Section 04
State Comparisons
of Tech Industry Metrics
This section of the report evaluates many of the metrics presented in Section 3, comparing North Carolina’s performance with national values and with other states
It first examines metrics for the total tech industry and then presents state comparisons for the subcategories and output groups. Tech occupation data is addressed in a later section.
Using the same methods applied to North Carolina’s tech industry, comparable metrics were calculated for the remaining states and the District of Columbia to assess how North Carolina’s tech trends compare nationally. The District of Columbia is included in the charts but excluded from the state rankings.
Comparing North Carolina with other states helps place the state’s performance in context by identifying both strengths and areas that may need additional attention
The following charts list all metrics measured for North Carolina’s tech sector and the state’s corresponding ranking among the states.
Total Tech Industry
North Carolina ranks in the top 15 states for three of the six indicators evaluated for the total tech sector. The ranking for cost-of-living-adjusted earnings slipped out of the top 15 in this year’s report. North Carolina’s five-year job change rate has remained strong for many years; the state ranked 7th for past job growth. North Carolina has continued to rank in the top 15 states for this metric. Projected future growth is also strong and ranks as the 9th highest in the country. The state continues to lead in the percentage of women in the tech industry.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
Technology Sector Employment Concentration (2024) |
1.00 |
17 |
|
Technology Sector Employment Growth (2019-2024) |
19.2% |
7 |
|
Expected Technology Sector Employment Growth (2025-2030) |
9.7% |
9 |
|
Average Annual Wage for Technology Sector Employees with Purchasing Power (2024) |
$157,356 |
18 |
|
Percentage of Women in the Technology Workforce (2024) |
37.4% |
1 |
|
Tech Industry Diversity Index (2024) |
78.6 |
21 |
Total Tech 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
Source: EL calculations based on Lightcast 2025.4
Total IT Industry
North Carolina ranked in the top 15 for three out of the four metrics evaluated for the IT subsector. Average earnings for employees ranked just outside the top 15 at 17th place. For historical five-year growth rates, North Carolina has remained one of the fastest-growing states for IT jobs. The state moved back into the top ten this year.
| Metric | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
|
IT Sector Employment Concentration (2024) |
1.03 |
13 |
|
IT (Tech Core) Employment Growth (2019-2024) |
20.5% |
10 |
|
Expected IT Sector Employment Growth (2025-2030) |
11.0% |
9 |
|
Average Annual Wage for IT Sector Employees with Purchasing Power (2024) |
$168,916 |
17 |
IT 5-Year Job Change by Percentage and State Ranking
