With truthful galore tech professionals moving from location these days, it’s nary longer a occupation request to unrecorded successful a large tech hub. Salaries are portable, and galore employees are escaped to relocate. But wherever should they go? TechRepublic has the answers.
Whether the extremity is stretching that tech salary, striking the cleanable work-life equilibrium oregon getting acceptable to rise a family, TechRepublic’s archetypal Best Cities for Remote Tech Workers has it covered. The study examined much than 1,000 information points successful 13 categories to azygous retired 60 imaginable cities for distant exertion staffers. TechRepublic ranked these cities to find wherever salaries spell further and tech workers tin bask a higher prime of life. Here is however they stacked up.
10 champion cities for distant tech workers
To recognize each the accusation utilized to behaviour TechRepublic’s analysis, spot the complete information acceptable and rankings.
10. Orlando, FL
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 10
- Affordability: 29
- Job competitiveness: 24
- Quality of life: 4
To find the #10 metropolis connected TechRepublic’s list, caput down to the Land of Mickey Mouse. Who wants to walk overmuch clip astatine location with each determination is to spot and bash here? From hitting up the taxable parks to taking a stroll done the 303 beautifully landscaped nationalist parks, tech distant workers volition surely find the vibrant outdoors of Orlando amusing.
Tech professionals’ salaries successful the Sunshine State, amounting to $75,305, agelong further acknowledgment to a 0% idiosyncratic income tax.
Another large payment of residing successful the Orlando country is the proximity to nationalist and planetary commercialized shows and conferences. Orlando hosts ample events, specified as:
- IEEE IAS Petroleum and Chemical Industry Technical Conference (PCIC).
- IEEE 32nd Annual International Symposium connected Field-Programmable Custom Computing Machines (FCCM).
- IEEE International Performance, Computing, and Communications Conference (IPCCC).
For families, the acquisition outlook is good. Orlando boasts 292 nationalist schools and different 214 backstage schools. Residents besides bask information and security. Florida has a lower-than-average complaint of convulsive transgression offenses astatine 258.9 per 100,000, according to the FBI.
That’s not to accidental everything is outstanding successful Orlando. Yes, the outgo of surviving is connected the little extremity but lodging prices ranked 39th, with $238 per quadrate foot. What’s more, car security successful Florida costs astir $1,092.
9. Atlanta, GA
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 9
- Affordability: 29
- Job competitiveness: 14
- Quality of life: 12
The Big Peach comes successful astatine #9 connected our list. A distant tech worker’s imagination of buying a location could beryllium wrong reach, arsenic the Atlanta metro country has an mean lodging outgo of conscionable $196 per quadrate foot.
The mean wage for a tech nonrecreational successful Georgia is astir $85,090 per year. With a lower-than-average outgo of surviving successful the Atlanta metro, tech workers could execute fiscal gain.
Tech workers tin besides find a affluent root of employment opportunities successful the Silicon Peach. The employment estimation is astir 124,540. As of this writing, astir 20,000 distant tech jobs are posted connected ZipRecruiter successful the Atlanta Proper. For workers seeking face-to-face interactions, the metropolis hosts a fig of tech conferences specified as:
- SoutheastCon 2024.
- SC24: International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis.
- IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC).
The large quality is that the Greater Atlanta Area is conducive to work-life balance. After agelong hours of surface time, residents tin simply measurement retired of their homes and instrumentality a locomotion astatine 1 of much than 400 parks and greenish spaces successful the metro area.
A flip broadside to surviving successful Georgia is the taxes associated with immense salaries. Tech workers whitethorn not afloat bask the hard-earned wage due to the fact that of the 5.75% idiosyncratic income tax. On apical of that, car security costs astir $624 annually.
8. Charlotte, NC
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 8
- Affordability: 20
- Job competitiveness: 1
- Quality of life: 38
Yet different southeastern apical locale, the Queen City sits highly astatine the #8 spot connected TechRepublic’s list. With an mean yearly wage of $105,000 successful North Carolina, tech workers tin unrecorded comfortably successful Charlotte wherever the outgo of surviving and lodging prices are connected the little end.
Seeking a family-friendly location? Look nary further. Charlotte has 242 nationalist schools and 383 parks—including playgrounds and recreational centers—around its metro area.
Enriched with employment opportunities, for some on-site and distant work, tech employees volition person nary occupation getting a good-paying occupation successful the buzz city. In-person tech conferences are besides disposable astatine slightest erstwhile a year.
Tech workers tin get progressive with assorted section chapters and affinity groups, specified as:
- Charlotte Communications Society Chapter.
- Charlotte Computer Society Chapter.
- Charlotte Power and Energy Society Chapter.
However, similar the Atlanta metro, the Crown Town tin crook a tech employee’s grin upside down erstwhile the 4.75% idiosyncratic income taxation is deducted from their paycheck. In addition, information and information could beryllium a interest for residents. North Carolina has an supra mean complaint of 405.1 convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000.
7. Richmond, VA
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 7
- Affordability: 20
- Job competitiveness: 10
- Quality of life: 6
The River City flows successful astatine #7. With a debased yearly outgo of surviving and lodging costs of $217 per quadrate foot, tech workers could delight successful a comfy manner successful RVA.
Thinking of gathering a household successful the authorities for lovers? Virginia has a beneath mean complaint of 234 convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000. This implies that residents tin safely instrumentality vantage of the landscaped nationalist parks. After all, a whopping 80% of the 1.3 cardinal Richmond residents unrecorded wrong a 10-minute locomotion of a park.
A vocation successful tech wrong the Richmond due is besides favorable, with much than 20,000 distant occupation postings. Furthermore, tech workers person a wide array of networking opportunities that they could look into. Women successful STEM, for instance, could articulation the Richmond Women In Engineering Affinity Group.
Still, not everything is large successful the Mother of States. A tech worker’s yearly wage of $111,975 is taxable to a 5.75% income taxation rate, which is simply a important wage cut. Furthermore, yearly car security astir costs astir $600.
6. Houston, TX
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 6
- Affordability: 2
- Job competitiveness: 9
- Quality of life: 22
It whitethorn travel arsenic nary astonishment that the Energy Capital of the World lands the #6 spot successful TechRepublic’s list. The debased outgo of surviving and lodging prices marque the Houston metro country enticing for distant tech workers seeking to agelong their salaries.
With Texas’ 0% income taxation rate, a tech worker’s yearly wage of $99,753 could spell a agelong way. From car security to healthcare, basal needs are wrong scope successful the Bayou City.
For families, Houston has 829 nationalist schools. On apical of that, the Space City has much than 660 accessible nationalist parks and greenish spaces.
The Silicon Bayou has much than 24,000 distant occupation postings. Houston is location to galore tech conferences and divers networking involvements arsenic well. Some of the tech groups are:
- Houston Young Professionals Affinity Group.
- Houston Nanotechnology Council Chapter.
- Houston Engineering successful Medicine and Biology Society Chapter.
A large drawback of moving to the Beef State is information and information concerns. Crime rates are somewhat higher successful Texas than successful different states, with a complaint of 431.9 per 100,000.
5. Chicago, IL
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 5
- Affordability: 29
- Job competitiveness: 4
- Quality of life: 6
The #5 spot goes to the City of Big Shoulders. With 98% of residents successful the Chicago metro country surviving wrong a 10-minute locomotion of a park—and determination are 1,249 parks and greenish spaces—remote tech workers tin execute a much holistic mode of life.
For families, Chicago has 705 nationalist schools. Residents tin besides consciousness harmless and secure. Illinois has a lower-than-average complaint of 287.3 convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000.
Huge paychecks for tech workers successful Illinois, which mean astir $95,989 annually, are far-stretched acknowledgment to the affordable outgo of surviving and lodging prices.
The tech manufacture successful Chicago is robust. The metro country has an employment estimation of 136,190. In presumption of tech learning opportunities, Chicagoland offers assorted in-person tech conferences. Some events this twelvemonth are:
- IEEE 4th Interdisciplinary Conference connected Electrics and Computers.
- IEEE International Symposium connected Product Compliance Engineering.
Moreover, tech workers could opt to articulation immoderate of the assorted 20+ affinity groups astir the metro area.
But not everything is likable successful the Land of Lincoln. Despite the debased outgo of living, the wage of tech workers is taxable to a 5.30% income taxation complaint deduction. Not to mention, car security costs astir $720 per twelvemonth successful Illinois.
4. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 4
- Affordability: 10
- Job competitiveness: 4
- Quality of life: 16
In different 1 from The Lone Star State, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro country marks the #4 spot. Why rent erstwhile buying a location successful this tech hub is seemingly attainable? After all, the mean lodging outgo successful the metroplex is connected the debased end. Housing prices per quadrate ft are conscionable $204 successful Dallas.
The debased outgo of surviving and 0% idiosyncratic income taxation complaint for residents connection much flexibility connected the tech worker’s salary. With an mean wage of $99,753 per twelvemonth successful Texas, tech workers tin unrecorded an abundant lifestyle.
In presumption of tech, DFW boasts 170,440 employment estimates. In addition, aggregate tech conferences and networking events are hosted successful the Dallas metro country to guarantee that tech workers person entree to learning opportunities. Some in-person tech conferences to ticker retired for are:
- IEEE 17th Dallas Circuits and Systems Conference (DCAS).
- IEEE International Conference connected Mobility, Operations, Services and Technologies (MOST).
- IEEE 75th Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC).
For families, Dallas-Fort Worth has 760 nationalist schools. In addition, residents tin instrumentality delight successful a slam dunk of outdoor amusive astatine the 474 parks successful the metro area, astir of which diagnostic hoops hoops.
Nonetheless, residing successful D-town has a downside. Safety and information are a large interest since Texas has a higher-than-average transgression complaint of 431.9 per 100,000.
3. Pittsburgh, PA
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 3
- Affordability: 2
- Job competitiveness: 10
- Quality of life: 6
The Steel City is 3rd connected TechRepublic’s list. With a lodging outgo of $154 per quadrate foot, distant tech workers tin find and acquisition a comfy location successful this premiere exertion hub.
Tech workers tin reap the benefits of their hard work, acknowledgment to a precocious yearly wage of $101,792 successful Pennsylvania. Safety and information are not overmuch of a concern. The Keystone State has a beneath mean complaint of 279.9 convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000.
Outdoor spaces are indispensable for distant workers who request a interruption from agelong hours of surface time. Since 14% of Pittsburgh’s onshore is utilized for parks and recreation, residents tin delight successful the 240 greeneries successful the metro area.
Pittsburgh hosts a multitude of tech conferences and networking opportunities. Some tech chapters and affinity groups successful this metro country include:
- Pittsburgh Young Professionals Affinity Group.
- Pittsburgh Women In Engineering Affinity Group.
- Pittsburgh Social Implications of Technology Society Chapter.
Unfortunately, it is not each wins for the City of Champions. Despite the affordability of the outgo of surviving and housing, a tech worker’s paycheck has a 3.07% idiosyncratic income taxation deduction.
2. Milwaukee, WI
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 2
- Affordability: 2
- Job competitiveness: 10
- Quality of life: 4
The Dairy State enters the database with the Milwaukee metro country successful the #2 spot. Tech workers looking for fiscal summation could see moving to Cream City, wherever the outgo of surviving and lodging prices autumn acold beneath the nationalist average.
Milwaukee has much than 62,000 distant occupation postings. For tech workers seeking nonrecreational interactions, determination is simply a divers scope of networking opportunities to take from, specified as:
- Milwaukee Computer Society Chapter.
- Milwaukee Control Systems/Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society Chapter.
- Milwaukee Women In Engineering Affinity Group.
It is not conscionable each enactment and nary play successful Milwaukee. For families, the Land of Festivals boasts 252 parks, which mostly see playgrounds, splash pads and hoops hoops. The acquisition outlook is robust arsenic good successful the Milwaukee metro area. It has 217 nationalist schools.
In presumption of information and security, the transgression complaint successful Wisconsin is 297 per 100,000, importantly little than the nationalist average.
It is not to accidental that everything is large successful The Good Land. For tech workers seeking face-to-face learning opportunities, Milwaukee has a tiny fig of in-person tech conferences. Moreover, precocious salaries successful tech could beryllium choky due to the fact that of the 5.30% idiosyncratic income taxation successful Wisconsin.
1. Philadelphia, PA
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 1
- Affordability: 9
- Job competitiveness: 1
- Quality of life: 1
Claiming the #1 spot successful TechRepublic’s database is the Land of Brotherly Love. Tech workers residing successful this metro country person plentifulness of tech employment opportunities, some on-site and remote. Philadelphia boasts 90,510 employment estimates.
In addition, Philadelphia hosts aggregate tech conferences and networking involvement. Some in-person tech conferences to ticker retired for are:
- IEEE 8th International Conference connected Fog and Edge Computing
- IEEE 24th International Symposium connected Cluster, Cloud and Internet Computing.
- IEEE Energy Conversion Conference Congress and Exposition (ECCE).
With an yearly wage of $101,792 successful Pennsylvania, tech workers tin instrumentality vantage of the debased lodging terms successful the Philadelphia metro area, which is conscionable astir $214 per quadrate foot.
For families, Philly tin beryllium an perfect spot to settle. From an acquisition angle, it has 376 nationalist schools. In regards to relaxation and recreation, 95% of the 6.2 cardinal residents unrecorded wrong a 10-minute locomotion of a park.
Residents bask a consciousness of security. Philadelphia has a complaint of 316.2 convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000, falling beneath the nationalist average.
Although the outgo of surviving is beauteous low, the idiosyncratic income taxation complaint of 3.07% importantly cuts the tech worker’s salary.
5 worst cities for distant tech workers
We’ve covered the champion cities for distant tech workers. Now, let’s look astatine the worst.
Generally, the worst cities for distant tech workers are costly and not tech-friendly. This implies precocious taxes, precocious outgo of living, constricted employment opportunities and lack of platforms for continuous learning.
56. Fayetteville, AR
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 56
- Affordability: 10
- Job competitiveness: 53
- Quality of life: 59
Fayetteville from the Bear State sits astatine the #5 spot for worst cities. A tech worker’s yearly wage of astir $78,833 is taxable to a 4.90% idiosyncratic income taxation deduction successful Arkansas.
The fig of tech opportunities is connected a downward slope successful the Land of Hills. Fayetteville has lone 8,770 employment estimates. The metro country besides lacks opportunities for tech networking.
For families, the city’s acquisition strategy leaves thing to beryllium desired. Fayetteville has lone 75 nationalist schools. Safety and information are large concerns too. Arkansas’ complaint of convulsive transgression is 645.3 per 100,000, which is supra the nationalist average.
Nonetheless, the Fayetteville metro country takes pridefulness successful the debased outgo of surviving and lodging prices. Fayetteville ranks 12th successful outgo of surviving and 24th successful lodging prices, with $203 per quadrate foot.
57. Poughkeepsie, NY
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 57
- Affordability: 54
- Job competitiveness: 30
- Quality of life: 53
The Empire State enters the database with Poughkeepsie successful the 4th spot. Purchasing a location successful this metro country whitethorn not beryllium ideal. Poughkeepsie ranks 55th successful lodging cost, with $337 per quadrate foot. To add, tech salaries are taxable to a 6.00% income taxation complaint successful New York, which could bounds its stretch.
For families, Poughkeepsie has lone 36 nationalist schools. Learning opportunities for tech workers are constricted arsenic good since Poughkeepsie does not connection a multitude of tech conferences and networking engagements.
A consciousness of information could beryllium a concern. New York has an supra mean complaint of 429.3 transgression offenses per 100,000.
Still, determination is nary denying that the tech marketplace successful Poughkeepsie is highly competitive. It boasts much than 43,000 distant occupation postings. Equally, tech professionals successful New York gain $111,128 per year.
58. Cape Coral, FL
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 58
- Affordability: 46
- Job competitiveness: 59
- Quality of life: 31
Another metropolis from the Orange State, Cape Coral landed the 3rd spot. Tech professionals looking for affordable homes whitethorn not find this metropolis enticing. Cape Coral ranked 47th successful lodging cost, with $278 per quadrate foot.
The fig of tech jobs seems to beryllium tight. Cape Coral has a 4,490 employment estimate. For tech workers looking for nonrecreational engagements, determination are a fewer numbers of tech conferences and networking involvements.
Still, moving to the Flower State offers blooming factors. With a 0% income taxation rate, tech workers tin afloat bask a immense yearly paycheck of $75,305. Additionally, residents admit the consciousness of information and safety. Florida has a lower-than-average complaint of 258.9 convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000.
59. North Port, FL
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 59
- Affordability: 49
- Job Competitiveness: 59
- Quality of Life: 22
North Port successful Florida is #2. Owning a location whitethorn beryllium challenging due to the fact that lodging prices are astir $301 per quadrate foot. What’s more, car security successful Florida is astir $1,092 per year.
Looking astatine North Port from a tech viewpoint, the metro country has lone 5,560 employment estimates. Furthermore, North Port does not big a ample fig of tech conferences and networking events.
But determination is inactive a beacon of airy for tech workers considering surviving successful the Sunshine State. Residents whitethorn interest little astir information and information due to the fact that Florida has a 258.9 complaint of convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000, acold beneath the nationalist average. Furthermore, tech workers’ salaries are not subjected to a idiosyncratic income taxation rate.
60. Oxnard, CA
Rankings retired of 60 U.S. metro areas
- Overall rank: 60
- Affordability: 58
- Job competitiveness: 49
- Quality of life: 45
In the #1 spot connected TechRepublic’s database of worst cities is the Strawberry Capital of California. Oxnard ranks 59th successful outgo of surviving and 58th successful lodging prices, with $549 per quadrate foot.
True to its name, the Golden State has sky-high taxes. With a 9.30% idiosyncratic income taxation rate, a tech worker’s wage of $104,671 is tightened.
Safety and information could beryllium a large concern. California has an supra mean complaint of 499.5 transgression offenses per 100,000.
Oxnard’s tech marketplace isn’t putting up precise bully stats. The metro country has lone 7,790 employment estimates. Not to mention, the metro country has fewer tech conferences and networking opportunities.
Nonetheless, determination is thing saccharine to find erstwhile moving to the Land of Milk and Honey. For families, Oxnard has implicit 101 nationalist schools. Tech professionals besides gain astir $104,671 per twelvemonth successful California.
Methodology
To find the champion and worst cities for distant tech workers, TechRepublic compared 60 U.S. metro areas crossed 3 cardinal dimensions: affordability, occupation competitiveness and prime of life.
Each metro area’s weighted mean was determined crossed 13 metrics to measurement its wide score, and the resulting scores were utilized to fertile the cities successful the list. Each metric was scored either 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 oregon 1, with a people of 1 representing the astir favorable conditions for tech workers. Some information utilized were reported astatine the authorities level.
- Affordability: 35%
Data collected were based connected the outgo of living, median listing terms per quadrate foot, yearly car security premiums and income taxation rate. These factors were weighed to find the wide affordability people of each metro area.
- Job competitiveness: 35%
Data collected were based connected the yearly median salary, employment, distant occupation postings and beingness of tech conferences and networking opportunities. These factors were weighed to find the wide occupation competitiveness people of each metro area.
- Quality of life: 30%
Data collected were based connected the fig of nationalist schools, parkland scores, complaint of convulsive transgression offenses per 100,000 people/year, and well-being score. These factors were weighed to find the wide prime of beingness people of each metro area.
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