Austin’s High-Tech Jobs Paying Off, Average Wage Ranked Third Among U.S. Cybercities
AeA report shows that Austinites benefit from 68,000 tech-industry jobs

Dallas, TX (June 24, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, ranked Austin third among U.S. cities in highest annual high-tech salary, according to the recently released Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities. The report – which tracks trends in high-tech employment, wages, establishments, payroll, employment concentration and wage differential at the metropolitan level – found that the average tech-industry worker in Austin earned $100,500 in 2006, which was 113 percent more than the metropolitan area’s average private-sector wage. Austin’s wage differential between high-tech and private sector jobs was the largest in the nation.

As a whole, the high-tech industry in Austin employed 68,800 people in 2006, ranking 23rd among U.S. cities, according to the most current metropolitan data available. It represents an increase of 2,300 jobs or 3 percent over the previous year. In addition, Austin’s largest high-tech sector was electronic components manufacturing, which employed 16,000 workers in 2006, followed by computer systems design and related services (11,900) and computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing (10,700).

“Austin’s growth in the high-tech industry has been positive for the local economy,” said AeA Texas Council Chairperson Douglas Bartek. “Austin ranked eighth in the nation in high-tech employment concentration – a figure even more impressive when you consider that our high-tech jobs pay more than double the area’s private sector wage. The recent growth is affirmation that Austin plays a vital role in America’s high-tech industry and continues to move in the right direction.”

Cybercities 2008 shows that the top five cybercities by high-tech employment in 2006 were the New York Metro Area, Washington, DC, San Jose/Silicon Valley, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The nation’s highest tech industry concentration was in San Jose/Silicon Valley, where more than one in four private sector workers were employed by the tech industry. Seattle saw the largest tech industry employment growth, adding 7,800 jobs in 2006.

Later this summer, AeA will release Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade. That report will look at the most recent data on high-tech exports from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

AeA members can purchase Cybercities 2008 for $125; non-members for $250.  Visit www.aeanet.org/cybercities to download the report, or call 408.987.4200. 

What Does High Tech Mean for Austin?

• 68,800 high-tech workers in 2006 (23rd ranked cybercity)
   

• 2,300 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (19th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 121 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (8th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $100,500 (3rd ranked), or 113 percent more than Austin’s average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $6.9 billion in 2006 (20th ranked cybercity)
   

• 2,700 high-tech establishments in 2006 (24th ranked cybercity)

Austin’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 2nd in electronic components manufacturing employment with 16,000 jobs
   

• 3rd in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing employment with 10,700 jobs
   

• 25th in computer systems design and related services employment with 11,900 jobs

Notes:

Austin = Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties in Texas.

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Source: Cybercities 2008

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

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About AeA

AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association, representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit http://www.aeanet.org.   

This page was last updated on 06/23/08.            
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