IT
Greater Seattle is home to the largest cloud computing companies in the world.
Fastest Growing Tech Hub in the U.S.
Home of Amazon and Microsoft, Greater Seattle may well be the cloud capital of the world, and the rich history of innovation has fostered the region’s leadership in sectors including AI, Cybersecurity, BioTech, Fintech, Mobility, VR/XR and more. Today, the technology industry generates a stunning total annual economic impact of $142.2 billion and 203,096 jobs and projected growth of 15% by 2028 for the Greater Seattle region.
Strength in Numbers
Our pioneering spirit has revolutionized software development, cloud computing, enterprise applications and e-commerce.
Billion
Economic Impact
Billion
Venture Capital in 2023
Direct Jobs
Earnings in 2023
Projected Growth by 2028
IT & Gaming Companies in Greater Seattle
More than 30,400 IT companies are located in Washington State, from iconic household names to innovative independent studios. Nearly 245,000 people are employed in technology-related jobs statewide.
The region’s rich history of art, music, literature and software development converge to make it a leading hub for the video game industry.
Today, Washington state ranks No. 2 in the nation for annual video game industry economic output, supporting a total of 28,424 jobs and an economic output of $13.9 billion (Source: Entertainment Software Association).
Leading IT & Gaming Companies in Greater Seattle
Map of Leading IT & Gaming Companies Located in Greater Seattle
IT Startups Driving Unprecedented Growth
Greater Seattle’s ecosystem of innovation and invention in the IT space is driven by a world-class research institution, over 100 engineering centers which attract and retain talent, committed venture capitalists, angels, experienced mentors, rigorous incubators and accelerators, and workspaces to support rapid prototyping and growth.
Where You Can Think Outside the Box and Work Inside a Forest
IT companies in the Greater Seattle area are making significant strides in sustainability by focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable product development. They invest in energy-efficient LEED-certified data centers and office buildings and employ advanced cooling technologies and renewable energy sources.
Major players like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have committed to using 100% renewable energy, purchasing directly from producers through power purchase agreements.
Additionally, these companies are developing eco-friendly products and services, such as energy-efficient devices and green cloud computing, while striving for carbon neutrality through emission reductions and carbon offset projects.
Leveraging artificial intelligence and smart infrastructure, these companies address environmental challenges by optimizing energy usage, monitoring ecosystems, and developing smart city solutions. Through these comprehensive strategies, Greater Seattle’s IT sector is leading the charge in advancing sustainability and combating climate change.
Our co-workers are definitely characters.
Qualifying and Diversifying Tech Talent
A mature IT ecosystem not only develops capable talent for existing and emerging industries, but it also helps to accrete new talent, building a mutually reinforcing cycle of talent development and new business attraction.
- The Seattle area is the second-ranked market overall for tech talent in North America, trailing only the San Francisco Bay Area and outpacing New York City, Washington, D.C., and Toronto (Source: “Scoring Tech Talent” CBR, 2023)
- Ranked No. 1 metro in the nation for STEM professionals (Source: Wallethub, 2022)
- Top 10 most innovative region in the world (Source: JLL, 2022)
- $289,619 IT industry average salary (Lightcast, 2024)
- More than 30 percent of tech degree graduates in Seattle universities were female, making it one of the most gender-diverse markets for tech degree graduates (Source: CBRE 2021)
- Seattle also stands out as a top tech job creator. The market ranked second for “brain gain,” meaning it added 29,336 more tech jobs than there were tech degrees earned in the market over the past five years. (Source: CBRE 2021)
- Seattle’s millennial population aged 22 to 36 grew the fastest among major tech markets since 2014 at nearly 22 percent. Seattle is also the second-most concentrated millennial market behind Austin, Texas, with about one-third of Seattle’s population in this cohort (Source: CBRE 2021)
Talent from around the world is drawn here by our entrepreneurial spirit, culture of collaboration and the chance to be on the ground floor of bleeding-edge innovation and experimentation in mobile, gaming, quantum computing, blockchain, augmented/virtual reality, artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
World-Class Research Universities & Trade Associations
The sector is also supported by several world-class research universities and a national laboratory – one of only 10 in the United States.
Latest News
Connecting Underserved Communities: Comcast Advances Digital Equity in Washington
Learn about Comcast’s efforts to advance digital equity in Washington State by investing in expanding internet access, particularly in underserved communities, and supporting digital skills training, small businesses, and community initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide.
IT Incentives
Incentives and tax credits help IT companies in Washington State reduce costs, invest in innovation, and grow their operations, contributing to the state’s robust technology sector.
No personal state income tax
No corporate income tax.
Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credits
Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Machinery and Equipment (M&E)
Workforce Training Assistance
Clean Energy Fund: supports the development of clean energy technologies, which can include IT solutions for energy efficiency and smart grid technologies.
Data Center Tax Incentives
Innovation Partnership Zones: IPZs are designated areas that encourage collaboration between businesses, government, and educational institutions to foster innovation and economic development.
Other project-specific state & local programs
Ready to take advantage of everything greater Seattle has to offer?