We all know everything is bigger in Texas, but is that the case for the state’s tech sector?
According to CompTIA's annual Cyberstates report, the answer is yes – tech is super-sized in Texas.
For the full press release from Cyberstates, go here.
Texas added more than 17,800 tech jobs in 2018 – the third most of any state – and with nearly 983,000 IT workers, Texas has the second-most tech jobs in the country (behind California). Software and web developer jobs were the most in-demand, growing at a pace of 5.8 percent year-over-year.
With more Texans jumping into the IT workforce, the state’s tech sector is fueling more economic growth than ever, accounting for $141.8 billion, or 8.7 percent, of Texas’ overall economy.
Leading the way for growth is Austin, which was recently identified as the No. 3 Tech Town in the nation – outranking traditional coastal hubs like San Francisco and Boston. The city known for ‘keeping it weird’ is home to a thriving tech sector that contributes $31.3 billion – or 23.5 percent – to the region’s overall economy.
Along with an abundance of IT job opportunities, Austin’s low cost of living (3.4 percent below the national average) makes it one of the most attractive cities for tech pros looking to put down roots. Additionally, it’s close proximity to college campuses has helped foster a dynamic startup culture and lure talent-hungry tech companies like Apple, which recently announced it’s building a new $1 billion campus in Austin.
Dallas is also blooming as a tech hotspot. More than 9,300 tech jobs opened in the Dallas last year, the sixth most of any city, and with 42 fortune 1000 companies calling the Dallas-Fort Worth area home, tech employment is projected to grow 10.2 percent by 2026.
The median IT salary in Dallas is $83,907 -- 92 percent higher than the average for all occupations -- and this salary goes further since the cost of living in Dallas is 1.2 percent below the national average.
Texas hotbeds like Austin and Dallas are not only attracting IT talent from across the country, but also venture capital dollars. Startups across Texas raised $1.5 billion in 2018, the fifth most of any U.S. state.
The 2019 Cyberstates report provides a promising snapshot of what’s to come for the future of tech in Texas.
The Lone Star State’s combination of home-grown talent and out-of-state investment has ushered in a new era of innovation that will spur job growth and economic opportunity for decades to come.
