Top 10 Best Cities for Tech Jobs

Think of tech jobs and you probably immediately think of Silicon Valley. There's a good reason—Silicon Valley is home to the biggest tech companies in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only city that should be on the radar of developers and programmers looking to land a sweet career in tech. If you're looking for the best cities for tech jobs, you'll need to broaden your horizons!

With the increasing popularity and need for tech jobs, dozens of cities across the United States have blossomed into tech meccas. These tech hubs attract talent from across the country, and from around the world. And while the increase in remote and hybrid jobs mean tech workers in 2022 can make almost any place a home office, you might be looking for a home base with a certain tech-friendly vibe. If you're hoping to settle down in one of the best tech cities, you'll find these ones will likely jive well with your lifestyle and career goals.

Here are ten of the best cities for tech jobs in the U.S. Plus, we're sharing average salaries in the best tech cities so you know what you can expect to be paid as a developer. 

Atlanta, Georgia

Average Software Developer Salary: $108,453

Over the past five years, Atlanta has gone from a best kept secret in the tech world to what some have called the “Silicon Valley of the South.” Atlanta is a bustling tech hub dominating in the fintech and software space. It’s a hot spot for startups and hosts some of the most recognizable tech companies in the world, including Amazon, Microsoft, MailChimp, and Airbnb. 

Even though Atlanta is the ninth largest metro area in the U.S., it has a lower cost of living than many smaller cities, which makes it an especially attractive option for entry-level programmers and developers. Combined with competitive wages, a diverse tech scene, and a rich culture, Atlanta is a city to watch.‍

Austin, Texas

Average Software Developer Salary: $93,875

Anyone who’s anyone in tech has their eyes set on Austin, and the area has seen enormous growth in the tech sector as a result. Tesla is currently building a massive automotive factory there, Oracle is moving its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin. Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google already have a presence in the city. It isn’t just the established tech giants relocating to the Lone Star State capital, either. Small tech companies are also blossoming there.

Texas is dominating the tech sector currently. Last year, the state was dubbed the top state for tech professionals and businesses to do business, and Austin was ranked the number one city for tech professionals.

With a vibrant music and nightlife scene, considerably lower cost of living, and as one of the most LGBTQIA+ inclusive cities in the U.S., Austin has become a magnet for young professionals. It’s one of the country’s fastest-growing major metros and it’s anticipated that it will continue to be one of the best cities for tech jobs in the future. 

Boston, Massachusetts

Average Salary for Software Developers: $84,242

Age is just a number when it comes to the oldest city on our list, because Boston’s tech scene is keeping up with the best. Home to more than 100 colleges and universities as well as dozens of internationally renowned science and tech businesses, Boston is a global city with plenty to offer, particularly for startups. In March 2020 alone, 60 startups in Boston saw investments of more than $1.5 billion. 

(Don't be intimidated by Boston's concentration of colleges and universities. You don't need a college degree to get a job in tech.)

One of Boston’s biggest benefits is that it’s home to exceptional talent, with one of the most educated and diverse workforces in the country. It has a small town feel and a rich history, making it a great alternative to big, crowded tech cities elsewhere. 

Chicago, Illinois

Average Salary for Software Developers: $83,123

Chicago hasn’t seen the same explosive growth as places like Austin, but it is one of the largest IT employers in the United States (8th behind New York City and San Francisco). It continues to see steady growth in the tech sector.

Known for its architecture, pizza, and baseball, Chicago is an eclectic city that offers a more affordable cost of living than its East and West Coast counterparts, as well as job stability. While tech isn’t the primary industry in Chicago, the city is diversified and has adapted to tech growth in such a way that there are plenty of tech positions and opportunities across all sectors.

Dallas, Texas

Average Salary for Software Developers: $97,158

Tech workers across the country are migrating to the Dallas-Fort Worth tech area. So many are going there, in fact, that it’s the third fastest growing tech scene in the country.

Between 2020 and 2021, Dallas added more than 5,300 tech jobs, according to tech trade group CompTIA. Those numbers made it the #1 metro area in the U.S. for adding tech jobs in 2021.

In 2015, Forbes dubbed Dallas one of five cities poised to become the next Silicon Valley (Chicago, Austin, and Seattle were also on that list). Dallas was also ranked the second best city for tech professionals in 2020, landing right under Austin.

Denver, Colorado

Average Salary for Software Developers: $78,642

Denver consistently ranks high on the list of best places to live, and it’s also a great place to be for cities with tech jobs. Tech professionals come to Denver for a balanced work-life tech career with a heavy dash of Mother Nature.

While Denver is still more in the up-and-coming stages of its rise to the best tech cities, it has plenty to offer programmers and developers. Denver ranks high on sustainable growth, and similar to other cities on this list, it has a more affordable cost of living than East or West Coast tech cities.

Denver not only boasts colorful city life, but it’s also a great spot for outdoors enthusiasts. Its picturesque landscape, world famous craft beer scene, and amazing selection of restaurants make it an especially great spot for young tech workers looking for a blend of tech and trail.

Portland, Oregon

Average Salary for Software Developers: $87,929

Portland, home of the “Silicon Forest,” is a non-traditional tech hub with a flourishing startup scene. That’s not to say this quirky Oregon city is a stranger to Big Tech—Portland is home to Intel, XP, and Xerox and has also seen a bigger Amazon and Apple presence in recent years. 

Portland is a very popular city for young professionals in tech as well as telecommuters, and its tech scene continues to grow at an accelerated pace. Like Denver, Portland’s access to outdoor adventures and sustainability attract a steady stream of newcomers. 

Raleigh, North Carolina

Average Salary for Software Developers: $107,071

Raleigh, like Austin, has seen exciting growth in the tech sector in recent years. With a diverse and highly educated population, a thriving culture for entrepreneurship, business resources, and tax incentives, Raleigh is considered a jackpot for both talent and growth.

Currently, Raleigh has less competition than other cities, which makes it an ideal place for job seekers looking for a career in tech. That may change in the near future. Raleigh is home to the largest research park in the United States, showing it’s a city committed to innovation. Both Apple and Google have announced new hubs in Raleigh, and some predict Raleigh will be the East Coast’s second biggest tech hub by 2025. 

San Francisco, California

Average Salary for Software Developers: $105,524

Even though San Francisco has seen its tech domination shaken in the past few years as young tech professionals migrate to areas with a lower cost of living, it’s still an influential player in the sector. San Francisco has the largest concentration of tech companies in the United States and Silicon Valley remains a top innovation hub.  

Seattle, Washington

Average Salary for Software Developers: $118,406

Seattle, much like San Francisco, is old money when it comes to tech. Seattle is the biggest tech city in the Pacific Northwest, and though it has fewer companies than hubs like San Francisco, it continues to be a growing tech scene.

Seattle is home to some of the biggest players in the tech world, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing. Its startup scene is also on the rise.

Learn from anywhere, work where you like

If want to be trained for software development, data science, or backend engineering, you don't have to move to one of these top tech cities—at least not yet. You can learn from anywhere, on any schedule, at BloomTech!

Our flexible courses are 100% online, so you can get trained for tech jobs from anywhere with a solid internet connection. Our flexible courses adapt to you so you can learn part-time or full-time, including while you work or raise a family. And you can live in any time zone while you learn, since we offer live classes 7 days a week in the day and evening. (Check out how BloomTech courses work for more details.)

A BloomTech education gets results for graduates who work all across the U.S., including some of these top tech cities. While 40% of placed BloomTech learners worked remotely, even more worked in person, coast to coast, according to our most recent Outcomes Report. California was the top state where BloomTech graduates worked, followed by Utah, New York, Texas, and Florida.

One of the coolest thing about a BloomTech education is that you can try it before you buy it. When you join our Risk-Free Trial, you get 3 weeks to

• learn the fundamentals of web development, data science, or backend development
• get personalized coaching to ID your career goals, make a study plan, and make the most of a BloomTech education
• connect with other learners, alumni, staff, and industry professionals—so you start building your network
• get technical questions answered fast, so you're never stuck

All these features of our Risk-Free Trial come with no financial commitments—you don't have to make a deposit or give us credit card information to access it all. It's the best way to see if an online tech school is the best way to make your dream job a reality.

So no matter where you live today—and which tech city you might want to live in eventually—we can help you reach your career goals. Apply today to get access to the Risk-Free Trial!

Salary stats taken from ZipRecruiter.com.