Rentberry’s Picks: Cities for Tech Professionals

If you live in the same reality as we do, you’ll surely agree that modern people seem to be falling into two camps – those with a tech job and those trying to get one. Well, it’s obviously a little too dramatized but still close to what is happening in the global job market these days. Tech jobs are well-paid, popular, and promising, at least because they don’t seem to become a thing of the past anytime soon. Let’s find out what are the best American cities for a startup and tech specialist in 2022.

It follows that the young bet on tech when choosing their future career; the adults have no choice but to retrain and compete with the young, while the elderly, with very few exceptions, find themselves on the bounds of the job market. And this trend points unambiguously to one thing: if you want to have at least some confidence regarding your professional future, you should make sure your job is somewhat related to the tech industry.

With this in mind, we’ve rounded up a list of American cities that are best for finding your next (or first) tech job in 2022. Unlike the majority of publications on this topic, we won’t list the obvious choices like San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles. Everyone knows that these cities are a gift in terms of salaries and a nightmare in terms of living costs. So sit comfortably and get ready to learn what city will help you find your next tech job but won’t drain your purse over the long term.

This is what the list of best cities for a tech career looks like when we take it one step further and not overlook such a crucial factor as the cost of living.

Seattle, WA

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 78.67
Median Salary for Tech Job: $98,215
Most well-known tech companies: Microsoft, Amazon, Moz

A couple of weeks back, Seattle was featured on our list of best American cities for young professionals. And this means at least one thing — Seattle boasts great job opportunities, relatively affordable housing, and an attractive median salary. Some people (feel free to call them desperate advocates of the Bay Area) might not agree that Seattle is the right place for an A+ career in tech. However, the truth is that Seattle is one of the greatest alternatives to high-cost tech hubs. It is a fast-growing city that’s been doing great in gaining the reputation of a new tech-magnet for the last few years. Good job, Seattle. You are now on the list.

Arlington, VA

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 80.46
Median Salary for Tech Job: $96,605
Most well-known tech companies: PBS, Capterra, OneWeb

Being one of 15 America’s most popular cities among tech job seekers, Arlington might seem like the most counter-intuitive choice to make. But if you dare to take a closer look, you’ll be surprised. According to the findings of Indeed, Arlington is narrowly beating San Jose and San Francisco in the segment of mobile developer jobs. The city has got the third highest salary rate in the entire US for this position. Sorry for a hint at an obvious, but here it is: if you’re a mobile developer, the city of Arlington is sure worth a try.

San Francisco, CA

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 88.69
Median Salary for Tech Job: $113,497
Most well-known tech companies: Dropbox, Medium, Rentberry

For the last five years, San Francisco has grown significantly as an innovation powerhouse. So far, it leads the list of the cities with the biggest share of venture investments. In 2016, San Francisco managed to attract 15,4% of global venture capital investment. Of course, there is both the good and the bad about being a tech mecca of the world. There is a rule of thumb that the more capital is attracted to the metro area, the more expensive it gets to live there. And the truth is that San Francisco can be a living proof of this rule. The average price for a 1-bedroom apartment is $3,280 per month, which makes it the nation’s most expensive city to rent a home. However, you sure get what you pay for. This city can boast of a perfect climate and almost the highest transit and walkability score in California (80 and 86 out of 100 accordingly). San Francisco, with it’s largest startup ecosystem, is ranked 3rd in top 50 startup cities chart by Valuer.

Boston, MA

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 86.31
Median Salary for Tech Job: $97,266
Most well-known tech companies: Facebook, Hubspot, Runkeeper

Given Boston’s proximity to the leading universities (MIT, Harvard, and more) and its long history of computer science development, no wonder why the city is so good at mirroring the advantages of Silicon Valley. Recent studies show that entrepreneurs in Boston have a higher quality of life. In fact, Walk Score ranked Boston the 3rd most walkable large city in the country. Plus, the average rental price here is significantly lower than in Silicon Valley. According to our statistics, locals pay approximately $2,116 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center. What’s more, Boston is known for its strong connections with institutions and universities. It is an exceptionally educated city (as much as 45.2% of local adults have bachelor’s degree or higher), which creates perfect conditions for new enterprises to appear, grow, and prosper.

San Diego, CA

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 72.11
Median Salary for Tech Job: $93,011
Most well-known tech companies: Classy, TakeLessons, SweetLabs

This city has the fifth biggest venture capital investment rate per capita, which gives us reasonable grounds to name San Diego one of the most influential tech hubs in the country. First and foremost, the city has become a growing tech scene. There are around 155 startups per 100,000 residents in the area. Plus, San Diego can boast of affordable rental prices. Locals pay around $1,508 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment. Given this, the city looks like a great spot from both an economic and business perspective. That’s not to say that San Diego is going to be the next Silicon Valley (there are much less tech force and venture capital here), but the growing potential of the city makes us keep an eye on it.

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Washington, D.C.

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 87.30
Median Salary for Tech Job: $94,857
Most well-known tech companies: Analytica, LivingSocial, Technica.ly

Like it or not, but the odds are good that Washington, D.C. is soon to become the next big tech hub. Despite the high price for rent ($2,266 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment) and a relatively low transit score (only 77 out of 100), entrepreneurs are flocking to the city. It is hard to argue that the local tech sector is dependent on the government and it’s not cheap to found a startup there, but some factors seem to outweigh the drawbacks. First and foremost, the city is famous for its rich collaborative culture and a high level of diversity. In fact, Washington area is considered one of the most diverse in the entire country. Here in D.C., people want each other to succeed, which is why you can always rely on a helping hand of others. Local think tanks and universities make D.C. incredibly educated. This city is brimming with brilliant developers, designers, and team leads.

Los Angeles, CA

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 78.54
Median Salary for Tech Job: $98,346
Most well-known tech companies: Snapchat, FullScreen, Clutter

The up-and-coming startups from Los Angeles give us grounds to call the city Silicon Beach. Don’t be fooled by the laid-back lifestyle, beaches, and entertainment the City of Angels is so famous for. In fact, Los Angeles seems to be one of the major wavemakers in the ‘tech ocean.’ Hard to tell what exactly makes this city booming with promising startups, but chances are good that the famous faces and the megaphone-like nature of the city are both playing the key role. If you are thinking of moving to LA, you’d be glad to know that the city that’s been once built for cars is now becoming more and more suitable for walks and bike rides. Plus, the median rent in here is lower than in San Francisco or San Jose: locals pay around $3,081 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center.

New York City, NY

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 100
Median Salary for Tech Job: $109,765
Most well-known tech companies: Foursquare, Kickstarter, BuzzFeed

Hopefully, you are not too surprised to see the Big Apple on the list. Although New York attracts significantly less in venture capitals, there is one thing that makes the city stand out in the global startup scene. This one thing is usually referred to as hyphen tech. More and more startups gain their popularity by aligning themselves with a number of industries. This is how media tech, fin tech, fashion tech and anything-else-tech startups emerge and succeed. It is worth being said that New York City is ranked the most walkable city in the United States, and its rental prices are not as high as in San Francisco. At an average, New Yorkers pay $2,952 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment.

Denver, CO

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 69.22
Median Salary for Tech Job: $88,523
Most well-known tech companies: SendGrid, IBM, Oracle

According to experts, Denver might be the best destination not only for those working in tech but also for those looking for the first job in the tech industry. Given that both the salaries and size of the tech industry in Denver rank close to major American tech hubs, it comes as no surprise that an increasing number of Bay Area companies relocate to Colorado in general or Denver in particular. If you still doubt our choice, it’s time to remind you that Denver’s affordability index is almost three times higher than the one of San Francisco.

Austin, TX

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 63.18
Median Salary for Tech Job: $94,025
Most well-known tech companies: Dell, HomeAway, SpareFoot

If you dare to weigh the merits of Austin compared to San Francisco, you’ll never choose to bet on the latter in terms of career opportunities in tech. That’s not to say that the times of San Francisco are gone, but a growing number of tech employers and employees confirm that Silicon Valley is no longer the only good option. Whether it’s an absence of personal income tax or affordable housing or a remarkable strong tech community that makes tech representative flock to Austin, one thing remains clear. The city’s got the strong potential to become the next tech mecca, and you still have time to be among the first to use this fact for your own benefit.

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Dallas, TX

Cost of Living & Rent Index: 56.74
Median Salary for Tech Job: $89,433
Most well-known tech companies: AT&T, CyrusOne, Texas Instruments

Dallas might not be the biggest surprise on this list, but it still feels like a little counter-intuitive choice to make. Some people don’t even consider Dallas an option because of its 11.5 months of summer and almost unbearable heat, but others prefer to see the brighter side and put career opportunities first. In case you’re more likely to choose the second, you’ll be rewarded with a well-paid job and a relativeIy low cost of living. Sounds like a fair trade-off.

Living in the world’s tech capital is sure a lot of fun: almost all big tech company have a presence here, the region is getting the lion’s share of venture capital investment, and the most of the talented tech workers seem to be living just around the corner. This all is great, but what is trendy is usually expensive.

There are many places in the US where you can work in tech. For example, San Diego is experiencing a rise and becoming a new tech hub. Live happily, and don’t cry over paycheck when it’s time for your next rental payment. Consider the options you have, choose the city where you won’t need to spend the bigger part of your income on housing, and go soar to new heights.

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