Tech is one of the highest-paid industries in the world thanks to its high growth rates and venture capital firms throwing cash at companies. However, breaking into tech can be challenging due to the competitiveness and demand for specific skills. To increase your chances of landing a role, check out the best cities for jobs in tech below!
1. Austin, Texas
Austin is the new San Francisco! Thanks to high taxes, increased crime, and out-of-control cost of living, many tech companies, have started abandoning Silicon Valley and looking for greener pastures. One city that has caught the eye of many tech darlings is Austin.
When people think of Texas, they often think of BBQ, Southern accents, and cowboy boots. However, Austin is a diverse city with a thriving student population, great restaurants, bars, and parks. The weather is also amazing, with warm summers and mild winters.
Some of the tech companies that have set up shop in Austin include Apple, Amazon, Tesla, AMD, and Adobe. All of these tech giants offer a variety of roles, from senior to junior at their offices and facilities in Austin.
Another massive advantage of moving to Austin is the cost of living and lower taxes. Texas does not have a state income tax, and the cost of living is significantly lower than in other major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and San Francisco. In fact, the cost of living in Austin is only slightly above the national average, which is amazing considering how livable the city is. This city is also included in the list of best cities for work in 2022 by the version of SignalHire – a company that provides recruiting, marketing, and sales solutions.
2. Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh in North Carolina has transformed into a tech hub over the last 10 years. The metro has a population of just 1.5 million, while the city proper has a population of just under 500,000. It offers a small-town vibe with all the amenities of a massive city.
Tech companies are thriving in Raleigh thanks to the city’s close proximity to a number of top universities, including the University of North Carolina and Duke, two of the most prestigious colleges in the whole of the US. Raleigh is also 35% less expensive than New York, making it very affordable!
The biggest tech employers in Raleigh are ServiceNow, BitSight Technologies, and Adwerx, and the average salary is just over $100,000. Many tech firms in the city are growing and are constantly looking for talented developers, systems analysts, support specialists, and software testers.
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, just like Raleigh, has seen an explosion in the tech scene over the last 10 years, and tech jobs have increased by almost 70%. Charlotte offers many of the same benefits as Raleigh. The city is the perfect size at just under 1 million people, has lots of great restaurants, and people tend to be much friendlier compared to other big cities.
If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of New York or avoid the crazy high living costs in Silicon Valley, then Charlotte is a great option. It has everything you need to live an amazing life and have an NBA and NFL team!
Some of the top tech companies in the city are IBM, Red Ventures, Credit Karma, Microsoft, and Lending Tree. The most common tech jobs in Charlotte, North Carolina, are software developers, testers, and system analysts. All of these roles have an average salary of $100,000. As the average cost of living is less than $1000, excluding rent, that money goes a long way.
4. San Francisco, California
San Francisco may have its downsides, but it is still the mecca of tech! San Francisco is where the tech scene in America started way back in the 70s and has been the driving force behind massive amounts of economic growth and has seen so many huge fortunes created.
San Francisco is home to so many successful tech companies, including Facebook, Google, Netflix, Linkedin, Slack, and more! A huge number of tech firms have their head offices based in San Francisco which means there are massive amounts of jobs on offer, and it is the best place to work if you want to break into senior roles and management.
The downside to living in San Francisco is the high taxes and crazy high cost of living. However, to offset this, tech firms pay on average $150,000 per year, which is much higher than other tech hubs around the country. Despite some tech companies jumping ship, many of the biggest tech companies on the planet are firmly rooted in San Francisco!
5. San Jose, California
San Jose, California, is San Francisco’s smaller cousin. It is just over 1-hour drive away and is a much more affordable option. To take advantage of cheaper rents, some big tech companies like Adobe, Sage Intacct, and Calyx Software are based here. Currently, over 150,000 people in San Jose work in the tech industry, and the average salary is over $140,000!
San Jose offers the great California lifestyle with the gorgeous weather without the hustle and bustle of San Francisco and at a much lower price bracket! Unfortunately, the taxes are still very high.
6. Seattle, Washington
Did you know the average tech worker in Seattle, Washington, earns $120,000 per year? Actually, over 160,000 people in Seattle work in the tech industry! Seattle has long been a tech hub since Microsoft set up its headquarters in Redmond in 1986. Other major tech companies in the local area include SalesForce, Amazon, Google, Apple, and Tableau.
Seattle is considered one of the 10 best places to live in the US thanks to its amazing schools, universities, low crime, and strong environmentally conscious movement. Seattle has a thriving restaurant scene and is the perfect-sized city at just under 800,000. If you are looking for a break from California but still want to stay on the west coast, then Seattle could be the perfect city to start your tech career. By the way, this city is also in the top of rating by SignalHire, which means this city is undoubtedly ideal for work. However, be prepared for the rain; in an average year, it rains 150 days!
Wrapping Up
Tech companies tend to cluster in certain cities, which are optimal for finding talent, reducing their tax burden, and living. If you are already in the tech industry and looking for a change of scenery or trying to break into the industry, then we recommend moving to:
- Austin, Texas
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- San Francisco, California
- San Jose, California
- Seattle, Washington
These cities are home to massive tech companies, offer average salaries of $100,000 or more, and have lots of opportunities in various tech roles including devs, analysts, and testers.
