Where to Work: 5 Best Cities for Tech Jobs

One of the great things about working in tech is that you can often work from any location.

Tech skills are needed across the country and the world, and strong internet connections and connected technologies allow flexibility like we’ve never seen before.

However, there are still locations where tech jobs are concentrated by industry, by proximity to certain resources, or are just near large company headquarters. 

While the rise of remote and hybrid work in tech is real – for many, so is the desire to work in person, surrounded by coworkers and able to collaborate with ease. Whether you want to explore a new location or work in an established tech city, we’re looking at the best cities for tech jobs. 

To make this list, we consulted a variety of sources. We looked at Salary Trends from Dice and regional data on software developers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We looked at the average tech salary according to Dice, as well as metro-area median income and jobs per 1,000 workers from the BLS.

These combined stats formed the foundation of our rankings.  

5 Best Cities for Tech Jobs

1. Silicon Valley, California: Still the Leader

• Average Tech Salary (Dice): $141,618 (#1)
• Developer Median Salary (BLS): $199,800 (#1)
• Developer Jobs Per 1,000 (BLS): 84.60 (#1)

While other areas are increasing their technology presence, Silicon Valley is still at the top. It’s one of the most expensive areas to live in, but it delivers the highest salaries. With nearly 85 software developer jobs per 1,000, it doubles second-place Boulder in this category. This is still the center of the tech universe, the place to be if you want to live near and work with other tech professionals.

2. Boulder and the Denver Area, Colorado

• Average Tech Salary (Dice): $122,913 (#3)
• Developer Median Salary (BLS): $182,650 (#2)
• Developer Jobs Per 1,000 (BLS): 40.31 (#2)

Living in the Denver region, you can enjoy the benefits of a major metropolitan area while being a short drive to some of the most stunning landscapes on earth. Tech professionals earn a high income, and there’s a large presence of tech professionals throughout the area. Boulder, a bustling college town, is particularly great for tech professionals.

3. Seattle and Tacoma, Washington Region

• Average Tech Salary (Dice): $122,913 (#4) 
• Developer Median Salary (BLS): $164,130 (#4) 
• Developer Jobs Per 1,000 (BLS): 36.54 (#3)

Seattle is a wonderful place to make a living in tech. Whether you like the ocean, mountains, or a vibrant city culture (or all three), the Seattle and Tacoma region has what you need, along with exciting tech jobs. Big companies like Microsoft and Amazon are headquartered here, plus startups and mid-sized tech companies innovating and pushing boundaries.

4. New York City, NY

• Average Tech Salary (Dice): $119,865 (#6) 
• Developer Median Salary (BLS): $152,100 (#8)
• Developer Jobs Per 1,000 (BLS): N/A

While the region doesn’t have as many tech jobs per capita as other cities, NYC is an excellent place to work, especially if you love the exciting bustle of America’s largest city. You’ll enjoy all the amenities, entertainment, and energy of New York while earning a high income in a well-established technology hub.

5. Huntsville, Alabama

• Average Tech Salary (Dice): N/A
• Developer Median Salary (BLS): $120,260
• Developer Jobs Per 1,000 (BLS): 28.96 (5)

You don’t have to work in one of America’s largest metro areas to make a living as a software developer. If you want to live in a moderately sized region that still has a major tech presence, consider Huntsville, Alabama. The cost of living is more reasonable than Silicon Valley, Seattle, or New York, and the entire metro area has roughly 500,000 people, far fewer than all other regions on this list.

This is just a short list of potential places to work in tech. The list of vibrant cities with growing tech hubs is far and wide across this country. No matter where you’re located – or where you hope to move – there are opportunities for you.