The Buffalo metro technology sector is still relatively small compared to its other metro peers, but the local industry is growing slowly.
That’s the main takeaway based on a new deep dive into tech salaries by tech trade association CompTIA, which found the median national tech wage of $100,615 was 103% higher than the median national wage.
Data comes from 2021, the most recently available information, but the hot talent market of the past two years likely took the national median significantly higher — with tech industry workers seeing some of the most substantial gains, according to recruiters.
Local technology employment and salary data is one way to measure the growth of the sector and how it competitively stacks up to other metros, where the Buffalo metro could potentially draw in employers and workers. Business First also tracks annual venture capital funding totals.
The technology industry’s growth can impact and benefit other parts of the local economy, and numerous state and local funding has been allocated to doing just that. Take 43North’s annual pitch startup competition as just one example.
"This area is growing its technology industry very slowly but it seems to be moving in the proper direction," said Timothy Glass, state labor department’s Western New York labor market analyst.
Buffalo, a smaller metro, ranked 46th for net tech employment in CompTIA’s 2022 estimates of 51 U.S. metro areas employment levels. The area had about 23,000 technology employees as of 2022.
However, Buffalo came in 35th when it comes to net tech jobs added from 2021 to 2022. (The metro added about 679 net tech jobs that year, according to the estimates.) Gauging net tech jobs added in 2022 based on percentage increase means Buffalo gets bumped up to No. 18 with a 3% jump.
Still, technology remains a relatively small part of the Buffalo metro’s overall economy. 4.4% to be exact.
And that’s unlikely to change soon. The metro is projected to add 316 net tech roles in 2023, which is a 1.4% year-over-year increase.
"These jobs are covering the gamut of industries," Glass said.
He also pointed out that there are plenty of jobs that work alongside technology or that use technology that aren't necessarily classified as tech occupations. Take many manufacturing roles nowadays, for example.
Lead local tech occupations based on the CompTIA study's employment numbers include: software; programmers, web and quality assurance; IT support specialist and repair technicians; and network engineers, architects and support roles.
Estimated median tech wage is $80,228, 84% higher than Buffalo’s median metro wage.
Many of these roles also require some sort of degree and then upskilling as their careers progress, according to Glass, which can benefit local colleges.
Below is the breakdown of how states fare when it comes to tech salaries:
Jim Dallke of American Inno contributed to this story.
