A Top Tech Location in the U.S.

In Fairfax County, the power of ideas is so strong that it’s shaping emerging tech industries and creating new products.

There’s more to Fairfax County than thriving healthcare and real estate industries. On the heels of Amazon’s HQ2 landing in NoVa (Arlington), tech talent, startups, and tech companies realized the extreme benefits of Fairfax County’s local economy and location. Our companies, universities and government (gov) agencies are at the forefront of emerging technologies, supported by an ecosystem of incubators, venture capital/private equity and workforce development.

Like Silicon Valley, but with more potential to be tapped into, Fairfax County, encompassing Arlington and Alexandria, is a hub for key emerging technologies. Examples include social media, artificial intelligence/machine learning, blockchain, drones, cybersecurity, autonomous driving, augmented/virtual reality, Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing such as 3D printing, and fusion energy. With these systems trending toward success, Fairfax County is one of the best locations for both established tech companies and fresh entrepreneurs.

Tech professionals know that the NoVa area is one of the finest for software development. The key U.S. cities located in NoVa make it one of the best regions in recent years for tech startups, rivaling Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, and others.

The opportunities for entrepreneurship in the tech sector have developed a hotspot of new ideas for the technology industry. The attractive tech jobs have brought talent from California, Texas, New York City, and more to the area. This growing tech scene and thus tech salary have helped NoVa beat out Denver, Raleigh, Dallas, and Chicago.

Fairfax County: A Major Tech Hub

The Northern Virginia (NoVa) region is also home to prime education, from Fairfax County public schools to prestigious universities. The region’s highly educated workforce ensures that the supply and pipeline of tech talent remain strong within the county. According to Tech Crunch, the Washington, D.C., metro area boasts the most concentrated tech talent market in the country after the San Francisco Bay Area. The region is a booming tech hub.

Annually, there are more than 15,000 tech workers completing degrees across the region. These skilled, young professionals with prestigious degrees are perfect candidates for new IT jobs in the tech industry. 

NoVa has also become an appealing place for young IT candidates across the country, from Los Angeles to Colorado, to Florida, and more. Other tech areas, such as Houston and San Diego, have become less competitive in recent times. The recent advancements in opportunities for young IT professionals from cities such as Tampa, Baltimore, and Fort Worth have turned NoVa into the perfect spot to attract talent. Whether from across the country from Huntsville, Texas, or nearby, as close as Georgia, NoVa has become the region for IT advancement.

The region has strong partnerships with universities and companies like Appian and Capital One. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority also partners with leading trade associations and advocacy organizations. Examples include the Chamber of Digital Commerce and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, AFCEA, and ACT-IAC.

The City of Fairfax and Fairfax County is an ideal location for emerging technology companies. As for long-term established tech giants, Microsoft operates data centers in Fairfax and Loudoun County.

Exploring a new region for office expansion? Let us help.

David Kelley

Director, National Business Investment

dkelley@fceda.org
703-790-0600
LinkedIn

Rankings & Facts

170K+

tech workers

15K+

tech degrees awarded annually by 45 regional colleges and universities

68K+

software developers

10K+

Number of tech establishments

233K

workers employed in computer and mathematical occupations in the D.C. metropolitan area, more than twice the concentration nationally.

16%

tech labor costs are 16% lower in Fairfax County than in the San Francisco Bay area

Top players driving innovation in Fairfax County

Four tech giants expand operations in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia