America’s Top State for Talent

Ranked best in the nation for both Education and Workforce by CNBC, Virginia has the best schools in the South (No. 4 in the U.S.) according to WalletHub, as well as one of the best higher education systems in the world (No. 2 in the U.S. according to SmartAsset).

#1 Top State for Business – Workforce

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Rendering, Alexandria

Highest Concentration of Tech Talent in the United States

Virginia offers tech firms access to the highest concentration of tech talent and the third largest tech industry workforce in the nation, with 315,000 people working in the tech sector and/or tech occupations. Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic location facilitates talent attraction from the entire eastern seaboard and beyond.

#1 Tech Talent Market on the East Coast (#2 in the U.S.)

#2 Best State for Higher Education

#1 Best Public Schools in the South

MITRE, Fairfax County
MITRE, Fairfax County

World-Class Talent at a Competitive Cost

Tech companies can hire high-quality tech talent in Virginia at salaries that compare favorably with other major tech hubs. Salaries in Northern Virginia, one of the world’s leading tech hubs, average less than most major tech hubs, and salaries for tech talent in other parts of the state are competitive with smaller markets in other states, enabling tech firms to choose the best market, talent mix, and budget for their particular needs.

We believe that diversity and inclusion leads to a more innovative environment. Our site in Virginia is represented with 55 different nationalities. This diversity of talent promotes a culture of innovation and is a key contributor to our success, and we love that.

Sanjay Mehrotra

President and CEO, Micron Technology

MicroStrategy, Fairfax County
MicroStrategy, Fairfax County

A Globally Diverse and Inclusive State

Virginia is home to one of the most diverse tech workforces in the country, ranking among the top 10 states for the percentage of tech workers who are Asian American (21%) and Black (12%). Virginia’s tech workforce also stands out for its international character, with 25% of tech workers foreign-born, representing the 10th most international tech workforce in the country.

Appian, Fairfax County
Appian, Fairfax County

#1 Best U.S. City for Working Women

Universities Positioned to Meet the Needs of Technology Companies

In 2019, nearly 74 relevant academic programs produced over 11,876 certificates and degrees in advanced technical subjects like cybersecurity, modeling and simulation, and data management.

Maggie Walker Governor's School
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Commonwealth University

K-12

The Commonwealth was the first state in the nation to adopt CS standards across the K-12 continuum, having integrated these disciplines into Standards of Learning (SOLs) in 2016. With dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment with their local community college, local high school students can take classes where they can receive college credit for their courses and earn industry certifications allowing students to exit high school and enter directly into a career field.

The nonprofit CodeVA partners with schools, parents, and communities to bring equitable computer science education to all of Virginia’s students.

Higher Ed - Community College

A Virginia community college can be reached within 30 minutes of every Virginian. As an aligned system, there is the benefit of programming that is consistent and centrally recognized across 23 colleges, institutions which serve unique regions and diverse business partners.

Higher Ed - 4-Year

Virginia’s colleges and universities are working to meet the increasing demand for tech talent. Fifty-seven of Virginia’s educational institutions offer CS degrees. In Virginia, over 2,900 traditional computer and information sciences degrees were awarded during the 2018-19 academic year (IPEDS).

The Commonwealth is home to renowned universities that offer an unrivaled set of innovation partnerships. These include the University of Virginia, the nation’s 3rd-ranked and one of the country’s oldest public universities; Virginia Tech, one of the premier science and technical universities; and George Mason University, home to one of the largest CS departments in the U.S.

University of Virginia
University of Virginia

America’s Largest Investment in Tech Education

Through its historic, innovative Tech Talent Investment Program, targeted philanthropic gifts, corporate partnerships, and K-12 computer science initiatives, Virginia is investing more than $2 billion to expand its tech talent pipeline, doubling the number of graduates each year in computer science and closely related fields.

Additionally, Virginia higher education institutions already produce roughly 12,000 tech-related degrees and certificates annually in areas ranging from computer science to modeling and simulation.

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Tech Talent Investment Program

A world-class higher education system provides a strong pipeline of talent from local and regional institutions

Higher Education Talent Map
Higher Education Talent Map
Cape Henry Associates, Hampton Roads
Cape Henry Associates, Hampton Roads

Virginia Values Its Veterans

Each year, thousands of skilled workers exit the U.S. military in Virginia, providing a steady pipeline of dedicated, specialized talent to the tech industry.

  • Virginia is home to over 185,000 veterans under the age of 45, the 4th-largest population in the country.
  • Thanks to its close proximity to Washington, D.C., and 30 + other military installations from Quantico to Norfolk, Virginia is one of the highest density states for both military veterans and talent with security clearances.
  • Over 42,000 individuals in Virginia report having some type of security clearance on their professional profile, the highest number of any state in the country. (Emsi)