The most recent Tech Talent Report from CBRE noted Pittsburgh as having some of the highest quality tech talent in the United States. Carnegie Mellon University remains steadfast at the forefront of robotics and software engineering and helped develop a deep talent pool in Pittsburgh that attracted some of the country’s largest tech companies. The concentration of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Uber only further strengthened the growing community of experienced tech talent. This community led to a 20% growth in tech jobs from 2013 to 2018 for a total employment count of more than 45,000 people.



Along with having exceptional high-end talent, the average cost of labor is $79,817 for a tech professional, which is on the lower end compared to other U.S. metros. Pittsburgh’s cost of living also ranked near the bottom in the nation with average apartment rents of $1,127 per month. When looking at the full picture, Pittsburgh, with its combined low cost of labor, low cost of living and low real estate rents, figures to be one of the most affordable markets not only to comparable cities but when stacked against top metros in the U.S. overall. These positive attributes give technology companies an affordable option to locate in Pittsburgh with opportunities to expand operations using high-quality labor.