Utah's software developer salaries are exceptionally high and growing fast
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Software developers' salaries are rising faster in the Salt Lake metro than anywhere else — and they're now higher than in much bigger, costlier cities.
Why it matters: Tech companies in Utah directly and historically have supported about 15% of the state's jobs, according to research by the University of Utah.
By the numbers: Utah software developers earn the nation's 6th highest salaries, according to recent research by ADP Research Institute, an arm of the payroll processing company.
The intrigue: Previous analyses showed tech salaries in Utah lagged behind the rest of the West.
Yes, but: After a 35% growth in salaries since 2018, developers here earn more than in Denver and Portland, and even major cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Caveat: ADP's analysis only addresses software developers, not all tech jobs.
Catch up fast: There was a pandemic hiring frenzy for these roles, Axios' Emily Peck reports. Workers were fielding multiple calls a day from recruiters and naming their price when it came to salary.
- Now, companies nationwide are slower to hire, says Nick Bunker, an economist at Indeed.
The big picture: These are among the best jobs around.
- Software developer is ranked second on the Labor Department's list of occupations with the most projected job growth over the next decade or so, coming in after home health aides.