Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
States With Most Tech & Professional Jobs
The technology and professional services sector, encompassing software, consulting, legal, accounting, architecture, engineering, and scientific services, is the engine of the modern knowledge economy. Virginia, Massachusetts, and Colorado lead this ranking, powered by major tech hubs, defense contractors, consulting firms, and research institutions. The District of Columbia has the highest concentration by far, reflecting the federal government's massive demand for professional services. States with large tech and professional workforces tend to have higher incomes, more educated populations, and greater resilience to economic downturns. These jobs are also among the most amenable to remote work, which has allowed some diffusion of tech employment from traditional hubs like Silicon Valley and Boston to smaller cities and rural areas. States competing for tech investment focus on building university research capacity, startup ecosystems, and quality-of-life amenities that attract mobile knowledge workers.
Key Findings
- 1New York leads with a tech & professional employment share of 37.2%, followed by Connecticut (35.6%) and Massachusetts (35.2%).
- 2The gap between #1 New York and #52 Nevada (22.8%) is 14.4 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 29.5% (North Carolina at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New Jersey.
Full Ranking: States With Most Tech & Professional Jobs
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Tech/Professional % | Bachelor's+ | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 29.4% | 29.9% | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 29.4% | 32.8% | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 32.3% | 23.3% | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | 26.7% | 38.8% | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | 28.7% | 41.5% | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | 33.5% | 42.6% | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | 29.6% | 36.9% | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | 28.6% | 33.1% | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 28.3% | 30.4% | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 31.9% | 31.1% | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 28.2% | 31.5% | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 33.5% | 37.3% | $86,372 |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | 27.2% | 29.1% | $25,096 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 33.1% | 34.5% | $76,081 |
| 15 | Oregon | 29.0% | 36.2% | $80,426 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 28.5% | 27.8% | $63,603 |
| 17 | Ohio | 30.7% | 30.9% | $69,680 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 32.0% | 32.3% | $75,949 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 29.5% | 34.7% | $69,904 |
| 20 | New York | 37.2% | 39.6% | $84,578 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 30.5% | 30.2% | $62,125 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 32.8% | 42.9% | $101,050 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 30.9% | 39.8% | $95,628 |
| 24 | Nevada | 22.8% | 27.4% | $75,561 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 32.3% | 34.1% | $74,985 |
| 26 | Montana | 28.8% | 34.5% | $69,922 |
| 27 | Missouri | 31.4% | 31.9% | $68,920 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 29.8% | 24.2% | $54,915 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 32.8% | 38.8% | $87,556 |
| 30 | Michigan | 29.1% | 31.8% | $71,149 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 35.2% | 46.6% | $101,341 |
| 32 | Maryland | 29.4% | 42.7% | $101,652 |
| 33 | Maine | 33.7% | 35.3% | $71,773 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 30.4% | 26.6% | $60,023 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 29.8% | 27.0% | $62,417 |
| 36 | Kansas | 31.3% | 35.2% | $72,639 |
| 37 | Iowa | 31.9% | 30.9% | $73,147 |
| 38 | Indiana | 28.7% | 28.8% | $70,051 |
| 39 | Illinois | 30.9% | 37.2% | $81,702 |
| 40 | Idaho | 28.0% | 31.2% | $74,636 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 28.8% | 35.5% | $98,317 |
| 42 | Georgia | 27.3% | 34.2% | $74,664 |
| 43 | Florida | 29.0% | 33.2% | $71,711 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 23.6% | 63.6% | $106,287 |
| 45 | Delaware | 34.1% | 35.3% | $82,855 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 35.6% | 41.9% | $93,760 |
| 47 | Colorado | 28.9% | 44.7% | $92,470 |
| 48 | California | 27.4% | 36.5% | $96,334 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 29.2% | 25.1% | $58,773 |
| 50 | Arizona | 30.9% | 32.6% | $76,872 |
| 51 | Alaska | 28.4% | 31.2% | $89,336 |
| 52 | Alabama | 28.2% | 27.8% | $62,027 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
New York has the highest tech & professional employment share at 37.2%, according to latest Census ACS data. Connecticut and Massachusetts round out the top three.
Nevada has the lowest tech & professional employment share at 22.8%. District of Columbia is second-lowest at 23.6%.
The median across all 52 states is 29.5%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.