In the 10 highest-paid tech industries, the average annual wages exceed six figures.
The highest-paying industry, on average, is classified as "computer storage device manufacturing." That industry pays an average annual salary of $216,470, and with benefits included it rises to $252,783.
But the people who work in that field are fairly specialized - there are only 96 people within this industry in the Austin area, according to EMSI.
Other highly-paid tech industries in Austin fall under the chip or computer manufacturing and "software publishers." The most common tech industry in Austin - software programming, which employs more than 20,000 people - pays an annual average of $102,035 or $116,644 with benefits included.
Some of the lowest-paid industries include tech manufacturing, such as "electronic circuit manufacturing," which basically means manufacturing electronic cables.
These employers pay an average salary of $41,623, which rises to $48,583 with benefits included.
EMSI compiled this salary information from sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The industry categories included in this data were culled as part of a study done by Austin economist Brian Kelsey last year for the Austin Technology Council.
Below is the full list of tech wages compiled by EMSI, excluding industries that had no workers or "insufficient data."
| Industry Description | Number of Positions in Austin | Average Current Wages & Salaries | Average Current Total Earnings (Including Benefits) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing | 96 | $216,470 | $252,783 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing | 428 | $185,364 | $216,371 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing | 8,697 | $172,727 | $201,702 |
| Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing | 9,723 | $135,057 | $157,665 |
| Software Publishers | 5,306 | $125,847 | $150,009 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 383 | $123,380 | $143,988 |
| Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing | 36 | $117,952 | $135,519 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing | 330 | $109,148 | $128,544 |
| Satellite Telecommunications | 17 | $104,350 | $125,849 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 36 | $108,069 | $125,603 |
| Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables | 502 | $107,298 | $125,179 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | 4,415 | $103,141 | $124,321 |
| Computer Systems Design Services | 13,049 | $104,912 | $119,918 |
| Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 336 | $100,544 | $117,374 |
| Engineering Services | 10,550 | $102,309 | $117,056 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services | 20,722 | $102,035 | $116,644 |
| Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 730 | $98,529 | $114,891 |
| Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 2,503 | $96,524 | $112,715 |
| Other Computer Related Services | 1,291 | $94,620 | $107,964 |
| All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 247 | $80,448 | $107,464 |
| Research and Development in Biotechnology | 990 | $93,743 | $107,234 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology) | 2,637 | $93,476 | $106,673 |
| Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing | 86 | $91,900 | $106,631 |
| Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing | 219 | $90,389 | $106,604 |
| Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers | 18,976 | $89,464 | $102,160 |
| Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing | 42 | $87,222 | $99,904 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers | 5,530 | $80,418 | $98,116 |
| Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals | 892 | $83,679 | $97,583 |
| Computer Training | 211 | $77,352 | $93,677 |
| Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) | 1,389 | $75,671 | $92,142 |
| All Other Telecommunications | 160 | $74,398 | $89,212 |
| Telecommunications Resellers | 580 | $70,387 | $85,730 |
| Testing Laboratories | 781 | $74,585 | $85,473 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services | 268 | $76,302 | $85,421 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals | 1,851 | $73,484 | $82,594 |
| Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing | 20 | $71,049 | $79,053 |
| Totalizing Fluid Meter and Counting Device Manufacturing | 369 | $66,720 | $77,802 |
| Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing | 164 | $60,374 | $69,788 |
| Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing | 2,560 | $54,070 | $63,106 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing | 467 | $41,623 | $48,583 |
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