10 Best U.S. Cities to Work in Tech

Living in a small town is cozy. After all, tight-knit communities can feel like family. But when it comes to professional growth, you can only go so far in a place like this — especially when you work in a field as ever-changing as technology. 

Of course, the tech industry has plenty of remote job positions. One can have a well-paying career even if they live in a rural place. But in some cases, moving to a bigger city or a tech hub may end up a more beneficial strategy. Compared to remote work, jobs in these cities might provide better payment rates and employment prospects.

Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we have compiled a list of ten U.S. cities that offer the most lucrative conditions for tech talent. They are ranked by employment ratio, from the highest to the lowest.

1. San Jose, CA

San Jose is the largest city in Silicon Valley. It’s home to some of the biggest names in the tech industry, including Apple, Cisco, Google, Nvidia, and VMware. This leads to an abundance of IT jobs: in 2021 alone, there were more than 98,000 IT positions available in the area.

While the cost of living in San Jose can be high, local tech staff are among the best-paid in the United States. The city is known for its booming startup scene and is attractive to ambitious founders looking to make their mark in the tech industry. Early-stage companies can benefit from state-backed business assistance services and startup incubators.

2. Seattle, WA

Seattle has become a tech hub due to innovative tech companies that have set up shop in the area, such as Microsoft and Amazon’s headquarters. Starbucks, which was originally founded in Seattle, also hires hundreds of tech professionals every year.

This has created a concentration of tech jobs in the city, resulting in a thriving startup and tech scene. For example, Seattle supports and invests in organizations like the Washington Technology Industry Association and the Washington Technology Accelerator.

Currently, Seattle has a staggering 160,660 residents working in tech, making it one of the highest concentrations in the entire Pacific Northwest.

3. Washington, DC

The federal government’s strong presence in this city has made it a cybersecurity hotspot. Additionally, Washington, D.C. has spent time nourishing its software field, which resulted in a steady stream of capital from investors. The success of homegrown companies has attracted major players, such as Amazon. Tech powerhouses like Google and Twilio have also built their offices in the capital.

4. Boulder, CO

The city has been a hub for education since the establishment of the University of Colorado in 1877. During the 1950s–70s, Boulder became home for companies like IBM and Ball Aerospace. Their work and research helped build the basis of today’s tech industry in the city.

Nowadays, the city boasts an extensive startup and investor community that encourages an entrepreneurial mindset and community. Paired with a strong educational foundation, it has made Boulder one of the best places for startups to grow and scale.

5. Huntsville, AL

The city is home to the country’s second-largest research park, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Huntsville’s history in the space race has led to the growth of several industries, including software development and computer science.

Huntsville’s rise as a leading tech city was also fueled by the government’s collaboration with the private sector and academic institutions. Also, its relatively low cost of living and high average salaries in tech jobs make it an attractive place for engineers and other tech professionals.

6. San Francisco, CA

San Francisco has become a hotbed of the tech industry, with several major companies such as Salesforce and Twitter hiring tech talent in the area. Also, the city’s location close to Silicon Valley provides opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in IT.

The median salary for tech professionals in San Francisco is high, which makes it an attractive destination. But it’s offset by the high cost of living and extreme rents.

7. Austin, TX

The tech industry in Austin is diverse and vibrant, with over 5,500 technology companies located in the area, according to CompTIA. The city has also attracted many companies from Silicon Valley, such as Tesla, HP, and Oracle. They have relocated their offices to Austin because of lower taxes and easy access to talent.

Those willing to move to Austin will benefit from relatively low cost of living and a vibrant culture. With Austin’s lively social gathering and music events, it’s easier for workers to keep a stable work-life balance that helps their mental health.

8. Raleigh, NC

The Research Triangle Park (RTP) area of Raleigh boasts nationally ranked universities such as Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, NC State, and NC Central. It is also the largest research park in the entire country, home to hundreds of companies and organizations, such as Lenovo, IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, and IQVIA. 

Compared to other tech hubs, the Raleigh area has lower operational costs for businesses. This makes RTP an attractive location for companies seeking to save on costs. Also, the region has a growing pool of startups, which establishes a strong ecosystem for entrepreneurs.

9. Provo, UT

Provo has become a thriving tech hub with Silicon Slopes in the epicenter of the area’s tech startup scene. This city is also home for headquarters of prominent tech companies, such as Arctic Wolf and Qualtrics.

Utah’s highly-educated, multilingual workforce, as well as its status as the youngest population in the United States, has made it an attractive destination for tech companies looking to recruit top talent. That’s one of the reasons why Utah has been ranked as one of the top five states for businesses.

10. Colorado Springs, CO

The establishment of a National Cyber Intelligence Center made Colorado Springs into a cybersecurity hot spot. Additionally, Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Space Command, and one of the four University of Colorado campuses.

With its growing industries in aerospace and defense, cybersecurity, healthcare and medtech, Colorado Springs is now officially on the tech map. Tech workers also contribute to its resilience because they flee from traditional hubs like New York and San Francisco due to their high costs of living.

TripleTen’s online programs: learn & upgrade your tech skills

If you’re looking to break into the world of technology, be it remote work or relocation to a tech hub, your step one is to start learning IT skills. TripleTen offers full-time and part-time programs:

• Data Analytics
• Data Science
• Software Engineering
• Quality Assurance
• BI Analyst

The average duration varies between 5 to 12 months. If our graduates do not get a job within six months after completing their programs, they receive a 100% tuition refund. But we are proud to say that 87% of graduates succeed in finding a job in tech.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you work remotely or in a tech hub. The most important thing is to feel happy and fulfilled both personally and professionally. We wish you the best of luck in your job search and your potential move!