As the capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is well known for being one of the best places to live in the state. With a mix of urban and suburban living, famous parks and wildlife, and – most importantly for tech professionals – a growing reputation as a technology hub, there’s a reason so many tech professionals are moving there.
Let’s take a look at the top 4 reasons why Columbia, South Carolina is one of the best places to live and work, if you’re a tech professional.
1. Columbia has become a dominant tech hub for the region
If you’re a tech professional considering Columbia as your next work destination, there will be one thing at the forefront of your mind: what’s it like for tech professionals? Well, in short…it’s fantastic!
Columbia has a reputation as a great place to do business and work in tech, and for good reason. It’s in the top 5 for high-tech employment growth, is one of the top 50 places to start a business in the US, and was recently rated a top 3 college technology incubator to watch.
And, to top it off, it has some of the most affordable housing in the region and a reputation for being an incredible place to live.
In the words of one website,
“Columbia is home to a highly-educated workforce and very reliable talent pipeline, via our local universities. It’s a city that appeals to millennials and has a track record for technology innovation to support the insurance industry. This is what makes Columbia a go-to city for software and IT service companies, as well as technology professionals.”
In fact, the city has seen a genuine boom in technology and IT infrastructure in the past few years, with many big tech companies opening headquarters and offices, or investing in their operations in the area, including:
IBM
Opened a $25 million Center for Applied Innovation in 2016 to develop real-world applications for the Internet of Things
Capgemini
Opened a new Advanced Technology and Security Operations center in the city after purchasing an insurance technology start-up there
VC3
Headquartered in Columbia and provides information technology design and services to hundreds of companies and municipalities across the country
TrueMatter
As “the user experience experts for app, website and digital product design”, TrueMatter relocated their firm to the BullStreet District in 2019
Vän Robotics
Produced the first desktop-sized smart robot to tutor children, are located in Columbia
2. In Columbia, you can get paid to train as a certified Azure Developer
Forgive us for sneaking in one of our paid Microsoft training and placement opportunities, but trust us, we really think you’ll want to hear it!
We have an opportunity that is perfect for professionals with tech experience, who are interested in learning Microsoft – which owns one of the most in-demand suite of cloud technology products on the market.
And the best part of all? With that demand, comes high salaries and a plethora of job opportunities. In fact, experienced Azure Developers can earn fantastic salaries and choose from a wide range of jobs, because it’s an incredibly candidate-driven market.
So if you’re a developer with experience in both front and back end and you’d like to get paid to cross-train as a Microsoft Azure Developer, you can apply by clicking the CTA below:
To find out more about training as an Azure Developer with Revolent
If you’re successful, you’ll receive paid training, funded certifications and work placements with some of the best brands in our sector.
Plus, as part of our commitment to creating incredible talent as an officially recognized Microsoft Learning Partner, we’ll provide successful applicants with a custom learning and development plan and a personal career development coach.
Essentially, it’s an opportunity to get paid as you become Microsoft-certified (something which can cost thousands in both time and money!) and to work with some of the best-known brands in tech.
3. Current residents love it
Niche.com a popular search aggregator site collected reviews of Columbia from current residents and recent movers and rated it 4 out of 5 stars from a total of 620 reviews, something which very few places achieve!
From the vibrant neighbourhoods, to the incredible museums, and earning-potential afforded to tech professionals, here’s what people had to say:
4. Columbia is only just getting started as a “tech giant”
There are reams of tech money pouring into Columbia, not just to help it grow as a tech hub, but also to ensure it remains one in the future. In fact, big firms, co-operatives, and start-ups alike have seen the growing potential for tech in Columbia, that they are making direct efforts to ensure it continues to grow in the future.
Take GrowCo a collaborative partnership backed by giants such like Nelson Mullins. This collaborative organization is committed to helping expand and grow the current explosion of entrepreneurial activity in Columbia. And they’re providing mentorship, access to talent, and funds to help do just that, with aims to “10X the number of Inc. 5000 companies in Columbia, in the next 10 years.”
In fact, the aim of many of these organizations is to realize the potential for Columbia to become the next “Silicon Harbor”, something which seems entirely achievable in the next few years.
Plus, with over 22,000 people employed in IT & Office industries regionally, 10,000 new college graduates annually, and a recent rating of “Top 5 US city for high-tech employment”, Columbia’s reputation as a tech hub is only going to increase.
Clearly, there’s a reason tech professionals are flocking to Columbia, and it’s not just the incredible parks, local attractions, or affordable housing prices – it’s because Columbia is becoming a destination for tech workers in the US.
