech professionals?
The top names on this list are self-evident. Apple, Alphabet (Google’s parent firm), Microsoft, and Meta are all among the top 10 greatest technology companies.
Samsung, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, and Tencent Holding Ltd are a few other significant IT businesses you may not have heard of.
With such a diverse range of organizations on the list that specialize in advertising, social media, hardware, or software, there are opportunities for all IT specialties.
What are some of the fastest-growing tech hubs?
The good news is that tech clusters are sprouting up around the country. Destin, Florida, Greeley, Colorado, and Durham, North Carolina are among the locations. Portland, Maine, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Madison, Wisconsin are among the other locations.
Working in a well-established tech hub such as San Francisco provides several chances and stability. However, established tech circles can be difficult to break into, and San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in the United States.
Moving to or entering the tech profession in a location with a thriving tech community could be a wonderful option if you seek opportunities for growth or to work in other fields.
Final Words
In your search for the ideal place to launch your IT career to new heights, we genuinely hope that our in-depth guide to the top cities for tech employment has proven to be a useful resource. It is essential to remember that picking the best place for your tech jobs means taking into account not just the employment market but also the lifestyle and culture the city has to offer. Considerations should be made for things such the cost of living, transit, housing, and entertainment opportunities. The choice of where to relocate for a tech career is ultimately quite personal and based on your unique demands and interests. Our manual attempts to give you a reliable foundation from which to organize your choices and come to an intelligent conclusion. The places that provide the best cities for tech jobst may also alter over time as a result of the IT industry’s constant evolution. It is crucial to keep up with current trends and employment prospects while also being flexible and adaptive throughout your career. We send you our very best wishes as you look for the ideal city to advance your tech career.
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