The average increase in U.S. tech salaries of 3.6 percent between late 2019 and late 2020 may not sound dramatic. But compared with recent trends in tech salaries, it’s a significant jump—especially considering the complicating factor of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant spike in remote work and office routine disruption. The increase is also particularly notable after 2017, 2018, and 2019 brought annual increases of less than a percent.
This 3.6 increase—for an average total of $97,859—is the number job search firm Dice found when it surveyed 9,143 job seekers between 29 September and 9 December 2020. The company runs a survey annually, generally getting around 10,000 responses.
According to the Dice 2021 Tech Salary Report, U.S. Salaries in most tech hubs registered increases, with the exception of the Pacific Northwest, Tampa, and Chicago. The biggest jump? Charlotte, NC.
Salaries in Silicon Valley climbed 2.4 percent, keeping the region solidly on top at $126,801 (without adjustments for cost of living).
The top ten in each category, below. The complete report is available here.
Where the Biggest Raises Were
| Rank | City or Metro Area | Average Increase 2020 over 2019 | Average Tech Salary 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte, N.C. | 13.8 | $99,691 |
| 2 | Orlando, Fla. | 13.4 | $88,598 |
| 3 | New York City | 11.6 | $114,274 |
| 4 | Austin | 9.7 | $104,344 |
| 5 | Philadelphia | 8.3 | $96,512 |
| 6 | Detroit | 7.7 | $90,110 |
| 7 | Phoenix | 7.6 | $95,514 |
| 8 | Houston | 7.1 | $99,727 |
| 9 | Minneapolis | 6.6 | $102,341 |
| 10 | Baltimore/D.C. | 5.5 | $109,525 |
Source: Dice
