Jobs

The 10 Cities Where Tech Salaries Stretch Furthest

Paul Ausick

Published: May 3, 2017 12:10 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 12:22 pm

Jobs in high technology generally pay very well. A recent story at Bloomberg News noted that of the 25 top-paying U.S. jobs, 11 were in the tech industry. The U.S. median tech salary, according to Payscale.com, is nearly $90,000.

But $90,000 in one city does not go as far as the same amount in another. Researchers at employment firm Paysa have released new data showing the U.S. cities where technology workers are paid the most, where the cost of living is lowest and where the overall value, combining high pay and a low cost of living, is best.

For example, the average salary in San Francisco is $144,390, the highest in the nation. But the city ranks 20th in affordability. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $3,600, or about 30% of the average salary. Rent for a three-bedroom apartment averages more than $6,500, or about 87% of the average annual salary.

The 10 cities where tech companies pay the most are:

1. San Francisco: $144,390
2. Seattle: $139,299
3. Boston: $116,039
4. Denver: $111,551
5. New York City: $105,925
6. Atlanta: $105,091
7. Austin: $103,049
8. Los Angeles: $100,108
9. Miami: $99,029
10. Philadelphia: $96,294

The 10 cities where the cost of living is lowest are:

1. Pittsburgh: $41,757
2. Indianapolis: $41,966
3. Charlotte: $43,520
4. Atlanta: $43,520
5. Raleigh: $43,964
6. Columbus: $45,359
7. Tampa: $47,197
8. Philadelphia: $47,828
9. Dallas-Fort Worth: $47,908

The 10 cities offering the best combination of high earning potential and low cost of living, expressed as a percentage of the cost of living to the average salary, are:

1. Seattle: 41%
2. Atlanta: 41%
3. Austin: 48%
4. Denver: 50%
5. Philadelphia: 50%
6. Charlotte: 50%
7. Raleigh: 50%
8. Boston: 52%
9. Miami: 54%
10. Dallas-Fort Worth: 55%

Paysa has created some nifty infographics and including a wealth of other information you might want to review at the website.