Methodology

Digital Tech Occupations with SOC codes:

SOC Occupation Title
15-1211 Computer Systems Analysts
15-1212 Information Security Analysts
15-1221 Computer and Information Research Scientists
15-1231 Computer Network Support Specialists
15-1232 Computer User Support Specialists
15-1241 Computer Network Architects
15-1242 Database Administrators
15-1243 Database Architects
15-1244 Network and Computer Systems Administrators
15-1251 Computer Programmers
15-1252 Software Developers
15-1253 Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
15-1254 Web Developers
15-1255 Web and Digital Interface Designers
15-1299 Computer Occupations, All Other
17-2061 Computer Hardware Engineers
17-2071 Electrical Engineers
17-2072 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
17-3012 Electrical and Electronics Drafters
17-3023 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
17-3024 Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
15-2051 Data Scientist
15-2099 Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other

The occupations (SOCs) included on the Occupations page had to meet the following two thresholds:

High Demand

  • Projected annual growth for SOC > average projected annual growth for all occupations in at least one MSA in the region AND
  • Current demand for SOC > average current demand for all occupations in at least one MSA in the region

Family Sustaining Wage

  • The salary earned by the average entry level worker exceeds the living wage for that MSA (1 adult, 1 child)
  • Time period: 2025
  • Source: United Way’s ALICE Wage Calculator
    Note: Previously, the Partnership used MIT’s Living Wage Calculator to determine whether a role offered a family-sustaining wage. Most jobs, however, no longer meet this threshold, limiting its usefulness for assessing job quality. In 2025, the Partnership shifted to United Way’s ALICE Wage Calculator, which serves as a more useful benchmark for the cost of living in a given region.

Other Definitions:

Average Entry Level Salary

  • Salary at the 10th percentile point in the earnings distribution
  • Time period: Q1 2025
  • Source: Lightcast

Current Demand

  • Annual Job ads (0-5 yrs) / current workforce for SOC (place of work)
  • October 2024 -October 2025 (entry-level jobs ads) and Q2 2025 (current workforce)
  • Source: Lightcast

Employment/Current Workforce

  • Number of jobs for a given digital tech occupation
  • Time period: Q1 2025
  • Source: Lightcast

Entry Level Job Ads

  1. Number of job ads advertising 0-5 years of experience
  2. Time period: October 2024 – October 2025
  3. Source: Lightcast

Median Salary

  • Median earnings of the incumbent workforce
  • Time period: Q2 2025
  • Source: Lightcast

Preferred Certifications

  • Top certifications requested in job postings requesting 0-5 yrs exp and a BA or less, by SOC.
    Note: only certifications included in 10% or more of job postings are listed in the ESS.
  • Time period: October 2024 – October 2025
  • Source: Lightcast

Projected Annual Growth

  • The forecasted annual number of new jobs over one year
  • Time period: Q2 2025
  • Source: Lightcast

Top 10 Skills Requested

  • Top ten skill subcategories requested in job postings requesting 0-5 years experience and a BA or less, by SOC
  • Time period: October 2024 – October 2025
  • Source: Lightcast