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10 Best Places to Find a Job in Technology

By U.S. News & World Report

The U.S. News Best Places Data Drill Down, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that sheds light on multiple data points in order to help readers make the most informed decision when choosing where to live in the United States. Visit our 2016 Best Places to Live ranking to see which of the 100 most populous metro areas made it to the top of the list based on good value, desirability, a strong job market and a high quality of life.

If you’re considering a career change, you might want to think about a job as a software developer. Or an engineer. Or an electronics technician.

Technology is one of the most rapidly growing job industries in the United States. According to the Cyberstates 2016 report, published by the Computing Technology Industry Association, the technology industry has created nearly 200,000 jobs in 2015, which translates to an above-average 3-percent year-over-year growth in new jobs. This has led to more professionals working in technology-based positions, such as computer systems analyst, web developer, information security analyst and database administrator.

[See: The 20 Best Places to Find a Job in the U.S.]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 12-percent growth in the technology industry by 2024, which equals about 500,000 new jobs. The BLS attributes this surge to a continued increase in cloud and mobile computing, as well as more ordinary items being connected to the internet.

Although the demand for technology specialists is growing across the country, it’s stronger in some metro areas than others. We evaluated the strength of the overall job market in each of the 100 most populous metro areas (an important factor in the 2016 U.S. News Best Places to Live ranking), and the year-over-year growth of opportunities in the technology sector in those areas. Based on that analysis, these are the top 10 places to live if you work, or want to work, in the tech industry.

10. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs’ technology opportunities are primarily available within the area’s large military and defense community. Many defense contractors have set up posts in Colorado Springs, including BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Boeing Co. Technology workers have a variety of disciplines to pursue, ranging from aerospace and defense to information technology, data storage, and medical innovation and technology. Other technology companies located in Colorado Springs include Oracle America Inc., Hewlett Packard and Jabil Circuit Inc.

9. Dallas, Texas

The Dallas area is another hub for technology, and is home to the headquarters of more than 20 Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, Texas Instruments and Alliance Data Systems. The metro area is also a hotbed for startups. Fledgling companies in the area include SurgeryLink, which is developing technologies to reduce the risk of surgery, and Dialexa, which designs and engineers technology products for other companies. Startup creators also benefit from Dallas Startup Week, an annual celebration of the local startup community.

8. Boston, Massachusetts

In Boston, the large number of medical centers, research institutions and technology startups provide ample career opportunities, especially for software developers and computer support specialists — even with competition from graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Many startup companies in Boston focus on intelligent systems. For example, Neurala creates the artificial intelligence software that acts as the “brains” for robots.

[Read: 10 Places With the Highest Rates of Telecommuting.]

7. Austin, Texas

Central Texas is considered by many the next Silicon Valley thanks to the large number of startups found in the region’s major metro areas, including Austin. Every year, Austin hosts South by Southwest, a festival that focuses on new technology and innovative startups. This metro area is also home to established companies like Dell , as well as online vacation rental company HomeAway and online marketing company Yodle.

6. Seattle, Washington

Seattle’s appearance on this list is a no-brainer. The headquarters for major corporations like Microsoft and Amazon are located in this metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle residents can also find job opportunities in biotechnology and manufacturing. Those with a passion for video games can find their dream job at one of the many video game companies located in the greater Seattle area, including Bungie, Sucker Punch Productions, Valve and Nintendo.

5. Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia is another ideal place for jobs in technology, thanks in large part to the presence of major government and military contractors such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Boeing Co. and BAE Systems. Additionally, a significant number of startup companies, such as SocialRadar, a company that develops location and mapping software, and DroneSheild, a drone detection software company, have also planted their roots in the area.

4. Detroit, Michigan

As the hub of the nation’s automotive industry, Detroit has been a prominent technology center for years. The Detroit Three automobile manufacturers (General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) are based in or near Detroit. And as the demand for new features like in-vehicle internet connectivity and autonomous driving increases, these companies are looking to software developers in addition to mechanical engineers. General Motors is expecting to have 12,000 information technology workers on its payroll by the end of 2017, according to The Detroit News.

[See: The 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.]

3. Albany, New York

Albany isn’t likely to come to mind as a leading technology center, but the New York state capital region contains a number of educational and research facilities that focus on biotechnology, nanotechnology and life sciences, such as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute.

2. San Francisco, California

Less than 60 miles from Silicon Valley, San Francisco is home to the headquarters of a growing number of major tech companies, such as Twitter, Lucasfilm, Airbnb and Uber. Alan Collenette, the regional executive managing director of real estate firm Colliers International, told CNN that 60 percent of the commercial leases signed in 2015 belonged to tech firms.

1. San Jose, California

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the best place to live for tech workers is located in the Silicon Valley. San Jose is home to such companies as Facebook, Google, Cisco Systems and Adobe Systems. But the market is extremely competitive, thanks in part to the thousands of engineering and computer science students who graduate from local universities like Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley each year.

More from U.S. News

The 20 Best Places to Find a Job in the U.S.

10 Places With the Highest Rates of Telecommuting

100 Best Places to Live in the USA

10 Best Places to Find a Job in Technology originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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