It's hard to find a job sector more attractive than tech. Creativity, advancement, and financial security all combine in tech roles that are both plentiful and secure. With a little luck, you could land a job that would make you the envy of your friends and neighbors.
Technically, you could do a tech job anywhere as long as you have access to a strong internet signal, but open positions tend to cluster in a few parts of the country.
In this article, we'll share information about the current tech hot spots, and we'll give you some hints about where the latest growth may come from. We'll also give you some tools you can use as you hunt for the perfect position.
What Is a Tech Job?
When you think of a job in tech, you probably think of a job that involves computers. Experts need to build on that basic knowledge a bit, so they can develop meaningful reports about growth and salaries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, gathers up some tech data under the heading Computer and Information Technology Occupations. Positions in this group, along with their 2018 median salaries, include:
The median salary in May 2018 for all the jobs in this diverse field was $86,320, and that's higher than the median for all occupations.
Top 5 Tech Cities in the U.S.
You're looking for a tech job and you'd like to relocate to a city where you'll take your pick of open positions. Where should you move? Research suggests that you'll need to call a big city home, and there are five that offer a good combination of many openings and high pay.
Every year, the organization CompTIA ranks metro areas by employment.
The five top regions in the recent survey include:
New York, NY - 659,260 tech jobs
Los Angeles, CA - 503,971 tech jobs
Washington, D.C. - 437,454 tech jobs
San Francisco, CA - 385,019 tech jobs
Boston, MA - 373,415 tech jobs
Job openings track closely to salaries due to simple competition. When there are few open positions, all the top talent fights for the same job, and employers aren't required to pimp their listings with high salaries. When there are plenty of jobs and no applicants, the reverse is true. Employers need to woo you to choose them, and most will do that with money.
It's worth noting that two of these top cities are in California. This state has played host to dozens of tech companies, and plenty of them still call the west coast state their home. For decades, California was the place to live if you wanted to work in tech, and that still holds true.
Five States That Invest in Tech
While it's true that California hosts plenty of tech jobs, and it's a good choice if you're hoping to work in this industry, other states are stepping up. Good jobs come with high salaries, and those wages translate into plenty of tax revenue. States are working hard to create a culture of tech, and some are moving to the head of the pack.
In 2017, says CompTIA, job growth for tech was highest in the following states:
Utah - 6% growth
North Carolina - 5.9% growth
Michigan - 5.1% growth
Washington - 4.9% growth
Montana - 4.5% growth
While almost every state added tech jobs, these regions were the most successful at expanding to new positions. They could be good spaces for you to start searches if you'd like to move away from the beaten path and tap into an emerging market.
Four Cities to Watch
Let's imagine that you'd like to narrow your search and focus on a few cities that contain emerging tech markets. You're in luck! There are plenty of places working hard to lure tech talent into their tax base.
These are four U.S. cities that we're watching closely:
Austin, TX: Country music, barbeque, and warm weather aren't the only top Austin attractions. Google, Apple, and other big tech companies are streaming into the area, which means others may follow suit. Universities are nearby, making recruitment easy, and the city has a business-friendly approach combined with low rent for office spaces.
Portland, OR: Major companies like Nike, Intel, and Xerox have headquarters here, plus the state's major universities are close by. The fresh entrepreneurial spirit that’s so common to startup culture is alive and well in Portland. It's relatively easy for companies to lure young people into making the move to this city.
Salt Lake City, UT: A low cost of living combined with a business-friendly legislature makes this an attractive home base for any tech company. Residents tend to be educated, which means local talent is easy to pull from, and office space is plentiful.
Denver, CO: According to Bisnow, between 2010 and 2017, Colorado's tech employment rate rose about 34 percent. This statistic shows how many companies are relocating to Denver to take advantage of a qualified workforce, a buzzing community full of ideas, and a plethora of new construction.
Trends in Tech Hiring
The tech sector is experiencing remarkable growth, and almost every job has more openings than seen in the year prior. It's important to note that there are also some trends that could slow future growth. Knowing what they are can help you prepare for what might come.
Trends to watch include:
A focus on support staff. Sure, the tech sector is growing. But the majority of that growth involves positions that support talent, experts say. This means companies may not need any more engineers, coders, or developers, but they might need billing technicians, accountants, and marketing teams.
Conservative hiring teams. In a survey, 95% of hiring staff members said they made a hire they later regretted. These same employers are likely judicious when reaching out to the next potential employee. While jobs were once offered on the spot, we may see a slowdown in the future.
Outsourcing. Tech was once completely American made. That might be changing, analysts say, as other countries invest in STEM education. Their workforce could eclipse ours in terms of speed and expertise, and that could mean shifting jobs offshore.
Tech Job Hunting Tips
You've chosen your geographic area, and you know the job title you're hoping for. What should you do to make sure you get the job of your dreams?
As you hunt, follow these best practices:
Don't obsess over your degree. Chances are, you'll need a technical background to land a job in tech. But don't lose hope! Employers might also be willing to consider your volunteer work or on-the-job learning rather than eliminating you from consideration due to a history degree.
Work up your portfolio. It's not good enough to say you can do a job. You'll probably need to prove your worth, especially if you're asking for a big salary. Pull together your work samples or work on freelance projects so you can offer concrete examples of your work during your interview.
Connect with peers. Tech is tight-knit, and a recommendation can open doors that otherwise remain closed. Reach out to alumni groups, former coworkers, and others who can vouch for you before you start interviewing. Perhaps they can put in a good word for you, or maybe they can even give you the inside scoop on a job you didn't know about.
Be professional. Tech companies are notoriously casual, and it's not uncommon to see staff lounging in pajamas or playing ping pong. Don't take that vibe with you while you interview. Make sure you project calm professionalism. You can let loose a bit after you’ve settled in.
Experiment with titles. Tech companies sometimes allow their staff to make up their own titles, using words like "guru" or "master." Don't be thrown. Dig into the description to see what the position entails and find out whether you're qualified.
Prepare for group interviews. If you're applying to rapidly growing companies, they may need to hire many people at once. That could mean interviewing with many other people at the same time. Showcase your teamwork by remaining polite, kind, and focused during the conversation.
We can help to narrow your job search so you can find the job you need quickly, without a lot of hassle. Our tools are completely free, and they're really easy to use. We've collected thousands of tech jobs, so you'll have plenty to choose from. Start your search today.
