There’s no denying that tech is the industry to follow right now. With a significant percentage of Fortune 500 companies being tech-based, the tech sector has become a major part of the current U.S. economy. Currently, just four tech companies account for trillions of dollars in combined market value for the S&P 500. Though the industry has been somewhat volatile in recent years, that doesn’t mean it’s going anywhere.
In fact, while Silicon Valley has historically been the home base of American innovation, there have been smaller pockets of growth in various technology fields popping up all over the country.
Today, Pulse is examining where across the United States these key tech industries are gaining the most momentum and why those places are becoming hotbeds of innovation.
By Pulse.bot
Computing Infrastructure and Data Services
Behind every streaming platform, online storefront, and enterprise software tool is a data center, either physical or digital, that supports it.
In this industry, Somerset County, New Jersey, ranks first overall, having shown a dramatic jump in employment between 2023 and 2024. Total annual wages in this area rose by more than 400 percent year over year. Its proximity to New York City (without Manhattan’s high rents), its dense fiber networks, and its access to major financial clients make it an ideal location.
Another area that appears to benefit from lower rent is Ada County, Idaho, which ranks second. The state’s cheaper land and sustainable power likely attract those wanting to build data centers.
Several Maryland counties, including Frederick and Anne Arundel, also ranked in the top ten. Their proximity to DC likely benefits them, given the high demand for secure data processing and cloud services from federal agencies and defense contractors.
Custom Computer Programming Services
This sector focuses on solving specific problems for specific people, and currently, the biggest problem-solver is Norfolk City, Virginia. The county boasts several software firms, in no small part because of the Norfolk Innovation Corridor (NIC). This area includes universities, hospitals, and other public works designated by the state as a “technology zone.” Through this program, tech startups are granted tax incentives and other advantages for setting up shop in this area.
Looking at the rankings more broadly, Georgia and Maine both have several counties seeing growth. Georgia claims three spots, with Forsyth, Fulton, and DeKalb counties all appearing. The Atlanta metro area combines major universities, established corporations, and a growing startup scene thanks to its Startup Atlanta initiative.
Maine places two counties in the top tier, Cumberland and York. While smaller in scale than Georgia’s metro areas, southern Maine offers access to educated workers and proximity to New England clientele without the high price tag of Boston.
Software Publishers
Software publishers, unlike contract developers, build products intended for wide distribution, and the undisputed leader here is Texas.
In Bexar, Texas, employment more than doubled year over year, accompanied by significant wage growth. San Antonio, the county’s largest city, benefits from a military presence at the Air Force Training Base and has a lower cost of living than Austin, making it an ideal location to put down roots in the Lone Star State.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, also performed well, perhaps due to the University of Pittsburgh, a reputable research institution and engineering school.
Web Search Portals and Information Services
Companies that organize and distribute information online depend heavily on advertising markets, media ecosystems, and technical talent, and once again, New Jersey leads in this category.
The position of Union and Essex counties within the broader New York metropolitan area provides access to media clients and a massive labor pool.
Multnomah County, Oregon, also ranks highly, as Portland’s mix of creative industries and technology firms offers a supportive environment for digital media and information services companies.
Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing
While most other tech sectors are service-based, this area is manufacturing-based. The last few years of shortages and the AI boom have proven how important it is to have large-scale chip manufacturing closer to home. Currently, Williamson County, Texas, just north of Austin, leads the nation in this regard.
In no small part, this is due to Samsung’s $17 billion investment in building a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Taylor. As a result, wages have increased by 73% in this county for workers in device manufacturing.
Santa Clara County, California, also appears in the rankings, where, although employment growth has been slower, total wages have increased significantly. Wages have risen to over $22 million annually, largely because it is home to major firms like Nvidia, whose continued expansion has made it one of the most highly valued companies in the world.
A Broader Shift
It’s becoming clear that technology is no longer limited to California. Growth in the tech sector is spreading across the country, from Ohio to Maine. As these companies settle into their regional niches, they are transforming the local economies where they operate.
Tracking these shifts across multiple sectors and regions can be challenging, especially as new data is released throughout the year and local stories develop quickly.
Pulse uses AI to build custom news and industry feeds tailored to your markets, competitors, and personal priorities. Instead of piecing together posts from scattered sources, you receive updates on the counties, sectors, and trends that are most relevant to you.
If staying ahead of regional technology growth matters to you, contact us today to learn how Pulse can create a personalized stream specifically designed to keep you in the loop.
Methodology
To identify where each tech sector is growing fastest, we analyzed county-level industry data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. We selected five of the top tech sectors and calculated the year-over-year percentage change for each county from 2023 to 2024 across four key growth factors:
- Annual Average Employment Level
- Annual Average Number of Establishments
- Annual Average Weekly Wage
- Total Annual Wages
Each county was scored on each of these four factors, with a maximum of 100 points per factor. These scores were then combined into a single weighted index score, which was used to rank the counties and determine the top 10 for growth in each tech sector. The index score places the most emphasis on employment growth (35%), as job gains are the clearest indicator of expanding economic activity, and on establishment growth (30%), since an increasing number of businesses signals broader industry presence beyond a single employer. Total annual wages (20%) reflect both job and earnings growth, while the average weekly wage (15%) is weighted lower because it can fluctuate more due to changes in job mix and worker composition.
The Five Tech Sectors
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Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
- Companies that operate the underlying infrastructure for online services, including data centers, cloud and web hosting, and large-scale data processing. This infrastructure powers cloud storage, website and app hosting, and other services that keep websites, apps, and enterprise systems running.
| County | Annual Average Employment Level (2023) | Annual Average Employment Level (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2023) | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2023) | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2024) | Percentage Change | Total Annual Wages (2023) | Total Annual Wages (2024) | Percentage Change | Index Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Somerset County, NJ | 370 | 1,297 | 250.5% | 34 | 32 | -5.9% | $2,912 | $4,377 | 50.3% | $55,987,741 | $295,110,828 | 427.1% | 62.67 |
| 2 | Ada County, ID | 498 | 640 | 28.5% | 155 | 201 | 29.7% | $2,624 | $3,091 | 17.8% | $67,975,023 | $102,930,679 | 51.4% | 59.64 |
| 3 | Albany County, NY | 849 | 879 | 3.5% | 45 | 61 | 35.6% | $1,774 | $2,592 | 46.1% | $78,271,053 | $118,506,836 | 51.4% | 55.22 |
| 4 | Morris County, NJ | 228 | 350 | 53.5% | 31 | 36 | 16.1% | $2,872 | $2,786 | -3.0% | $34,012,444 | $50,749,923 | 49.2% | 54.19 |
| 5 | Frederick County, MD | 322 | 353 | 9.6% | 41 | 52 | 26.8% | $6,538 | $9,521 | 45.6% | $109,356,555 | $174,768,978 | 59.8% | 54.02 |
| 6 | Tulsa County, OK | 317 | 408 | 28.7% | 117 | 147 | 25.6% | $2,199 | $2,488 | 13.1% | $36,275,391 | $52,759,954 | 45.4% | 53.86 |
| 7 | Ramsey County, MN | 674 | 965 | 43.2% | 48 | 52 | 8.3% | $3,707 | $3,741 | 0.9% | $129,872,254 | $187,804,290 | 44.6% | 45.94 |
| 8 | Anne Arundel County, MD | 302 | 387 | 28.1% | 71 | 74 | 4.2% | $3,036 | $3,823 | 25.9% | $47,693,328 | $76,878,209 | 61.2% | 43.10 |
| 9 | Baltimore County, MD | 236 | 280 | 18.6% | 88 | 106 | 20.5% | $2,630 | $2,830 | 7.6% | $32,287,248 | $41,152,326 | 27.5% | 37.34 |
| 10 | Fulton County, GA | 11,378 | 11,490 | 1.0% | 412 | 564 | 36.9% | $3,530 | $3,954 | 12.0% | $2,088,785,342 | $2,362,588,249 | 13.1% | 36.83 |
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Custom Computer Programming Services
- Companies that build software on contract for clients, including custom applications, websites, databases, and system integration. The services also include ongoing development, maintenance, and customization of software systems.
| County | Annual Average Employment Level (2023) | Annual Average Employment Level (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2023) | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2023) | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2024) | Percentage Change | Total Annual Wages (2023) | Total Annual Wages (2024) | Percentage Change | Index Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk City, VA | 358 | 491 | 37.2% | 40 | 57 | 42.5% | $2,027 | $2,066 | 1.9% | $37,753,317 | $52,779,205 | 39.8% | 68.69 |
| 2 | Butler County, OH | 502 | 778 | 55.0% | 132 | 139 | 5.3% | $2,413 | $2,683 | 11.2% | $62,982,962 | $108,588,607 | 72.4% | 62.70 |
| 3 | Forsyth County, GA | 616 | 732 | 18.8% | 206 | 300 | 45.6% | $2,212 | $2,416 | 9.2% | $70,856,008 | $91,978,131 | 29.8% | 57.09 |
| 4 | Cumberland County, ME | 1,050 | 1,420 | 35.2% | 584 | 606 | 3.8% | $2,495 | $2,847 | 14.1% | $136,232,676 | $210,250,070 | 54.3% | 51.79 |
| 5 | York County, ME | 225 | 291 | 29.3% | 183 | 210 | 14.8% | $3,373 | $3,491 | 3.5% | $39,451,320 | $52,801,134 | 33.8% | 44.63 |
| 6 | Fulton County, GA | 12,301 | 13,826 | 12.4% | 1,349 | 1,920 | 42.3% | $2,579 | $2,696 | 4.5% | $1,649,813,549 | $1,938,005,998 | 17.5% | 44.51 |
| 7 | DeKalb County, GA | 1,743 | 2,411 | 38.3% | 283 | 332 | 17.3% | $2,673 | $2,333 | -12.7% | $242,284,375 | $292,424,365 | 20.7% | 44.32 |
| 8 | Adams County, CO | 1,048 | 1,312 | 25.2% | 394 | 402 | 2.0% | $3,199 | $3,725 | 16.4% | $174,291,875 | $254,147,005 | 45.8% | 40.70 |
| 9 | Platte County, MO | 285 | 358 | 25.6% | 37 | 34 | -8.1% | $1,955 | $2,403 | 22.9% | $28,962,086 | $44,769,478 | 54.6% | 39.11 |
| 10 | Kanawha County, WV | 501 | 649 | 29.5% | 66 | 72 | 9.1% | $1,811 | $1,769 | -2.3% | $47,175,255 | $59,726,397 | 26.6% | 37.02 |
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Software Publishers
- Companies that develop and sell packaged software products rather than custom software built for a single client. These products can include enterprise software, productivity tools, operating systems, security software, creative software, and consumer applications.
| County | Annual Average Employment Level (2023) | Annual Average Employment Level (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2023) | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2023) | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2024) | Percentage Change | Total Annual Wages (2023) | Total Annual Wages (2024) | Percentage Change | Index Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bexar County, TX | 1,039 | 2,083 | 100.5% | 106 | 104 | -1.9% | $2,718 | $3,955 | 45.5% | $146,848,047 | $428,339,443 | 191.7% | 65.47 |
| 2 | Placer County, CA | 437 | 721 | 65.0% | 31 | 35 | 12.9% | $2,595 | $3,214 | 23.9% | $58,967,514 | $120,501,762 | 104.4% | 58.86 |
| 3 | Honolulu County, HI | 257 | 356 | 38.5% | 206 | 290 | 40.8% | $3,126 | $3,296 | 5.4% | $41,843,296 | $60,995,264 | 45.8% | 43.74 |
| 4 | Allegheny County, PA | 2,278 | 2,658 | 16.7% | 171 | 189 | 10.5% | $3,280 | $5,093 | 55.3% | $388,526,746 | $703,814,151 | 81.1% | 40.30 |
| 5 | DeKalb County, GA | 1,180 | 1,160 | -1.7% | 85 | 227 | 167.1% | $2,968 | $3,515 | 18.4% | $182,090,426 | $211,981,902 | 16.4% | 37.07 |
| 6 | Brevard County, FL | 462 | 724 | 56.7% | 137 | 150 | 9.5% | $3,263 | $2,930 | -10.2% | $78,356,122 | $110,366,608 | 40.9% | 36.73 |
| 7 | Cumberland County, ME | 400 | 536 | 34.0% | 222 | 278 | 25.2% | $2,974 | $3,206 | 7.8% | $61,823,231 | $89,339,757 | 44.5% | 36.41 |
| 8 | Pierce County, WA | 394 | 444 | 12.7% | 142 | 166 | 16.9% | $2,717 | $3,926 | 44.5% | $55,623,266 | $90,744,576 | 63.1% | 35.97 |
| 9 | Clark County, NV | 3,373 | 4,323 | 28.2% | 1,156 | 1,321 | 14.3% | $2,798 | $3,262 | 16.6% | $490,843,198 | $733,315,704 | 49.4% | 32.89 |
| 10 | Davidson County, TN | 3,713 | 4,909 | 32.2% | 1,338 | 1,432 | 7.0% | $2,914 | $3,237 | 11.1% | $562,557,051 | $826,411,310 | 46.9% | 30.45 |
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Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
- Companies that operate search engines and web portals, as well as other online information services that collect, organize, index, or distribute information. Examples include search products, web directories, aggregation services, and other web-based information providers.
| County | Annual Average Employment Level (2023) | Annual Average Employment Level (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2023) | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2023) | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2024) | Percentage Change | Total Annual Wages (2023) | Total Annual Wages (2024) | Percentage Change | Index Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union County, NJ | 202 | 342 | 69.3% | 9 | 11 | 22.2% | $2,290 | $2,557 | 11.7% | $24,095,103 | $45,537,395 | 89.0% | 80.56 |
| 2 | Essex County, NJ | 159 | 236 | 48.4% | 18 | 18 | 0.0% | $3,153 | $3,477 | 10.3% | $26,029,743 | $42,604,204 | 63.7% | 50.64 |
| 3 | Multnomah County, OR | 277 | 315 | 13.7% | 40 | 51 | 27.5% | $4,113 | $4,105 | -0.2% | $59,175,201 | $67,333,120 | 13.8% | 39.65 |
| 4 | Leon County, FL | 212 | 243 | 14.6% | 19 | 22 | 15.8% | $1,378 | $1,527 | 10.8% | $15,214,866 | $19,278,305 | 26.7% | 38.36 |
| 5 | Montgomery County, MD | 273 | 340 | 24.5% | 122 | 128 | 4.9% | $3,208 | $3,340 | 4.1% | $45,569,642 | $59,104,932 | 29.7% | 34.47 |
| 6 | Morris County, NJ | 192 | 244 | 27.1% | 12 | 11 | -8.3% | $3,718 | $4,231 | 13.8% | $37,088,817 | $53,737,485 | 44.9% | 33.10 |
| 7 | San Francisco County, CA | 8,790 | 10,924 | 24.3% | 61 | 62 | 1.6% | $8,107 | $8,434 | 4.0% | $3,705,369,745 | $4,790,805,890 | 29.3% | 31.15 |
| 8 | Thurston County, WA | 160 | 143 | -10.6% | 18 | 24 | 33.3% | $5,386 | $6,248 | 16.0% | $44,698,571 | $46,516,131 | 4.1% | 29.72 |
| 9 | Cobb County, GA | 213 | 210 | -1.4% | 16 | 20 | 25.0% | $1,684 | $1,746 | 3.7% | $18,683,179 | $19,021,045 | 1.8% | 23.53 |
| 10 | Franklin County, OH | 996 | 1,077 | 8.1% | 39 | 41 | 5.1% | $2,062 | $2,292 | 11.2% | $106,755,171 | $128,338,658 | 20.2% | 21.84 |
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Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing
- Companies that design and manufacture the chips and related components that power computers and other electronics. This also includes semiconductors used in smartphones, vehicles, networking gear, industrial equipment, and other computing hardware.
| County | Annual Average Employment Level (2023) | Annual Average Employment Level (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2023) | Annual Average Number of Establishments (2024) | Percentage Change | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2023) | Annual Average Weekly Wage (2024) | Percentage Change | Total Annual Wages (2023) | Total Annual Wages (2024) | Percentage Change | Index Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamson County, TX | 924 | 1,099 | 18.9% | 16 | 20 | 25.0% | $1,505 | $2,190 | 45.5% | $72,249,306 | $125,145,072 | 73.2% | 98.69 |
| 2 | Fort Bend County, TX | 586 | 610 | 4.1% | 14 | 16 | 14.3% | $1,435 | $1,933 | 34.7% | $43,686,872 | $61,321,538 | 40.4% | 53.16 |
| 3 | Allegheny County, PA | 355 | 384 | 8.2% | 16 | 19 | 18.8% | $1,364 | $1,381 | 1.2% | $25,165,224 | $27,576,063 | 9.6% | 46.74 |
| 4 | King County, WA | 1,426 | 1,518 | 6.5% | 57 | 63 | 10.5% | $3,877 | $4,735 | 22.1% | $287,467,865 | $373,781,956 | 30.0% | 45.77 |
| 5 | Gwinnett County, GA | 662 | 745 | 12.5% | 26 | 27 | 3.8% | $1,508 | $1,584 | 5.0% | $51,905,307 | $61,324,517 | 18.1% | 40.77 |
| 6 | San Bernardino County, CA | 560 | 631 | 12.7% | 27 | 28 | 3.7% | $1,238 | $1,296 | 4.7% | $36,025,186 | $42,517,020 | 18.0% | 40.74 |
| 7 | Ada County, ID | 5,768 | 5,860 | 1.6% | 29 | 31 | 6.9% | $3,224 | $4,441 | 37.7% | $966,969,970 | $1,353,333,691 | 40.0% | 38.61 |
| 8 | Erie County, NY | 2,264 | 2,406 | 6.3% | 14 | 15 | 7.1% | $1,344 | $1,553 | 15.6% | $158,143,416 | $194,298,748 | 22.9% | 36.29 |
| 9 | Boulder County, CO | 686 | 742 | 8.2% | 19 | 20 | 5.3% | $2,803 | $3,078 | 9.8% | $100,056,311 | $118,778,343 | 18.7% | 34.70 |
| 10 | Santa Clara County, CA | 41,149 | 41,045 | -0.3% | 470 | 466 | -0.9% | $6,914 | $10,539 | 52.4% | $14,793,446,763 | $22,494,513,816 | 52.1% | 32.31 |
Data Threshold Disclaimer
To prevent small counties with minimal baseline activity from appearing as high-growth outliers, we applied minimum “base year” thresholds using 2023 values before ranking counties. For the sectors Computing Infrastructure Providers, Custom Computer Programming Services, and Software Publishers, counties were required to have at least 200 employees and 20 establishments in 2023. In contrast, the Web Search Portals and Semiconductor sectors had lower thresholds, requiring at least 100 employees and five establishments, to reflect their more concentrated footprint and ensure sufficient counties qualified for comparison.
Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
