Best, Worst States For Tech Jobs: CompTIA
In its 27th annual Cyberstates study, CompTIA tells us which states experienced the most growth in the number of tech jobs in 2015, and which ones saw declines. See where your state lands.
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The US economy added 135,900 IT jobs from 2014 to 2015, according to the 2016 CompTIA Cyberstates study. Payroll across the entire technology sector, when adjusted for inflation, increased 4.3% in 2015 over 2014. The 2015 unemployment rate in the computer and mathematical fields was 2.6%, compared to 5.3% nationally.
Still, that doesn't mean every state in the union is a hotbed of IT jobs.
The 27th annual CompTIA cyberstates study, released March 1, compiled employment and wage data from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. The study relies on wage and employment information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The report provides multiple state rankings based on a variety of factors, including total tech employment, year-over-year growth or decline in number of jobs per state, and top states by tech wages.
For the purposes of this article, we're looking at CompTIA's five best and five worst states in terms of year-over-year gains or losses in the number of tech jobs. In the best states, tens of thousands of tech jobs were added between 2014 and 2015. However, it's worth noting that even in the worst state, there were only 300 jobs lost in the tech sector between 2014 and 2015. So, even if you happen to live and work in one of the "worst" states, your prospects are better than they are for many other occupations.
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The definition of "tech industry" used by CompTIA comes from the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). While the NAICS is generally very good at making sensible classifications for jobs, there are times where any system might break down for a given use. For example, while most of the jobs covered in the CompTIA study are the types of IT and engineering jobs most InformationWeek readers might hold, others include positions such as engineering jobs involving "guided missiles and space vehicles."
The full CompTIA study, which provides a snapshot of the tech opportunities in all 50 states and an in-depth explanation of methodology, can be found here.
Even with a few quirky job titles thrown in, the study gives us a good view of where tech job growth is happening, what the average wages are in each state, and which jobs are most in demand.
Once you've reviewed our list of best and worst states for tech jobs, tell us what you think. Are you living and working in one of the leading tech states? Are you stuck in a state that landed on "worst" list? Is a relocation in your future? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
Net tech jobs lost, 2014-2015: 300
Percentage decrease in tech jobs, 2014-2015: -1.4%
Average tech salary in the state, 2015: $106,644
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Computer Systems Analysts, Software Developers (applications), Computer User Support Specialists
Net tech jobs lost, 2014-2015: 170
Percentage decrease in tech jobs, 2014-2015: -1.6%
Average tech salary in the state, 2015: $80,045
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Computer User Support Specialists, Engineers (other)
Net tech jobs lost, 2014-2015: 90
Percentage decrease in tech jobs, 2014-2015: -0.6%
Average tech salary in the state, 2015: $64,299
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment: Computer Occupations (other), Computer User Support Specialists, Software Developers (systems software)
Net tech jobs lost, 2014-2015: 70
Percentage decrease in tech jobs, 2014-2015: -0.03%
Average tech salary in the state, 2015: $118,490
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Software Developers (applications), Computer Programmers, Computer Systems Analysts
Net tech jobs lost, 2014-2015: 11
Percentage decrease in tech jobs, 2014-2015: -0.1%
Average tech salary in this state, 2015: $79,318
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Computer Occupations (other), Network and Computer Systems Administrators, Computer User Support Specialists
Net tech jobs added, 2014-2015: 11,400
Percentage increase in tech jobs, 2014-2015: 3.8%
Average tech salary in this state, 2015: $82,566
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Software Developers (applications), Computer User Support Specialists, Computer Systems Analysts
Net tech jobs added, 2014-2015: 11,700
Percentage increase in tech jobs, 2014-2015: 4.1%
Average tech salary in this state, 2015: $127,875
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Software Developers (applications), Software Developers (systems software), Computer User Support Specialists
Net tech jobs added, 2014-2015: 13,800
Percentage increase in tech jobs, 2014-2015: 2.4%
Average tech salary in this state, 2015: $99,667
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Computer User Support Specialists, Computer Systems Analysts, Software Developers (applications)
Net tech jobs added, 2014-2015: 15,500
Percentage increase in tech jobs, 2014-2015: 4.4%
Average tech salary in this state, 2015: $109,193
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Software Developers (applications), Computer User Support Specialists, Computer Systems Analysts
Net tech jobs added, 2014-2015: 59,500
Percentage increase in tech jobs, 2014-2015: 5.5%
Average tech salary in this state, 2015: $148,335
The state's three top tech jobs by total employment, 2015: Software Developers (applications), Software Developers (systems software), Computer Systems Analysts
The good news for anyone working in tech is that even in Delaware, which had the most tech jobs lost between 2014 and 2015, the average salary is $106,644. And, the actual number of tech jobs lost in that time period is a relatively low, compared to the thousands being added in the best-rated states.
It's probably no surprise to you that California was among the five best in terms of the number of tech jobs added between 2014 and 2015. Are there any other states on this list whose placement surprised you? Does this info have you rethinking where you want to live? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
The good news for anyone working in tech is that even in Delaware, which had the most tech jobs lost between 2014 and 2015, the average salary is $106,644. And, the actual number of tech jobs lost in that time period is a relatively low, compared to the thousands being added in the best-rated states.
It's probably no surprise to you that California was among the five best in terms of the number of tech jobs added between 2014 and 2015. Are there any other states on this list whose placement surprised you? Does this info have you rethinking where you want to live? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
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