Section 05
Tech Occupations
Technology workers today are present in virtually every industry
As technology has permeated most businesses and become increasingly important to company competitiveness, industries such as banking, media, and health care now employ larger numbers of tech workers. To estimate the number of tech occupations that exist across all industries, 85 separate five-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes were reviewed, focusing primarily on STEM-driven roles.
Using this methodology, the data show that 467,170 workers in North Carolina are employed in tech occupations
This number is higher than the 328,410 workers employed directly by the tech industry, indicating that a significant share of tech occupations exists outside traditional technology companies. About 34% of tech occupation jobs are located within the tech industry, a share that has been trending downward since the initial report. The remaining tech workers are employed across other industries, from manufacturing to finance.
Source: EL estimates based on Lightcast 2025.4
Staffing Patterns of Tech Industries & Tech Occupations, 2024
Total Tech Occupations
When compared with the rest of the nation, tech occupations are an area in which North Carolina leads. The state ranks in the top 15 for all four of the metrics studied. North Carolina has consistently ranked in the top 10 states for historical growth rates and moved into the top spot in this year’s report.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Tech Occupations Employment Concentration (2024) |
1.06 |
12 |
|
Tech Occupations Job Change (2019-2024) |
33.4% |
1 |
|
Expected Tech Occupations Job Change (2025-2030) |
8.5% |
13 |
|
Median Annual Earnings Adjusted for Purchasing Power (2024) |
$103,354 |
9 |
Tech Occupations 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
