8 Technology Hubs That Are Perfect for Software Engineers

November 2022 (Updated February 2023)

Everyone has heard about Silicon Valley and its reputation as a top rate magnet for technological advancement. But tech hubs have expanded far beyond this California gold mine. This article explores some of the other locations where technology companies and their professionals have established roots. We will first answer the question "What is a Tech Hub?" We'll then delve into the specific characteristics of technology-based hubs.

What is a tech hub?

A tech hub is a location that is viewed as a leader in technology. They are where technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship thrive. They are where the best and the brightest come to promote technological innovation. With the advent of COVID-19, some wondered whether physical workspaces of a tech hub would remain or disappear. In adddressing this concern, KPMG in its annual survey of the global technology industry, revealed that physical workplaces and innovation tech hubs remain a key strategic component of technology companies. The firm reported that almost twice as many global technology company leaders believe that physical hubs are still important in driving technology innovation as opposed to those who believe they are not.

What are the Characteristics of a Tech Hub?

Tech hubs vary greatly in many ways. However, the following can be identified in most tech hubs:

• They are located in an urban locale that attracts young professionals
• They have a pipeline of skilled talent
• They are located in areas with modern infrastructure, including high-speed bandwidth
• They are typically located near at least one research-intensive university
• They are located in areas where there is positive demographic growth trends

Here are 8 tech hubs that newly entering technology professionals should watch. The location, headquartered companies, nearby colleges and universities, local unemployment rate, and local average salary of a software engineer are all provided for each hub. Note that to date, the national unemployment rate is 3.7% and the national average salary of a software engineer is $94,011.

Greater Boston

Greater Boston. Boston Dynamics, Akamai Technologies, Harvard Bioscience, and IRobot are all companies located in the Boston area. Colleges there include Boston University, Cambridge College, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts, and Wentworth Institute of Technology. There, software engineers earn on average $131,000. The unemployment rate is 3%.

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

Dallas-Fort Worth makes the tech hub list with Active Network, AT&T, Hotels.com, RadioShack, and Texas Instruments finding their homes there. Software Engineers working there earn on average $111,000. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. The University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas Wesleyan University, and University of Dallas are all located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Area.

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Los Angeles. The companies located in or near this tech hub include Broadcom Corporation, CloudSight, Snapchat, SpaceX. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. The average salary of a software engineer is $146,000. Colleges there include California State University, The University of California, Emerson College, Loyola Marymount University, and University of Southern California

Seattle Metropolitan Area

The Seattle Metropolitan Area. Companies there include Expedia.com, Turbo, Tableau Software, Amazon, and Raima. Software Engineers enjoy an average salary of $125,000. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. The University of Washington, Seattle University, City University, and Antioch University are colleges located in the Seattle Metropolitan Area.

San Francisco*

On the list is San Francisco. It is home to Uber, Twitter, Intel, Autodesk, Cloudera, Github, and Dropbox just to name a few. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. The average salary of a software engineer working in or near this tech hub is $139,000. If you are interested in furthering your education, The University of California San Francisco, Saybrook University, and The University of San Francisco are at your disposal.

San Jose, CA and the Surrounding Silicon Valley Area*

San Jose, CA and surrounding the Silicon Valley Area. This tech hub is probably the most widely known in the industry. Companies there include McAfee, Adobe, Zoom, and Roku. Software Engineers enjoy an average salary of $123,000. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. Colleges located in or near the area include California University of Management and Technology, The University of Silicon Valley, San Jose State University, Stanford University, and The University of California Santa Cruz.

New York Metropolitan Area

The New York Metropolitan Area holds a spot on this tech hub list. There you will find Vimeo, BetterCloud, MongoDB, Datadog, and Enigma Technologies. Software Engineers in this area enjoy an average salary of $145,000. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. Colleges there include City University of New York, State University of New York, Columbia University, Fordham University, New York University, and The New York Institute of Technology.

Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area

The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Companies there include Analytica, Mobilize, Fiscal Note, and QX Branch. Software Engineers enjoy an average salary of $121,000. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. Area Colleges include the American University, Catholic University of America, George Washington University (GW), Georgetown University (GU), Johns Hopkins university , and The University of the District of Columbia

Conclusion

Tech hubs have been around for a while and are growing at an unprecedented rate. They are here to stay. The Brookings Institution has reported that among the 100 largest metro areas, 83 have seen tech sector growth. It's safe to say that there remains a growing trend to build innovation hubs that focus on technology and appeal to the best tech talent. Tech hubs continue to push the envelope of possibility and foster great entrepreneurial success.

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*San Francisco, San Jose, and the surrounding Silicon Valley Area

Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology and innovation. It is in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Jose is Silicon Valley's largest city. San Francisco and San Jose are both on the list holding separate tech hub slots. Information is provided on each hub.

For more tech content, please browse the JustTechMeAt website and YouTube Channel.