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California has the largest tech workforce in the United States, but it is not the leader on every measure. CompTIA estimates that California had 1,472,275 net tech workers in 2024; Washington state had the highest tech-employment concentration, and Texas was projected to add the most tech jobs in 2025. Those are different measures—not one universal ranking of the “best” states for tech.
States with the largest tech workforces
The main chart uses CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce 2025, a report drawing on Lightcast and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Its state employment figures describe 2024; the report also provides forecasts for 2025. The table ranks the 50 states by estimated net tech employment, not by job openings, pay, or the share of workers in tech.
| Rank | State | Estimated net tech employment, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,472,275 |
| 2 | Texas | 972,747 |
| 3 | New York | 577,624 |
| 4 | Florida | 546,449 |
| 5 | Virginia | 375,469 |
| 6 | Washington | 356,736 |
| 7 | Illinois | 328,975 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 323,422 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 312,537 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 311,165 |
Source: CompTIA, State of the Tech Workforce 2025. Figures are estimates of 2024 net tech employment.
California’s total is substantially larger than any other state’s, with Texas in second place. But the list reflects scale as well as the strength of local tech industries: large states can have more tech workers in absolute terms even when tech represents a smaller share of their overall workforce.
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“Tech” also extends beyond workers employed by technology companies. Technology occupations include workers in sectors such as finance, health care, government, manufacturing, and professional services. CompTIA’s net-employment measure combines industry and occupation perspectives. It is not a count of software-company employees alone, and it is not a count of vacancies.
Fastest growth depends on how you count
A percentage increase and the number of jobs added answer different questions. A small workforce can grow quickly as a percentage while adding fewer people than a larger workforce with a more modest rate of growth.
Largest percentage gains in 2024
CompTIA reports the strongest 2024 net tech-employment growth rates in Wyoming (+3.6%), New Mexico (+3.1%), Alaska (+3.1%), Tennessee (+2.6%), and Hawaii (+2.4%). These are reported growth rates, not projections.
Largest projected gains by number of jobs in 2025
For 2025, CompTIA projected the largest net tech-employment increases in Texas (+40,051), California (+22,459), Florida (+18,144), New York (+15,271), and Washington (+13,840). These are forecasts, not observed job gains. The report projected positive tech-employment growth in every state, but that does not guarantee that the forecast will be realized.
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The distinction matters when comparing destinations. A person seeking the largest pool of potential employers may care more about total workers and openings. Someone comparing emerging markets may find growth rates useful, but should check the number and type of jobs behind a percentage increase.
Where tech is a bigger part of the workforce
On concentration—the share of a state’s total employment represented by tech employment—Washington state leads the states at 9.3%, compared with a 5.8% national average. CompTIA’s top entries are:
| Rank | Place | Tech employment as share of total employment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | 9.3% |
| — | District of Columbia | 9.0% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8.7% |
| 3 | Colorado | 8.3% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 8.0% |
| 5 | Maryland | 7.7% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 7.7% |
| 7 | California | 7.5% |
| 8 | Utah | 7.1% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 6.7% |
Source: CompTIA. The District of Columbia is shown separately because it is not a state; state ranks exclude it.
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Where job postings are concentrated
A separate 2026 analysis by Unit4, summarized by Forbes on March 4, 2026, examined hundreds of thousands of LinkedIn postings across 20 technology-driven industries. It ranked states by the share of all analyzed postings that were tech-related. Virginia led at 14.40%.
| Rank | State | Tech share of analyzed postings | Tech postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 14.40% | 28,416 |
| 2 | Washington | 12.36% | 17,885 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 12.03% | 17,466 |
| 4 | New York | 11.21% | 32,904 |
| 5 | Maryland | 11.05% | 13,673 |
| 6 | Nevada | 10.82% | 4,600 |
| 7 | Texas | 10.58% | 48,519 |
| 8 | California | 10.45% | 53,635 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 10.37% | 17,734 |
| 10 | Kansas | 10.16% | 5,803 |
This is a posting analysis, not a census of employed workers or unique, unfilled local jobs. Listings can be duplicated or reposted, and remote roles may accept candidates in multiple states. California had the most tech postings in this table by count, while Virginia had the highest tech share of all postings. Neither result contradicts California’s larger estimated workforce: the measures have different denominators and capture different things.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Innovation is another distinct leaderboard
SmartAsset’s 2026 innovation ranking measures inputs and activity rather than tech employment. Its composite uses per-capita venture-capital deal value for 2025, patents issued to state residents in fiscal year 2025, and 2023 research-and-development spending, adjusted for population and normalized. Its top 10 are California, Massachusetts, Delaware, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Connecticut, Wyoming, Minnesota, and Idaho.
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That ranking can help readers compare innovation ecosystems, but it is not a direct measure of job availability. California’s first-place position reflects strong results across the measures in the index; it does not establish that every tech worker will find a suitable job there or that it offers the best financial outcome.
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What the rankings mean for a worker’s budget and career
The tables are useful for narrowing a search, not for choosing a state on their own. The right comparison depends on the role and the household budget:
- For the broadest job market: Start with California and Texas, the largest state workforces in CompTIA’s estimate. Then compare the relevant metro areas and employers for your specialty.
- For a labor market where tech has a large footprint: Washington, Virginia, Colorado, and Massachusetts rank high on concentration. A concentrated market may offer relevant employers, but it can also depend heavily on particular sectors or large employers.
- For government, defense, or cybersecurity work: Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C., area are prominent options. Some positions require security clearances or impose other eligibility restrictions, so check the specific job requirements.
- For startups and venture-backed innovation: California and Massachusetts lead SmartAsset’s innovation ranking, with Washington, Oregon, and Colorado also in its top 10. Innovation activity is not a promise of hiring or startup funding for an individual.
- For a developing market: Percentage growth can flag places to investigate, but verify openings in your occupation and the number of employers before treating a fast rate as a deep job market.
State averages also obscure local differences. Seattle and rural Washington are not one labor market; Northern Virginia differs from other parts of the state; Texas opportunities vary across Austin, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Houston; and California’s Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, and inland markets have different employer mixes and housing costs. Similar distinctions apply between Boston and western Massachusetts and between Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte.
For personal finances, compare likely take-home pay and recurring costs in the specific metro—not just a state’s salary reputation. Housing, state and local taxes, transportation, health insurance, childcare, and remote-work rules can change the value of an offer. A high nominal salary may not translate into more money left after expenses. Also consider whether local demand is broad or concentrated in one area such as defense contracting, cloud services, venture-backed startups, semiconductors, energy, or advanced manufacturing.
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Career rankings can offer a wider comparison, but their data dates matter. Forbes Advisor’s composite ranking places Washington, D.C., Colorado, Washington, California, and Virginia at the top, combining factors such as tech businesses, employment, wages, and economic growth. Its methodology uses some older government data, including 2022 Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, so it should not be read as a real-time snapshot of openings or current pay.
How to use the chart
- Choose the measure that matches your question. Workforce totals show scale; concentration shows tech’s share of employment; growth rates show proportional change; projections estimate future change; job postings are a snapshot of advertised demand; innovation indexes capture research and investment activity.
- Check the date and whether the figure is observed or forecast. The CompTIA employment totals refer to 2024, its 2025 gains are projections, and the Unit4 posting analysis is from 2026.
- Move from state to metro. Search current openings for your occupation and compare employers, commute options, and remote-work eligibility in the places you could actually live.
- Run the household numbers. Compare an expected salary after taxes with local housing and other costs. Recheck any tax or cost estimates using current information for the specific city or county.
These rankings do not establish that one state caused its tech growth through a particular tax policy, nor do they guarantee future hiring. They offer different ways to describe the current workforce and its possible direction; a relocation or job decision needs role-specific, local, and financial comparisons.
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