The South Florida Career Landscape in Tech for 2021

Ashley Marie Taylor
Boca Code
Published in
5 min readJan 4, 2021

If you are looking for a great career, then there’s a good chance that you have heard about the massive opportunities available in the field of technology. Career growth opportunities in tech are unparalleled. Tech positions have been in high demand for years and as technology continues to grow so will the opportunities.

When people think about the top cities for technology, they immediately think about Silicon Valley along with some of the other major cities such as New York City, Boston, and Washington D.C. On the other hand, the South Florida tech landscape is quickly growing. Let’s take a look at the data and figure out why South Florida is becoming more attractive to those with a budding career in the world of technology!

Overcoming Challenges in the South Florida Area

Previously, there were major challenges that the South Florida region had to overcome when it came to tech jobs. Some of these challenges included:

  • A lack of tech education and training
  • A lack in community cultivation in the world of South Florida technology;
  • Poor industry growth numbers

But thanks to the hard work of local individuals, businesses and organizations, these issues have been made away with in the past decade. With these increasing opportunities in the South Florida area, many people are starting to note the numerous advantages in tech that the region affords.

Why South Florida for a Tech Career: The Advantages of the Florida Lifestyle

South Florida is growing quickly with respect to numerous industries, including technology. Some of the major reasons why include:

  • South Florida has a much lower cost of living when compared to other major cities in the world of tech including Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, and New York
  • Overall, the climate and culture of South Florida is relatively laid back, striking a solid work-life balance, which is attractive to young professionals
  • The educational environment in South Florida is growing quickly, which means that companies are moving to the area to take advantage of South Florida tech talent, contributing to a robust job market
  • Overall, South Florida has a high quality of life with plenty of opportunities for career growth

For all of these reasons, South Florida is seeing a tremendous amount of growth with respect to all industries, including technology.

South Florida Technology: What Do the Numbers Actually Show?

While the advantages of living and working in South Florida are clear, it is critical to take a closer look at some of the numbers when it comes to South Florida tech career opportunities.

The team at Boca Code has worked hard to collect the most recent data with respect to South Florida tech opportunities. That way, we can provide everyone with the data they need to make a decision when it comes to their next career move. Some of the relevant data points include:

  • Tech jobs are in high demand. The total number of tech jobs in the region is approaching 78,000 jobs and this has increased more than 14 percent during the past few years, which signifies robust opportunities for those who are looking to build a career in the world of tech.
  • The high average salary. The average salary for those in the tech world is close to $109,000 which represents an increase of more than 13 percent during the past five years, which is a good sign when it comes to the demand for tech professionals in South Florida.
  • Diversity. The diversity of tech professionals in South Florida is obvious, with a makeup that is about 46 percent Caucasian, 29 percent Hispanic or Latino, 13 percent African American, and about 10 percent Asian. These numbers show that the South Florida tech sector is twice as diverse as the tech sector in the United States overall, which creates a welcoming environment.
  • A thriving job market. During the past ten years, the job market for tech jobs in South Florida has increased by more than 26 percent.

How Does South Florida Compare to the Rest of the Country?

It is also important to take a look at how South Florida compares to the rest of the country when it comes to the average salary for tech jobs. According to information published by Forbes, some of the highest paying cities for tech jobs include:

  • San Jose, CA has an average salary of $120,000 per year and is packed with tech jobs such as Intel and Apple
  • San Francisco, CA provides opportunities for tech jobs that pay an average of $118,000 per year
  • On the East Coast, New York City ranks fifth for tech job salaries at $102,000 per year, where some of the tech companies tend to fly under the radar because they sell products to businesses instead of consumers

One important thing to notice is that the average salary of South Florida tech jobs is right there with these larger cities, coming in at more than $108,000 per year.

With a much lower cost of living, shorter commutes, and a better lifestyle overall, it is clear that the quality of life that tech professionals in the South Florida area will enjoy can be significantly greater than those who work in these larger cities.

Therefore, it is critical for everyone to place themselves in a position to compete for these jobs.

Count on the Team from Boca Code To Help You Launch Your Tech Career

If you are looking for a field that is going to provide you with plenty of opportunities for career growth, then look no further than Boca Code.

At Boca Code, we can help you compete for jobs throughout the South Florida region including Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Miami, and more. We can provide you with scholarship sponsorships, apprenticeship programs, access to career fairs, team training, and more. We know that the demand is high for tech professionals in South Florida. We want to place you in a position to be successful.

To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today!

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Ashley Marie Taylor
Boca Code

Crafter of Words | Marketer + Techie @ Shore to Summit