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With the booming tech industry, opportunities are growing rapidly across the globe. Tech giants are expanding to tap into the talent base spread across different parts of the world. Skilled professionals are also looking for the best places to work with the best companies.
But, the question is: How do you define the best? Here we’ll explore the best places with the best opportunities, based on some of the biggest influencing factors.
How to Evaluate
How do you decide which is the best place with the best opportunities? The comparison is always relative, as the evaluation parameters are relative. Some people may consider salary, growth, etc., as the main criteria, whereas others can consider job stability or work-life balance as the main factors.
Here, our effort is to consider those parameters which are priorities for a high percentage of the tech workforce. But keep in mind that evaluation like this is always relative, hence varies from person to person. (Finding the right career is just as important as finding the right location. Learn more in Take Charge of Your Career – Advice From Experienced IT Pros.)
What Are the Parameters?
People often think that the financial or location aspects of a job are the main criteria. But, we should remember that money cannot be the only deciding factor. Potential job seekers should have a successful career as well as an enjoyable lifestyle. So, the parameters are selected based on several aspects.
Let’s explore some of the most important parameters.
Job market
A good job market means good opportunities for those who are looking for jobs. It also indicates growing new opportunities. As a result, people will find it easy to get new jobs. People strive for job continuity, but they also like to know there are new opportunities, so they can easily switch if necessary. Therefore, a job market that is already saturated is not a good destination.
Average salary
People should not necessarily think about the highest and lowest salary, but should consider the average salary paid by the different organizations. If the average salary is good, then you can always rely on it and move forward. Salaries offered by the same organization can vary widely from one location to another because the cost of living varies from place to place. Therefore, a careful calculation is required before selecting the job location.
Cost of living
This is something which people often forget to consider. Imagine that you’ve selected your dream location and organization, but the cost of living is too high in that city. What will happen? Your income will be eaten up by the costly living standards, which you can’t control. Hence, it is not a wise decision to relocate to a place where a large percentage of your income must be spent on basic necessities.
Commute time
If your commute is consuming good amounts of your daily time, then that means you have less time for yourself and your family. Some companies allow “work from home” opportunities, which is a great way to cut down your commute time.
Medical and health care system
Medical and health is one of the most important factors to consider. If the location has good and affordable health care facilities, then that can be a deciding factor in the choice to relocate.
Ranking the Best Places
The following are some of the best places to work in tech industry based on the parameters discussed above.
1. Berlin
Germany’s capital Berlin tops the list. It is believed to have the world’s fastest growing startup ecosystem for tech. Affordable living costs are a major attraction, along with the average commute time amounting to just 23 minutes.
2. Austin
Austin has popped up as the alternative to skyrocketing rents in Silicon Valley. An abundance of living and office spaces, along with newer jobs, has made it an exciting place to be a tech professional.
3. Toronto
Despite being in its growth stages, Toronto has a good tech scene hosting leading research centers for data science, AI and even stem cell research. Living standards in the city are high and rent is affordable, making it one of the best places, with much more to come in the future. (Want to know what a job in data science is like? Check out Job Role: Data Scientist.)
4. San Francisco
San Francisco, part of Silicon Valley, has been the mecca for tech jobs ever since the 1930s. It hosts some of the most innovative companies boasting the world’s leading minds. However, living costs have shot upward, with rents that are excruciatingly high, even for senior engineers. Still, it remains the most prestigious city to work in the tech world.
5. Boston
Despite being behind early on in the competition, Boston has been catching up in recent years. With noted educational institutions to back up recent success stories of HubSpot and TripAdvisor, Boston is a great alternative to Silicon Valley due to its vibrant lifestyle and toned down cost of living.
6. Stockholm
In one of the most progressive countries in the world, Sweden’s capital Stockholm naturally grabs attention. The city has spawned the likes of Spotify, Skype and Ericsson, and has been at the forefront of tech innovation. Also, top-notch living standards and a growing job market make it a tech worker’s dream city.
7. Singapore
Despite being well known as a financial hub, Singapore is now taking its place as a tech hub as well. The arrival of Google, LinkedIn and Facebook only establishes this fact. Along with increasingly good infrastructure, the Lion City promises a plethora of opportunities for tech workers.
8. Amsterdam
Amsterdam has about 600 IT firms and has been developing a great reputation for being an important place for data centers. A tech career in Amsterdam can be a wise choice as the city not only has good living standards, but also offers an active and fulfilling social life. Leonardo Soares, software developer at Mollie Payments, explains, “It was very easy to blend in [in Amsterdam] because everyone speaks English.”
9. Seattle
Seattle is another city that has a rich tech history. Microsoft and Amazon are the finest examples of this. There has been a greater growth of tech job vacancies in Seattle of late, making it a great alternative for tech workers.
10. London
Although there is some some uncertainty surrounding Brexit, London is still a great city for tech workers. The city relies on international workers for 13% of its digital sector workforce, and if one has the skills, this city is an exciting place. However, the cost of living can be high, and is something that must be taken into consideration.
11. Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is known to have one of the highest startup densities in the world and a large percentage of these are in the tech sector. However, the inclusion of Tel Aviv is unconventional as its tech scene largely constitutes military research and development projects. Presently though, many global firms are establishing themselves in the city.
12. Bangalore
India has been on the IT map for some time now, largely due to its rising software services industry. Bangalore, located in the south of the country, is the go-to place for tech workers. The city also counts on a huge pool of talent coming from every corner of the country. Bangalore is a global hub for the tech industry and is an exciting city to work in.
What We've Learned
While no list like this can ever be conclusive, and some people may disagree with the rankings, we’ve tried our best to weigh the most important factors fairly so that tech pros can take a look at the hottest places in tech, and decide which might be the best fit.
So, where will your career take you?
