The 10 Best US Cities to Work in Tech

If you’re thinking about switching to tech or if you’re fresh from a data science or software engineering program, you might have the same question: what are the best tech cities in the US? Well, best is fairly subjective. For some people, “best” could mean cities with tech jobs that also have good rock climbing within a quick commute. Others could be more enthusiastic about cities with great startups because they’re looking for something scrappy.

Since there’s so much that goes into making tech cities in the US good for different people, we’ve decided to take a more overarching view so that the information, no matter what, will be useful to you.

So dive in. Here are the top tech cities in the US.

Methodology

More specifically, our recommendations for the top tech cities are based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’s data for the metropolitan areas with the highest concentrations of high-tech jobs. This means you won’t see New York City or Los Angeles listed — even if they are the most populous cities in the country, the percentage of jobs in tech is actually fairly diffuse. And telling you that there are a lot of jobs in cities where there are a lot of jobs feels both tautological and unhelpful.

Instead, we wanted to bring you more nuanced, useful information. By refocusing on the concentration rather than the sheer number of people working in the tech industry, the data is no longer skewed by population.

In addition, we’re listing average rent prices sourced from RentCafe as a proxy for cost of living. Housing is the highest expenditure across the board in the United States, so we’re confident it’s an informative stand-in. Okay, with that out of the way, let’s get into the top tech cities in the US.

1. San Jose, CA

You likely saw this coming. If Silicon Valley is the tech hub of the US, San Jose is the tech hub of Silicon Valley. Its tech scene is exactly what you’d expect. Tech companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon, Intel, IBM, and many more all operate in this city. If you’re looking for cities for tech jobs that are at the cutting edge, there really is nowhere better than San Jose. 

As you can see in the chart below, not only does it have the highest tech employment per thousand jobs; it also has the highest annual mean wage. And that’s a good thing because the rents around San Jose are not cheap.

2. Lexington Park, MD

This city placing second on our list might be surprising. But the fact that the BLS included it among the best cities for IT jobs tells an interesting story. Even though this city does only boast 4,650 people employed in tech according to the BLS, the concentration is remarkably high — 98.43 per thousand jobs. 

See, people with expertise in tech are in demand across the country. If you want to snag a job at a major tech company and live in a bigger city, San Jose might be right for you. But if you want to pursue a tech career without giving up on a small-town feel, that’s absolutely possible — a place like Lexington Park might be perfect. And with its high employment rate of tech experts, it’s clear that opportunities abound.

Lexington Park benefits from its relative proximity to the US capital, one of the best cities for tech in its own right, as we’ll see later. Because of this, Lexington Park is home to defense and aerospace industry companies, with some cybersecurity thrown in as well. Want to work on the frontier of defensive tech? You can pursue that ambition without giving up on a bucolic life.

3. 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. In addition, Google has a presence in Boulder, where it’s focusing on the development of its cloud solutions. Nowadays, the city boasts an extensive startup and investor community that encourages an entrepreneurial mindset and community. Paired with a strong educational foundation, this has made Boulder one of the best places for startups to grow and scale.

And we can’t talk about Boulder without mentioning the natural scenery that is an additional benefit. Not only is it a great city for techies, it’s a great city for anyone who loves exploring the outdoors.

4. Seattle, WA

This is another entry that won’t surprise you in our list of the best tech cities. Seattle has become a prime city for tech due to innovative companies that have set up shop in the area, such as Microsoft and Amazon, which have their headquarters in the city. Fun fact: Starbucks, which was originally founded in Seattle, also hires hundreds of tech professionals every year.

This has created a high 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.

If you want to move to a tech hub in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s the place for you.

5. Washington, DC

In terms of cities for tech, you might not expect the US capital to be high on the list, but the federal government has made DC a cybersecurity hotspot. Companies working to protect vital US tech infrastructure (and snag those sweet government contracts) have sprung up and continue to develop. Feeling techy and patriotic? You’ll find the job you’re looking for in DC.

Additionally, the city has spent time nourishing its software field, which has 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.

6. Huntsville, AL

Another potential surprise in terms of cities for tech jobs is this Alabama tech hub. But it’s here for good reason: it’s home to the country’s second-largest research park, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center as well as 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. In addition, its relatively low cost of living and high average salaries in tech jobs make it an attractive place for engineers and other tech professionals.

7. San Francisco, CA

Despite the prevailing cultural narrative saying that San Francisco tops the list of biggest tech cities in the US, this city actually is less dominant than some of its Bay Area neighbors. Still, San Francisco has become a hotbed for the tech industry, with several major companies_{The 11 Best Tech Companies in San Francisco to Work for} such as Salesforce and X (formerly 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. Professionals in the tech industry can take advantage of a more urban city life by residing in the city itself and commuting to one of the other Bay Area cities that many tech giants call home.

One thing to note, though: median tech salaries in San Francisco are fairly high, which makes it an attractive destination, but this is offset by the high cost of living and extreme rents.

8. Bloomington, IL

This is another city whose entry on this list might surprise you, but its tech employment per thousand jobs is just barely lower than that for San Francisco. Surprised? Don’t be. This city is home to well-known educational institutions such as Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University. This makes it a dynamic city where, despite its size, much still occurs — both in tech and in culture. Fun fact: David Foster Wallace lived in Bloomington and taught at ISU as he wrote Infinite Jest.

Bloomington is home to numerous industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and insurance. In fact, State Farm has its headquarters in this city. And here’s where we get to an important point: working in tech doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work for Amazon, Google, or Apple. Today, almost every company employs people with tech skills. For example, your data analysis skills can be useful at a plastic injection manufacturing company, just like they were for Antonio_{From the Big Four to Bigger Ambitions: Antonio’s TripleTen Story}, and your software engineering know-how is in demand at retail companies like lululemon, like it was for Yuliya Khilko_{From Chemical Engineering to Motherhood to Tech : Yuliya Khilko’s TripleTen Story}.

So if you want to go for a midwestern town that can promise tech opportunities and offer a lower cost of living, Bloomington might be worth a look.

9. Austin, TX

This is a common entrant in lists about cities for tech jobs, and for good reason. 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. Tech workers are flocking to this city because of this, meaning there’s a developing and dynamic high tech culture springing up.

Those willing to move to Austin_{The 13 Best Tech Companies in Austin to Work For} will benefit from relatively low cost of living, commensurately higher average tech salary, and unique local culture. In addition, with Austin’s lively social gathering and music events, it’s easier for workers to keep a stable work-life balance that helps them look after their mental health.

10. Durham, NC

This city is one of the anchors of the Research Triangle, a geographical region that also includes Raleigh and Chapel Hill. This area is known for hosting numerous tech companies, institutions focusing on high-tech research (hence the name), and an environment that is uniquely conducive to startups. In fact, because of this, exciting things are happening in Durham when it comes to the overlap of tech and healthcare. 

And don’t forget the universities present in the triangle — Durham is home to Duke University, known for its pioneering research in tech (as well as its basketball team). In addition, another tentpole institution in the Research Triangle, The University of  North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is where one TripleTen grad_{How an Immigrant Landed a Career in the US: Evgeniia Unzhakova’s TripleTen Story} is now applying her data skills.

Looking for more data? We’ve got you covered.

So now you know the cities where you can look for a job. But how about the employers themselves? What skills are they looking for? What tech professionals are they planning to hire in 2024? And is AI really such a threat? We surveyed over 1,000 employers, and we have the inside scoop. Check out even more data in our in-depth report: Breaking into Tech: Employer Secrets for Success.