The Best Cities for Tech Startups

CIO.com spoke with members of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) to find out what the 15 hottest U.S. cities for tech startups are, what the average IT salary for each city is, and how those salaries have trended over the last five years.

The tech startup information documented here has been furnished by the NVCA. Salary information was gathered via Dice.

Although San Marcos dropped a notch on the list, average IT salaries have notably increased, 12.6 percent over the last five years. This is another tech startup area that boasts a low cost of living and for those entrepreneurs that choose the Austin/San Marcos area, it’s worth noting that, like Florida, there is no state income tax.

‘The City of Brotherly Love’ came it at number nine on our list. Average IT salaries have risen impressively; nearly 17 percent over the last five years. The many universities and schools here offer a steady stream of talent and, of course, it’s the home of Rocky Balboa, a fictional character who for some reason is forever immortalized at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Can the same be said for Rambo?

The bio-tech startup industry is flourishing in this area and the cost of living is low when compared to other major metropolitan areas like New York or Silicon Valley, making this an attractive location for east coast startups.

It’s no surprise that Silicon Valley tops the list. Heck, Mike Judge recently made a show on HBO about how crazy the startup mentality is here. The area has become so populated with the tech crowd that locals have begun to revolt.

According to NVCA numbers there are over five billion dollars in startup capital invested here. Combine that with the fact that the area is home to some of the largest tech companies on the planet and it’s easy to see why this is an attractive location (although you’ll probably never own property here).