TripleTen experts
Alyse Maguire
LinkedIn
LinkedIn

Tech jobs are abundant in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it’s no wonder. The southern section of the SF Bay Area, Silicon Valley, is a region in northern California characterized by its pursuits in tech and innovation. In fact, we bet you can name at least three companies right now who have headquarters or offices around San Francisco (do it – we’ll wait). 

If you’re wondering if you can get a job with one of the tech companies in San Francisco or the Bay Area as a new techie, you’re in luck. Many top San Francisco tech companies and those in the Bay have dropped their requirement for bachelor’s degrees, and they are eager to bring on talent, so you don’t need direct experience in the industry. All you need are transferable skills and related experience to show that you’ve got what it takes to work and thrive. 

Start your job search with these top IT companies and Bay Area tech companies.

The 15 best tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area

1. Google (Alphabet) 

Industry: Search, cloud computing, artificial intelligence 

Glassdoor rating: 4.4 stars 

Size: 190,000+ employees globally; significant presence in the San Francisco Bay Area

Google started as a search and advertising powerhouse but has grown into something much bigger, and is now one of the biggest tech companies in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Today they're tackling everything from cloud services (Google Cloud Platform) to AI research (their Gemini AI models are making waves), plus YouTube and tons of other moonshot projects. They're all about solving massive problems at scale, whether that's consumer tech, enterprise services, or pure research.

What they stand out for: Google's engineering culture is legendary. You're working with some of the sharpest minds in tech, getting benefits that are basically unmatched, and constantly learning new things. The compensation packages are outstanding, and employee satisfaction scores consistently rank near the top. If you want to work somewhere that values innovation and takes care of its people, this is it.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Software engineer
  • UX/UI designer
  • Cloud architect
  • Machine learning engineer
  • Data scientist
  • Product manager
  • Security engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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2. Apple

Industry: Consumer electronics and technology

Glassdoor rating: 4.3 stars

Size: 160,000+ employees globally, ~12,000 employees in the SF area

We couldn’t compile a list of top tech companies in the Bay Area without mentioning Apple. The global technology company is known and loved for its cutting-edge hardware, software, and services. Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, called Apple Park, is a significant presence in the Bay Area and this company offers some of the most desired job opportunities for people in and around SF (if not the whole world).

What they stand out for: Creating eye-catching designs, user-friendly interfaces, and a laudable commitment to user privacy and security.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Software engineer
  • UX/UI designer
  • iOS developer
  • Systems engineer
  • AI/ML engineer
  • Hardware engineer
  • QA engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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3. Salesforce

Industry: Cloud computing and customer relationship management (CRM)

Glassdoor rating: 4.0 stars

Size: 79,000+ employees globally, ~12,000 employees in the SF area

One of the biggest tech companies by employee headcount in the Bay Area, Salesforce is a leader in the CRM world, helping businesses manage and streamline customer relationships with its cloud-based software. Over the years, Salesforce has acquired a lot of other popular tech solutions, as well, including the productivity and communication platform Slack as well as the business intelligence and analytics tool Tableau.

What they stand out for: Putting business software in the cloud before anyone else, creating a good workplace culture, and championing positive change through its software and services. Working here, you’ll also benefit from being at one of the most visible software companies in San Francisco, as they’re housed in the eponymous Salesforce Tower.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Cloud Engineer
  • Software Developer
  • iOS Developer

Jobs: See open roles

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4. Netflix 

Industry: Streaming entertainment and media technology 

Glassdoor rating: 4.6 stars

Size: 10,000+ employees; significant engineering presence in the San Francisco Bay Area

Netflix completely upended entertainment. They're not just streaming shows; they're producing content, building recommendation engines, optimizing delivery at crazy scale, and now they’re getting into gaming and advertising. To power all that, AI and machine learning are at the heart of everything they do. 

What they stand out for: The money is among the best in tech, period. Netflix runs on a high-performance culture with a "freedom and responsibility" philosophy that treats you like an adult. You'll tackle engineering problems most companies never see, working with AI and ML at massive scale. If you can handle the intensity, the compensation and learning opportunities are hard to beat.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Software engineer 
  • Machine learning engineer
  • Senior data engineer
  • Product manager
  • Infrastructure engineer
  • Algorithms engineer
  • Systems engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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5. Meta (Facebook) 

Industry: Social media, AI, and virtual reality 

Glassdoor rating: 3.8 stars

Size: 15,000+ employees in the Bay Area; 67,000+ globally

Meta (rebranded from Facebook) is building the infrastructure for how people connect online. They run Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Reality Labs, while pushing hard into AI research and metaverse development. Love them or hate them, they're shaping what comes next in tech.

What they stand out for: If you're into AI and ML research, Meta is doing frontier work. Reality Labs is pushing VR/AR boundaries, compensation packages include serious stock benefits, and you'll work with datasets and technical challenges few other places can match. Career growth can be rapid if you perform.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Software engineer
  • Machine learning engineer
  • AI research scientist
  • Product manager
  • Infrastructure engineer
  • Security engineer
  • Data scientist

Jobs: See open roles

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6. Stripe 

Industry: Fintech infrastructure and payment technology 

Glassdoor rating: 3.5 stars

Size: 5,000+ employees globally; significant San Francisco Bay Area presence

Stripe built the infrastructure that powers online commerce. Millions of companies use their platform to accept payments, manage billing, and expand globally. They've turned something incredibly complicated (payment processing) into a platform developers can actually work with.

What they stand out for: You're building financial infrastructure that matters. Your coworkers are smart and driven, engineering practices are solid, and they've embraced remote work better than most. Compensation is competitive, and if fintech or infrastructure engineering gets you excited, you'll love the problems you're solving here.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Software engineer
  • Back-end engineer
  • Infrastructure engineer
  • Full-stack developer
  • Product manager
  • API developer
  • Security engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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7. Airbnb 

Industry: Travel technology and hospitality

Glassdoor rating: 4.1 stars

Size: ~7,000 employees globally, 350 employees in the SF area

Airbnb is arguably one of the best tech companies to work for in San Francisco. With some of the highest employee reviews on this list, the platform popularized the idea of a vacation and rental property marketplace, where homeowners around the world can rent out their spaces to travelers (much like Uber did as a service company).

What they stand out for: Their design culture is world-class, they give employees annual travel stipends (use the product!), and the workplace philosophy centers on belonging. It's a creative environment where diverse perspectives actually matter. If you care about how design and engineering come together, this is worth looking at.   

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Software engineer
  • Data engineer
  • Product manager

Jobs: See open roles

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8. Uber

Industry: Transportation network company

Glassdoor rating: 3.8 stars

Size: 27,000+ employees globally, ~3,500 employees in the SF area

Uber is one of the most popular rideshare and food delivery platforms in the world. It transformed the transportation industry when it launched, allowing private car owners to become taxi drivers and earn income from their driving services. Getting a job at Uber will definitely help you get your foot in the door of the tech industry.

What they stand out for: Popularizing the rideshare concept, creating other transportation service options (like Uber Eats), and investing in autonomous vehicle research. At Uber, you get exposed to mobile technology at scale, machine learning problems that actually matter, autonomous vehicle research, and a ton of cutting-edge technical challenges. Compensation is competitive, and if marketplace platforms or transportation tech interest you, Uber's tackling some genuinely hard problems.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Security engineer
  • Data scientist
  • Machine learning engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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9. Dropbox 

Industry: Cloud storage and collaboration software

Glassdoor rating: 3.8 stars

Size: ~3,000 employees

Dropbox is a cloud-based file storage and collaboration platform that allows users to store and share files. The company now offers comprehensive workspace solutions, offering tools for collaboration, document signing, project management, and file synchronization.

What they stand out for: Streamlining file sharing and collaboration, providing a user-friendly interface, and offering a versatile platform for team productivity. Work-life balance is genuinely respected here, and they've got one of the highest CEO approval ratings around at 85%. The engineering culture is strong, and they've proven that remote-first companies can actually keep employees happy.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Security engineer
  • Back-end software engineer
  • Software engineer
  • Data engineer
  • Infrastructure engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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10. Workday 

Industry: Human capital and financial management software

Glassdoor rating: 3.6 stars

Size: 17,000+ employees globally, ~2,000+ employees in the SF area

Workday is a leading provider of cloud-based software for human resources, finance, and workforce planning. Their platform is used by enterprises around the world, helping businesses eliminate old, bulky information technology systems by bringing everything into the cloud. While it’s not like other traditional IT companies, Workday is a good option for those interested in the IT-to-cloud transition and services space.

What they stand out for: Providing a unified solution for managing people and finances, transforming HR and financial processes with a modern approach, and innovating in the enterprise software space. 

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Systems analyst
  • Data engineer 
  • UI/UX engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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11. Cisco Systems 

Industry: Networking infrastructure and cyber security 

Glassdoor rating: 3.9 stars

Size: 90,000+ employees globally, 3,000+ in the Bay Area

Cisco is the backbone of the internet, providing the networking, security, and collaboration technology that keeps the digital world running. They're helping organizations everywhere handle secure digital transformation across their operations.

What they stand out for: They just ranked #1 for tech workplaces by Fortune, which says a lot. The culture emphasizes diversity and inclusion, benefits are comprehensive, and there's real stability here. Remote work flexibility is genuine, and they've been recognized as great for parents and women in tech specifically.

Typical tech roles in the Bay Area: 

  • Network engineer
  • Security engineer
  • Software engineer
  • Systems engineer
  • Cloud architect
  • DevOps engineer
  • Infrastructure engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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12. Adobe 

Industry: Creative software and digital media 

Glassdoor rating: 4.3 stars

Size: 30,000+ employees globally, ~4,200 in the Bay Area

Adobe makes the creative software that designers, video editors, marketers, and developers use every day. Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro: their tools are industry standard. They serve creative professionals and enterprises with platforms for digital creation and marketing.

What they stand out for: Ranked #7 best tech workplace, Adobe emphasizes creativity and innovation in everything they do. Benefits are comprehensive, they're serious about employee development and diversity, and you'd be working on products that creative professionals worldwide depend on.

Typical tech roles: 

  • Software engineer
  • Product manager
  • UX/UI designer
  • Data scientist
  • Cloud architect
  • Machine learning engineer
  • Infrastructure engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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13. Twilio 

Industry: Communications APIs and cloud communications platforms

Glassdoor rating: 3.7 stars

Size: 1,000+ employees

Twilio gives developers the power to build communications into their apps. They can add SMS, voice, video, and email, all through APIs. Businesses worldwide use their platform to communicate with customers, and they've made it easy to work with their services and customers alike.

What they stand out for: Developer culture runs deep here. The communications platform is innovative, they actually care about employee experience, and transparency isn't just a buzzword. Engineering practices are strong, pay is competitive, and their Great Place to Work rating didn't come from nowhere.

Typical tech roles: 

  • Software engineer
  • Back-end engineer
  • DevOps engineer
  • Data engineer
  • Product manager
  • Solutions architect
  • Infrastructure engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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14. Zoom 

Industry: Video communications and collaboration 

Glassdoor rating: 3.5 stars

Size: ~7,400 with ~300 in the Bay Area

Zoom changed how we work and communicate. Their video platform became essential during remote work's explosion, and they've built out a full unified communications suite covering video, voice, chat, and collaboration. Enterprises, schools, and individuals all rely on them.

What they stand out for: They built mission-critical technology that scaled like crazy. Leadership and CEO approval ratings are high, employee satisfaction is strong, and compensation is competitive. If you want to work on reliable, scalable communications infrastructure that millions depend on daily, Zoom's where that happens.

Typical tech roles: 

  • Software engineer
  • Infrastructure engineer
  • Back-end engineer
  • Data engineer
  • Machine learning engineer
  • Product manager
  • Security engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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15. Intel

Industry: Semiconductors and computer processors 

Glassdoor rating: 3.8 stars

Size: 100,000+ employees globally with significant Bay Area presence

Intel designs and manufactures the processors that power computers, data centers, and computing infrastructure worldwide. They're a semiconductor giant driving innovation in computing technology, serving everything from consumer PCs to massive data centers.

What they stand out for: They’re an industry leader in semiconductor design and manufacturing, working on technology that shapes computing globally. There's stability and financial strength here, benefits are comprehensive, and they take diversity and inclusion seriously. If semiconductor design or manufacturing fascinates you, Intel's been doing it longer than almost anyone.

Typical tech roles: 

  • Hardware engineer
  • Systems engineer
  • Software engineer
  • Design engineer
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Test engineer

Jobs: See open roles

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Start your path to one of these companies

These IT companies in San Francisco are only a fraction of the job opportunities available in the sprawling tech landscape of SF, and we didn’t even mention any of the many startup companies in San Francisco. Each company offers a unique opportunity to harness the power of this region’s ever-growing tech ecosystem for your career trajectory.

Thinking about a tech career in San Francisco? Take our career quiz to find out what role is right for you and find your dream career.

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FAQ

Is it worth relocating to San Francisco for a tech job?

It’s worth relocating to San Francisco for a tech job in terms of wealth of opportunity and salary. The Bay Area commands some of the highest salaries in tech, but there’s a catch: the cost of living eats away at that compensation. But if you want to make it at a startup or tech giant, SF and the Bay is a great place to be.

What's the average cost of living for a tech employee in San Francisco?

The average cost of living for a tech employee in San Francisco is high. Budget around $5,000-$8,000 monthly if you want to live decently. Within that, rent eats up $3,000-$4,500, food runs $800-$1,200, and you'll spend another couple thousand on everything else.

Do San Francisco Bay Area tech companies offer relocation packages?

Big San Francisco Bay Area tech players do tend to offer relocation packages, covering your move, temporary housing, flights, all that. Google, Apple, Meta, Netflix, and Salesforce all come through with solid relocation support. How much you get depends on your level and how well you negotiate.

What's the job market competition like in San Francisco Bay Area tech?

The San Francisco Bay Area tech job market competition is brutal. Thousands of qualified people are going after the same roles, especially entry-level ones. If you’re starting out, you need something that makes you stand out: a solid portfolio, someone on the inside vouching for you, or specialization in hot areas like AI/ML or security.

What are the salary differences between the San Francisco Bay Area and other tech hubs?

San Fransciso Bay Area tech companies pay more than those in other tech hubs. You can find entry-level salaries around $150,000–$250,000. Salaries in Seattle are 10–15% less, in Austin 20-30% less, and in New York 5-10% less. The thing is that living in the Bay costs much more, so your actual buying power might be the same or worse.

What skills are most in-demand in the San Francisco Bay Area tech market?

In the SF Bay tech market, skills in AI and machine learning are the most in demand right now. In addition, cloud infrastructure is blowing up, so skills in AWS, GCP, or Azure are also much needed. As always, skills in full-stack are also still valuable, as is know-how in security.

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