Best places for tech workers in 2019
Image source Google Maps screenshot
You might think that you have to live in the Bay Area to earn the most in a technology job. The fact is, unless you’re planning to be the next Zuckerberg, career opportunities are often much better for tech workers in the land between the coasts. Cost of living is the main factor.
Financial advice company SmartAsset has released its list of the best cities for tech professionals in 2019, and the locations may surprise you.
None of SmartAsset’s top cities are the coastal tech meccas of the past, which makes perfect sense when you know how SmartAsset is ranking cities.
As a financial firm, SmartAsset is concerned with the economic reality of employment in the tech sector. And as enticing as a job in the Valley may be, it probably doesn’t pay as well as a similar job elsewhere when cost of living is factored in.
Average salary, cost of living, tech employment concentration, unemployment rate, and the ratio of tech employment to non-tech employment are all part of SmartAsset’s ranking system. The top five cities are:
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Raleigh, NC
- Cedar Rapids, IA
- Davenport, IA
To see the rest of the rankings, and learn more about why each city is included, check out the full report.