Top 5 states for tech salaries

This day in age, it’s clear that careers in the tech industry pay a higher median salary than most jobs in other fields of work. Think Silicon Valley, or the massively growing tech scene dubbed as “Silicon Alley” in Manhattan and Brooklyn. With much focus on tech hubs as innovation centers, it’s easy to forget that states, for the most part, boast their own tech economies, above what individual cities and hubs are doing. With this in mind, you may be wondering which states pay their talented tech professionals the most. Read on below to find out.

California

2015 salary: $109,488

To no one’s surprise, the golden state tops the list, and as mentioned earlier, this is thanks to the decades-old tech hub, Silicon Valley. But fortunately, California’s tech community isn’t restricted to that area alone. Despite Silicon Valley’s dominance on the tech scene, southern California has been making room for a rising number of start-ups and established companies. Well-funded companies such as Snapchat have helped transformed Los Angeles into “Silicon Beach.”

Because of the large clusters of tech firms, along with the increasing need for tech talent, salaries in California were the highest in the nation last year, averaging at $109,488. On top of that, think of all the employee perks these companies offer to attract top talent.

New York

2015 salary: $105,927

In order to diversify its economy, New York City spent years branding itself as “Silicon Alley,” making itself a home for start-ups and major tech companies looking for a headquarters.

The city’s tech advocates have voiced their opinion, claiming that New York City’s culture and density make it a preferable alternative to Silicon Valley and other tech hubs. “I believe that more and more Stanford graduates will find themselves moving to Silicon Alley,” Michael Bloomberg, mayor at the time, said to Stanford’s graduating class in 2013. “Not only because we’re the hottest new tech scene in the country, but also because there’s more to do on a Friday night than go to the Pizza Hut in Sunnyvale, and you may even be able to find a date with a girl whose name is not Siri.”

Outside of the city, the state government is working to make areas such as Long Island and central New York more hospitable to tech firms.

Maryland

2015 salary: $104,570

By neighboring Washington, D.C., and because many firms that service the federal government’s infrastructure and analytics needs are based in the area, Maryland’s tech scene has a lot going for it. Baltimore itself has been dedicated to creating a tech start-up scene, mainly because of its location — it’s also accessible from major urban areas such as New York and Boston.

Washington

2015 salary: $103,750

Seattle is the heart of Washington’s tech scene, headquartering tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Oculus. Because this city is rich in venture capital and tech pros skilled in a variety of disciplines, it’s attractive to new firms on the lookout for the best talent.

Massachusetts

2015 salary: $103,373

Thanks to major universities such as Harvard and MIT, Massachusetts is a prime destination for any firm seeking to makes its headquarters in a state with access to a variety of specialized skillsets.

Large tech firms in the Boston area include Akamai Technologies and Boston Dynamics. In addition to its tech scene, Massachusetts offers easy access to the tech hubs of New York City and Washington, D.C.

Source: insights.dice.com