The tech industry boasts impressive salaries and comfortable working conditions for its employees. However, women in this high-paying sector still earn less than men, generating lower salaries in most cities nationwide. Even in the highest-earning areas, women still cannot generate a substantial enough income to afford a median-priced home on their own, based on the 30% budgeting guideline.
To help ease the burden of deciding where to work, RealtyHop researched the 100 best cities for women in tech and ranked them based on their income-generating potential, housing markets, opportunities for women, and overall location. The following list highlights cities that appeal to women across varying subsectors with individual life goals.
Key Findings
- Fremont, CA, is the best city for women in the tech industry. The city has a total score of 56.81 due to a high median income, strong five-year growth, and a higher percentage of women in the industry.
- Riverside, CA ranks as the worst city for women in the industry due to a high income gap compared to men, an unaffordable housing market, and a declining number of women working in the field.
- Women earn less than men in 97 of the 100 cities. The three cities where women out earn men in tech are Stockton, CA, Santa Ana, CA, and North Las Vegas, NV.
- Women hold more jobs in the tech industry in 57% of cities compared to five years ago.
These Are the Top 10 Cities for Women Looking for Jobs in Tech
1. Fremont, CA
Fremont takes the top spot on our list of best cities for women in tech. With a high career score of 61.2, this city boasts a lower unemployment rate and a robust five-year job growth projection. Fremont also features the highest median income for women of $134,568 yearly. Women in this city can anticipate higher earnings and potential for career development in the tech industry. It is worth noting, however, that average women in tech would have to spend 63.4% of their annual income on owning a home, making Fremont one of the most unaffordable cities for housing.
2. San Jose, CA
San Jose is a hot spot for tech offering competitive salaries, making it the second most appealing city for women in the industry. Women can expect to earn a median salary of $126,296. This city has a strong five-year growth rate, with women making up more of the workforce now compared to in years prior.
3. Gilbert, AZ
Women in tech can also move to Gilbert and develop their careers. This area has an appealing five-year growth rate of 22.86%, and women can expect lower living costs. Women in tech can earn a median salary of $100,434 and have comparable salaries to men in the field. Housing costs are lower in this area compared to most spots on the Top 10 List, where the median list price comes in at $615,000.
4. Arlington, VA
Women can consider relocating to Arlington to find opportunities in the tech industry. This city has a lower five-year growth rate than others on the list, but women comprise a significant portion of the industry, working 36.87% of jobs. Women bring home a median salary of $99,879 and can choose to work for large players like Amazon and Microsoft or smaller start-ups.
5. Stockton, CA
Stockton is one of three cities in the rankings where women out earn their male counterparts. Women in Stockton earn 9% more than men, earning a median salary of $85,896. Women also hold 52% more jobs in the area compared to five years ago, and job growth has overall increased for the tech industry. While the city does not host any of the top 1,000 Fortune companies, it has the opportunity to leverage its proximity to Silicon Valley and promote more startups.
6. Washington, DC
Washington, DC has the highest percentage of women in tech, making up 39.87% of the workforce. In this city, women earn a median salary of $97,685 and can expect to spend $3,515 monthly on home ownership costs. The city’s political landscape generates a strong appeal for ambitious workers and post-graduates, paving the way for job growth across the industry. Workers can easily specialize in areas like health tech, information technology, and cyber security.
7. Seattle, WA
Seattle has a strong reputation in the tech sector, and women can find appealing opportunities with key players like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Google. The city has a higher cost of living, and men significantly out-earn women in this field by 27%. With the median list price for a home coming in at $799,950, women will have to spend 55.60% of their income on housing costs.
8. Oakland, CA
Women in Oakland earn a higher salary than most cities on the Top 10 List, bringing in $103,031 yearly. The industry hosts a higher number of women than other cities, but job growth has only increased by 0.44% over the past five years. As the city’s industrial sector transitions to support an emerging tech industry, women in the startup can find opportunities for career growth in this area.
9. Garland, TX
Garland is an appealing option for women with a goal of homeownership. The city has the most affordable housing market in the Top 10 List, where women in tech spend 38.28% of their income on a home. Homes come onto the market with a median list price of $339,000, and women spend $2,214.22 monthly on their mortgage payments and property taxes.
10. Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale rounds out our list of the Top 10 Cities for Women in Tech. Women in this city earn a median income of $87,672 and make up 27% of employees in the industry. The city hosts smaller tech companies and larger players across various specialties, making it an appealing option for women in multiple sectors.
Women Earn Less Than Men in 97% of Cities
While women have high earning potential across many cities in the tech industry, they still earn less than men in most areas. In fact, men out earn women in 97 of the 100 cities. The only cities where women have a higher median salary than men in the tech industry are:
- Stockton, CA: Women in tech earn 9% more than men, earning a yearly salary of $85,896.
- Santa Ana, CA: Women earn 3% more than men in the industry, with a yearly salary of $990,559.
- North Las Vegas, NV: Women earn 1% more than men, generating a yearly income of $51,548.
The income gap between women and men is most severe in the following cities:
As cities develop and expand their tech sectors, women can obtain high-paying jobs that increase their overall satisfaction. However, they will likely continue to earn less than men in most cities across the country.
Ways Women Can Generate A Higher Income
Women applying for jobs in the tech sector can reference the median earnings for men in the industry to determine their ideal salary range, and then ask for that range during the interview process.
Those transitioning to the tech sphere should explore different sectors of the tech industry to determine which earn more than others and further research the price structure of various roles to find an ideal fit. In less affordable housing markets, women must consider higher-paying jobs if they wish to own a home.
Women in the tech industry can also attend networking events or organizations to further assist their career development. Many cities in the Top 10 List offer a robust landscape for career development that can help increase earnings over time.
More Women Work in Tech Compared to Five Years Ago
Overall, women held more positions in the tech industry in 2022 compared to 2018. In 57 of the 100 surveyed cities, the percentage of women in the tech industry increased over a five-year period. With tech opportunities growing across most cities, more women can apply for jobs and increase their income to afford homeownership.
Methodology
To find the best cities for women in tech, the RealtyHop team compared the top 100 most populated cities in the U.S. based on career and cost of living. The index covers the following metrics:
Career Score (80 points)
- Income for women in tech, measured by median female earnings in computer and science positions based on Census ACS 2022 data (24 points)
- Five-year job growth, measured by the change in the percentage of female jobs in 2018 vs. 2022 using Census ACS 2022 data (16 points)
- Industry size using Location Quotient calculated based on BLS data (16 points)
- Job opportunities based on the percentage of female jobs (16 points)
- Income gap, based on median male earnings in computer and science positions vs. female (8 points)
Cost of Living (20 points)
- Housing affordability via RealtyHop’s February Housing Affordability Index, which calculates the percentage of annual income required to cover monthly mortgage payments and property taxes (12 points)
- Cost of groceries using Numbeo data (4 points)
- Cost of dining out using Numbeo data (4 points)
The following tech jobs are included in the Location Quotient calculation for the size of local tech sector: computer information research scientists, computer network architects, computer and information systems managers, computer hardware engineers, computer network support specialists, computer programmers, computer system analysts, computer user support specialists, database administrators, database architects, information security analysts, network and computer systems administrators, software programmers, software QA testers, web and digital interface designers, and web developers.
For more information, please email [email protected].
