Top States To Work In Tech Also Include Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina
April 28, 2022 (Seattle, WA) – According to a new study from BestColleges.com, Georgia is the best state to work in tech. All 50 states were examined and ranked on the basis of the median annual wage for tech workers, percentage difference between median tech wages and median wages of all occupations, number of tech job postings, percentage of tech workers who are women, percentage of tech workers who are Black and Latino/a, cost of living, and overall well-being.
Q1 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more
Top 5 Best States To Work In Tech
| 1 | Georgia |
| 2 | Virginia |
| 3 | Maryland |
| 4 | North Carolina |
| 5 | California |
Georgia’s tech workforce is notably diverse, with the percentage of Black and Latino/a workers in tech ranking third in the nation and the percentage of women in the field ranking eighth. The percentage difference between median tech wages and median wages of other occupations in the state (4/50) and a relatively low cost of living (9/50) also rank favorably, earning the Peach State the number one spot.
Virginia takes the number two spot with relatively high median tech wages (6/50) and many opportunities for tech workers with a large number of job postings (5/50).
Maryland’s high median wages for tech workers (3/50) and relatively diverse tech workforce (Black and Latino/a tech workers: 6/50; women tech workers: 8/50) make the state a good choice at number three. It also ranks highly for well-being (3/50), but takes a hit due to its high cost of living (44/50).
North Carolina sits in fourth place, ranking highest for the percentage difference between median tech wages and median wages of other occupations in the state (1/50). The state has well-above-average rankings in every category but well-being (37/50).
California’s high median tech wages (5/50) and the most tech job postings (1/50) help the state round out the top five. However, its extremely high cost of living (49/50) and middling gender diversity in the field (24/50) should be considered carefully by relocating tech workers.
“Over the last five years, the tech industry has gone through a nationwide expansion, and opportunities for tech workers have increased almost everywhere,” said Jessica Bryant, analyst for BestColleges.com. “In considering relocation, the importance of multiple factors will look different for each individual. And those looking for a remote position in the field might be less concerned with cost of living if they can work from anywhere.”
As for the worst states, North Dakota’s low median tech wages (44/50), few job postings (43/50), and little percentage difference between median tech wages and median wages of other occupations (49/50) earn it last place. Montana ranked 49th, also with low median tech wages (47/50) and little opportunity in the field (47/50).
Ranking Methodology
To complete this study, BestColleges.com used an array of publicly available datasets related to tech workers. Each variable we considered was weighted by level of importance, as follows: median annual wage for tech workers (20%), percentage more that tech workers earn compared to individuals in all occupations (15%), number of tech job postings (15%), cost of living (15%), percentage of tech workers who are women (12.5%), percentage of tech workers who are Black and Latino/a (12.5%), and overall well-being (10%).
Median annual wages for tech workers and individuals employed in all occupations were taken from May 2021 data shared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data on the number of tech job postings and demographic breakdowns of tech workers by state were obtained from CompTIA's 2022 State of Tech Workforce report and reflect figures for 2021. Percentages of Black and Latino/a workers were averaged.
Cost of living figures were obtained from World Population Review, which obtained its data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Figures reflect the third quarter of 2021.
Lastly, BestColleges.com used Sharecare's 2020 Community Well-Being Index, which was released in May 2021, to determine well-being by state. The index measures physical, financial, and social well-being, as well as a resident's access to food, housing, economic security, and healthcare.
About BestColleges.com
BestColleges.com empowers students to make smarter educational decisions and find schools that best fit their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides, and hundreds of unique college rankings. As a trusted education advisor, they also provide a wide array of college planning, financial aid, and career resources to help students realize life goals and overcome educational challenges as they prepare for careers after college.
