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Think You Have to Move to Silicon Valley to Work in Tech? Think Again

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If you listened to the hype, you'd think that Silicon Valley was the only place to live for tech types. This is partly because every media outlet that covers technology is fully engaged in Facebook IPO Watch 2012, and partly because, yes, there are a lot of tech jobs in the Bay Area. However, this area isn't the only place to live if you want one of these gigs. Heck, it might not even be the best.

Forbes contributors Joel Kotkin and Mark Schill developed a ranking system that measures growth in the tech industry as a whole — meaning that they looked at internet, data processing, and software jobs, but also included jobs in the STEM sector. (That's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, for the acronym-averse.) Their findings might surprise you.

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash., took the top spot on their list. The Seattle area experienced a 12 percent job growth in tech over the past two years and a 7.6 percent growth in STEM jobs.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria came in second, thanks to over 20 percent growth in both tech and STEM jobs — supported by a hefty boost from government spending in these areas.

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San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos was third on the list, with a whopping 30 percent growth in tech and 13 percent growth in STEM jobs over the past ten years. (15.7 percent and 6.5 percent over the past two years.)

See the rest of their list here.

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(Photo Credit: Alia Shahira/Flickr)

Jen Hubley Luckwaldt
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