The tech industry is still one of the largest and fastest-growing industries in the United States. As we get closer to the final quarter of 2024 and look forward to 2025, hiring trends and employment within the tech industry remain steady, despite a softer labor market and economic uncertainty. We took a closer look at regions and cities where Prosum leads in driving tech hiring, including Greater Boston (New England), Southern California (Los Angeles), Phoenix, & Denver to get a better understanding of the IT hiring trends that are happening there.
IT Hiring Trends in New England (Boston):
New England is showing a positive trend in tech industry job growth due to a renewed focus on innovation, especially from the federal government, which is building up the tech hub status of that region. Abundant tech investment and start-ups have perpetuated this growth, and the number of job postings is increasing, particularly in Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston finds itself a tech hotspot where the most recent job reports are placing the metro in the top 10 cities for tech job postings. According to a report conducted by CompTIA, the number of tech jobs is projected to increase in Boston by over 5,000 jobs by the end of 2024.
Boston and New England at large are well-known for prestigious universities that place a strong emphasis on STEM subjects. This is one of the main factors that drive the amount of technological innovation, investment, and start-ups that plant their roots in the city. As a result, some of the top tech occupations in Boston are Software, Programmers, Web, and QA roles, which are expected to increase by 3.3% in 2024. Database, Data Science, Analytics, and CS are also prominent tech roles in Boston, with a projected increase of 4.1% in 2024, making it the strongest growth percentage for tech occupations in Boston.
Tech professionals looking to work in Boston can expect a median wage for tech occupations to be estimated at around $121,115, which is 106% higher than the median metro wage. Boston is a great city for tech professionals and recent college grads looking to gain experience in innovative and emerging tech companies that strongly emphasize STEM practices.
Southern California (Los Angeles):
Los Angeles in sunny Southern California is a great place for tech professionals looking for growth on the West Coast. Southern California is home to many young people, including college grads from the well-known universities that reside in the region, which is part of why the number of tech occupations in LA is growing.
The number of tech jobs in LA is projected to grow by over 2,000 jobs in 2024, yielding a 0.7% increase from 2023, according to CompTIA. LA has also been ranked #6 across all U.S. metros for tech job postings, showing that the city remains a strong authority in tech hiring.
Like Boston, the top tech positions in LA are Software, Programmers, Web, and QA roles, where there is a 2.2% projected increase in 2024. Database, Data Science, Analytics, and CS roles are also expected to grow in Los Angeles by a projected 2.7% increase, which is the highest expected growth percentage out of the leading tech occupations in LA.
The median wage for tech occupations in LA is around $110,943, which is 129% higher than the median metro wage. California is also recognized as the number 1 state for AI job opportunities as of July 2024, making it a strong contender for tech innovation opportunities. (Colorado and Massachusetts also make the top 10 states list as well.) Tech professionals looking for a job that is innovative and on top of the latest technological advancements, especially for AI, should consider Los Angeles for all the opportunities it has to offer.
Arizona (Phoenix):
Phoenix AZ is a fast-emerging authority in tech hiring, posting impressive job growth and advancement in the tech industry. Phoenix ranks in the top 20 tech markets according to CBRE’s latest “Scoring Tech Talent report. Phoenix is a strong contributor to the nation’s tech sector as its tech workforce has grown over 17% in the last five years, and the projected growth of tech jobs in the city by year-end is 2.4%, adding around 4,015 tech jobs to the market.
The leading tech occupations in Phoenix are Software Programmers, Web, and QA with a projected increase of 3.8% in 2024. Like Boston and Los Angeles, Database, Data Science, Analytics, and CS roles are also showing strong projected growth in Phoenix, with a 3.7% projected increase in 2024. Cybersecurity and Systems Engineers are also experiencing growth, with a projected increase of 2.7%, making it a notable field for recent college grads or tech professionals looking for a career change.
The estimated median tech wage in Phoenix is $99,529, which is 118% higher than the median metro wage. Millennials and Gen Z’s make up about 61% of tech occupations in Phoenix, making it a hot spot for young people and college grads looking to start their careers in tech. And the more affordable living costs make Phoenix a sought-after location for tech professionals as well, poised to make a positive impact on IT hiring trends in the market.
Colorado (Denver):
Denver CO, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is experiencing steady job growth in the techfields. According to the latest job reports by CompTIA, Denver saw an increase in job postings, making it a strong option for tech professionals seeking opportunities. In the latest CBRE “Scoring Tech Talent” report, Denver ranks #8 in the Tech Talent market where a “scorecard uses 13 metrics to measure each market’s depth, vitality and attractiveness to companies seeking tech talent and to tech workers seeking employment.”
Denver has a projected growth of about 5,674 tech jobs with a 3.5% increase in 2024. Most notably, Software Programmers, Web and QA roles in Denver are projected to experience a 5.5% increase in 2024. Like Phoenix, Cybersecurity and Systems Engineers are projected to increase by 4.5% in Denver in 2024. This level of growth is promising for tech professionals looking to live and work in the Rocky Mountains.
Tech professionals can expect an estimated median tech wage around $113,457 in Denver, which is 112% higher than the median metro wage. The higher tech wages in Denver allow for a strong attraction of top talent, especially when measured against rental costs in the area, where Denver has been cited as an affordable place to live.
Tech Hiring Stabilizes Amid Economic Uncertainty
Despite increasing economic uncertainty and labor shortages, the tech industry appears to remain stable as we approach the end of 2024 and look forward to the beginning months of 2025. According to US News and World Report on “The 25 Best Places to Find a Job in 2024-2025”, nearly all the above regions were represented by various cities located in each, including Denver and Boulder in Colorado, Portland, Maine and Santa Barbara in Southern California, with noted concentrations in tech and STEM-focused industries. Professionals seeking to grow their careers in tech can look forward to a strong opportunity to do so, especially in the cities that are experiencing strong tech job growth.
