Best and Worst Cities for Women in Tech — 2026 Study

Women remain underrepresented in the tech sector. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, women make up “nearly half of the total U.S. workforce … [but] just 22.6% of the high tech workforce.” Opportunities for women in tech can vary considerably by location, and these differences shape access to jobs, career advancement and earning potential. In some places, women account for a larger share of tech workers, face narrower pay gaps and enjoy a stronger local labor market. In others, they may encounter a more challenging career environment.

SmartAsset evaluated data for 50 of the largest U.S. cities, assigning each a composite score based on four metrics: the pay gap between women and men in tech; women’s share of all tech workers; tech employment concentration, or tech workers as a share of the local workforce; and median earnings for women tech workers, adjusted for regional price differences. (The earnings adjustment accounts for local purchasing power, making salaries in higher- and lower-cost cities more comparable.)

Key Findings

San Jose is the No. 1 city for women in tech. More than one in 10 workers in San Jose are employed in the tech sector. Of these workers, 27.2% are women, earning an estimated median income of $167,223, or $143,918 after adjusting for regional price differences. However, despite ranking No. 1 overall, women tech workers in San Jose earn 80.5% of what men earn.
Detroit has the largest share of women in tech. Nearly four in 10 tech workers in Detroit, or 39.7%, are women, the greatest share in the study.
This southern city is the top-ranking location outside the West Coast. Atlanta, home to Calendly, Cox Enterprises and Equifax, ranks No. 4 overall. Approximately 6.5% of Atlanta’s labor force works in tech. Women make up 28.8% of those workers, and women’s median earnings equal 87.5% of men’s earnings.
Bakersfield has the largest pay disparity. Bakersfield, California, is not widely known as a tech hub, and just 1.9% of its workforce is employed in tech. Those jobs are concentrated in local IT firms and in technology roles at non-tech companies. Women tech workers there earn 65.5% as much as men, the largest pay disparity in the study.*

* In Bakersfield, the sample of women in tech is relatively small, so pay comparisons may be less precise than in other markets.

Questions and Answers

What is the best city for women in tech?

San Jose is the No. 1 city for women in tech. More than one in 10 workers in San Jose are employed in the tech sector. Of these workers, 27.2% are women, earning an estimated median income of $167,223.

What is the best city for women in tech outside the West Coast?

Atlanta. Approximately 6.5% of Atlanta’s labor force works in tech at companies such as Calendly, Cox Enterprises and Equifax. Women make up 28.8% of those workers, and women’s median earnings equal 87.5% of men’s earnings.

What percent of the U.S. tech workforce are women?

While women make up nearly half of the total U.S. workforce, they comprise only about 23% of the high tech workforce.

Cities Ranked

1. San Jose, California

Women tech workers: 15,642
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 27.2%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $143,918
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $167,223
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 80.6%
Tech workforce concentration: 10.5%

2. Seattle, Washington

Women tech workers: 16,269
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.8%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $130,187
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $152,241
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 81.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 13.4%

3. San Francisco, California

Women tech workers: 12,743
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.4%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $135,887
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $165,312
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 79.6%
Tech workforce concentration: 9.9%

4. Atlanta, Georgia

Women tech workers: 5,532
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 28.8%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $99,337
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $104,589
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 87.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 6.5%

5. Baltimore, Maryland

Women tech workers: 4,444
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 34.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $96,056
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $105,610
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 92.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.3%

6. Austin, Texas

Women tech workers: 12,379
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 22.9%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $99,496
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $102,670
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 80.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 8.7%

7. Oakland, California

Women tech workers: 3,201
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 26.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $114,171
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $138,893
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 74.3%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.9%

8. Portland, Oregon

Women tech workers: 4,729
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.9%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $100,266
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $111,224
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 89.8%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.9%

9. Boston, Massachusetts

Women tech workers: 6,333
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 31.3%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $94,828
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $108,032
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 83.9%
Tech workforce concentration: 5.0%

10. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Women tech workers: 3,284
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 22.4%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $95,546
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $105,386
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 93.8%
Tech workforce concentration: 5.6%

11. San Diego, California

Women tech workers: 11,483
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.1%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $99,407
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $117,036
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 82.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 6.0%

12. Chicago, Illinois

Women tech workers: 17,940
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 26.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $97,876
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $106,693
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 90.2%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.5%

13. Charlotte, North Carolina

Women tech workers: 8,159
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 28.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $91,689
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $93,921
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 82.6%
Tech workforce concentration: 5.4%

14. Memphis, Tennessee

Women tech workers: 1,950
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 33.2%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $84,718
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $82,173
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 101.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 1.9%

15. Houston, Texas

Women tech workers: 9,456
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.6%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $97,089
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $100,762
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 93.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.0%

16. Denver, Colorado

Women tech workers: 6,759
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 26.8%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $90,738
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $101,000
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 82.2%
Tech workforce concentration: 5.6%

17. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Women tech workers: 2,459
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 23.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $97,662
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $98,188
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 92.1%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.6%

18. New York, New York

Women tech workers: 43,595
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 26.5%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $96,782
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $114,634
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 86.3%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.7%

19. Columbus, Ohio

Women tech workers: 6,298
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $87,247
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $87,646
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 91.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 5.0%

20. Louisville, Kentucky

Women tech workers: 2,740
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 31.3%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $87,750
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $85,940
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 91.8%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.6%

21. Raleigh, North Carolina

Women tech workers: 4,169
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.6%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $89,325
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $92,261
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 79.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 6.0%

22. Miami, Florida

Women tech workers: 1,385
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 26.6%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $88,650
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $106,486
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 101.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.0%

23. Tampa, Florida

Women tech workers: 2,485
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $89,792
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $95,325
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 84.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.4%

24. Long Beach, California

Women tech workers: 1,946
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 27.6%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $84,787
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $101,320
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 97.1%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.8%

25. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Women tech workers: 2,990
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 19.3%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $93,558
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $99,142
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 82.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 5.8%

26. Fort Worth, Texas

Women tech workers: 4,622
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 28.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $87,174
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $94,564
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 89.2%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.2%

27. Indianapolis, Indiana

Women tech workers: 4,200
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 27.3%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $83,762
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $84,345
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 94.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.3%

28. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Women tech workers: 3,094
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 28.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $86,670
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $89,321
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 82.6%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.4%

29. Kansas City, Kansas

Women tech workers: 3,234
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 27.1%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $83,481
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $81,293
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 84.8%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.2%

30. Sacramento, California

Women tech workers: 4,332
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 35.4%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $73,005
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $81,943
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 80.2%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.4%

31. Tucson, Arizona

Women tech workers: 2,038
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.5%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $83,121
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $84,750
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 93.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.9%

32. Dallas, Texas

Women tech workers: 6,478
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.5%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $83,245
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $90,301
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 87.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.6%

33. Nashville, Tennessee

Women tech workers: 4,244
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $82,874
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $84,011
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 83.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.1%

34. Los Angeles, California

Women tech workers: 14,663
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 26.4%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $87,513
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $104,578
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 83.4%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.6%

35. Jacksonville, Florida

Women tech workers: 5,749
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 29.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $78,578
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $82,258
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 79.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.9%

36. Phoenix, Arizona

Women tech workers: 8,129
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.3%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $82,495
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $89,685
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 83.2%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.8%

37. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Women tech workers: 7,629
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 27.3%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $79,016
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $85,268
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 84.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.4%

38. Arlington, Texas

Women tech workers: 2,110
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 29.9%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $76,319
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $82,788
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 83.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.2%

39. Wichita, Kansas

Women tech workers: 1,183
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.6%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $83,970
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $78,591
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 88.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.3%

40. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Women tech workers: 2,780
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.2%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $81,087
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $77,140
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 85.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.1%

41. Omaha, Nebraska

Women tech workers: 2,766
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.2%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $81,323
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $78,651
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 77.1%
Tech workforce concentration: 4.3%

42. San Antonio, Texas

Women tech workers: 5,367
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 23.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $81,066
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $80,794
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 84.6%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.0%

43. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Women tech workers: 1,771
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 25.0%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $76,034
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $77,556
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 89.9%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.5%

44. Detroit, Michigan

Women tech workers: 1,807
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 39.7%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $64,876
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $68,469
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 79.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 1.7%

45. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Women tech workers: 1,400
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 24.8%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $76,594
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $71,904
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 81.6%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.7%

46. Fresno, California

Women tech workers: 1,321
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 28.2%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $70,433
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $75,713
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 87.2%
Tech workforce concentration: 1.8%

47. Las Vegas, Nevada

Women tech workers: 1,879
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 22.5%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $77,138
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $81,343
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 74.0%
Tech workforce concentration: 2.5%

48. Mesa, Arizona

Women tech workers: 2,276
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 21.9%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $70,288
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $76,414
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 72.3%
Tech workforce concentration: 3.9%

49. El Paso, Texas

Women tech workers: 1,291
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 20.5%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $68,488
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $64,797
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 76.7%
Tech workforce concentration: 1.9%

50. Bakersfield, California

Women tech workers: 849
Women tech workers, share of tech workforce: 23.6%
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (adjusted): $66,970
Women tech workers’ estimated median earnings (unadjusted): $71,093
Women tech workers’ earnings as a share of men’s: 65.5%
Tech workforce concentration: 1.9%

Methodology

U.S. Census Bureau 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, representing survey data collected from 2020 through 2024, were analyzed for 50 of the largest U.S. cities by population. The analysis defined tech workers as city residents employed in computer and mathematical occupations. Each city received a composite score based on four weighted metrics: women’s median earnings as a percentage of men’s median earnings in tech; women’s share of all tech workers; tech employment concentration, calculated as tech workers’ share of the local population aged 16 and older employed or looking for work; and women tech workers’ median earnings, updated with a national wage index and adjusted for regional price differences. For purposes of this study, workforce is synonymous with labor force. ACS earnings are reported in 2024 dollars. For comparability, each city’s median was updated to June 2026 using the national Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index for private-industry wages and salaries. The same factor was applied to every city. Those figures were then adjusted using the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ all-items regional price parity for the metropolitan area containing each city. The updated amounts are not observed 2026 salaries, and ACS estimates may be subject to sampling and nonsampling error, particularly where occupational sample sizes are small. Rank differences should therefore be interpreted as directional rather than as evidence that similarly ranked cities are statistically distinguishable from one another. Source data providers are not affiliated with, and do not endorse or sponsor, this study or its findings.