Net tech employment in the United States reached over 9.6 million in 2024 and is projected to grow by 2.5% to 9.9 million by the end of 2025, according to the State of the Tech Workforce 2025 report published by CompTIA. The tech industry is becoming increasingly significant, contributing an estimated 8.6% of the nation’s direct economic value, roughly translating to $2 trillion in economic impact. This report assessed net tech employment across various metropolitan areas, combining multiple data points to provide a clearer picture of the expanding tech workforce.
Tech professionals primarily fill technical roles, but the contribution of business professionals is equally vital. CompTIA highlights that these non-technical roles account for 38% of net tech employment, emphasizing their importance within both tech and non-tech companies.
In ranking the fastest-growing tech hubs, CompTIA evaluated each metro area based on cost of living and tech wage premiums, categorizing them into quartiles. The following ten metropolitan areas have demonstrated significant tech job growth and are expected to continue this trend throughout the remainder of the year.
Top 10 Fastest Growing US Tech Hubs
Las Vegas ranks in the third quartile for cost of living and tech wage premiums. The city’s net tech employment is projected to rise by 4.7%, representing just over 3% of the overall workforce, with an economic impact of $7.2 billion anticipated for 2024. Key companies in the area include Tapestry, PwC, and DraftKings, with a median tech wage of $91,848, which is 106% higher than the national median.
Austin is another standout, placed in the top quartile for cost of living and second for tech wage premium. The city is expected to see a 4.4% growth in net tech employment, which constitutes just over 13% of the total workforce, contributing $51.2 billion to the economy in 2024. Major players like Apple, Tesla, and Google call Austin home, with a median tech wage of $118,888, representing a 126% increase over the national average.
Nashville ranks in the first quartile for cost of living and third for tech wage premiums. Projected net tech employment growth is 4.3%, amounting to over 5% of the workforce, and an economic impact of $12.3 billion in 2024. Top employers include Toast and Motorola Solutions, with a median wage of $100,856, or 104% above the national median.
In Charleston, where the cost of living and tech wage premiums rank in the second quartile, net tech employment is anticipated to grow by 3.9%. Currently, tech jobs account for 4.5% of the workforce, with an expected economic contribution of $4 billion in 2024. Prominent companies include Red Hat and GoodUnited, with a median tech wage of $101,350, which is 112% higher than the national average.
Salt Lake City also ranks in the third quartile for cost of living and tech wage premiums. Net tech employment is projected to increase by 3.8%, currently representing 8.5% of the overall workforce, leading to an economic impact of $13 billion in 2024. Major employers include Cash App and Discover, with a median wage of $109,762, which is 112% above the national median.
In Dallas, classified in the second quartile for cost of living and first for tech wage premium, net tech employment is expected to grow by 3.7%. Tech jobs comprise nearly 9% of the workforce, contributing $85.3 billion to the economy. Notable companies include Texas Instruments and Microsoft, with a median tech wage of $119,586, or 137% higher than the national average.
Denver, also in the third quartile for both cost of living and tech wage premium, anticipates a net tech employment growth of 3.2%. Tech jobs make up just over 9% of the overall workforce, expected to result in an economic impact of $37 billion in 2024. Top employers include BAE Systems and Salesforce, with a median tech wage of $123,282, which is 103% above the national median.
In Seattle, the city ranks in the fourth quartile for cost of living but first for tech wage premiums. Projected net tech employment growth stands at 3.1%, comprising just over 12.4% of the workforce, contributing an impressive $151.4 billion to the economy in 2024. Major companies include Amazon and Google, with a median tech wage of $152,466, which is 127% higher than the national median.
Lastly, Charlotte ranks in the second quartile for cost of living and first for tech wage premium. The city has seen net tech employment growth of 3.1%, with tech jobs making up 6.7% of the overall workforce and an economic impact of $16.3 billion in 2024. Key companies include Microsoft and IBM, with a median tech wage of $117,950, representing a 137% increase over the national figure.
The findings of CompTIA emphasize the ongoing evolution and expansion of the tech industry in the United States, reflecting not only the demand for tech talent but also the strategic importance of these metropolitan areas in the national economy.
