Imagine being able to launch or advance your technology career while enjoying four distinct seasons, affordable living and economic prosperity. Sound enticing? Then the expanding tech hub of Nebraska deserves your attention.
Known for agricultural roots and family-friendly Midwestern values, Nebraska‘s largest cities Omaha and Lincoln have cultivated something else: a thriving environment for startups and innovative companies that compensates technical talent handsomely.
Read on for an insider perspective on the Cornhusker State‘s emergent "Silicon Prairie" and the wealth of opportunities for tech professionals.
Nebraska‘s Meteoric Tech Sector Rise
With venture capital investments in Nebraska companies topping $300 million in 2020, the state is gaining recognition as an unexpected tech leader. Capital builds upon Nebraska‘s existing foundation around education, research and an abundant talent pipeline.
Homegrown startups are choosing to stay and scale up across the plains. In Omaha, once solely associated with billionaire Warren Buffett, exciting firms are emerging in fintech, cybersecurity, supply chain logistics and beyond.
Cloud enterprise platform builders Flywheel, healthcare analytics provider Primaris and authentication specialists Data Shield Cyber Security represent just a sampling of disruptors driving economic growth. Creighton University research indicates that between 2011 and 2018, wages in Omaha‘s tech sector rose nearly 20%, outpacing average national tech wage gains.
Rising stars are settling in thanks to business-friendly perks. Look no further than cloud communication platform Twilio, which opened a regional engineering hub in Lincoln in 2021, swayed by tax incentives amongst other prime talent factors. Google also chose Lincoln for a new IT support center in 2020, investing $700 million alongside Nebraska‘s public universities to expand skills training.
Make no mistake, Nebraska has no plans to cede its Silicon Prairie momentum. The state recently launched a $100 million innovation fund primed to back high-potential startups in coming years.
Well-Paid Positions Abound Across the State
With abundant tech activity spanning infrastructure modernization, operational automation and product development comes Nebraska employers ready to pay top dollar for specialized skills.
Cybersecurity talent earns over 7% higher wages in Omaha than similar roles nationally, per recent figures. Overall, salaries for critical tech occupations often match or exceed national medians:
| Role | Nebraska Salary Range | National Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Architect | $160,000 – $270,000 | $121,408 |
| Data Scientist | $109,000 – $177,000 | $108,593 |
| Software Engineer | $97,000 – $151,000 | $120,730 |
| IT Manager | $86,000 – $140,000 | $159,010 |
Solid compensation coupled with Nebraska‘s overall affordable cost of living unlocks substantial lifestyle upside. Stretching tech paychecks further, Omaha‘s median home price of roughly $225,000 is easily half that of tech strongholds like Seattle according to Zillow.
Thriving enterprises both small and gigantic need skilled technologists across domains:
Cloud & Infrastructure
- Platform engineers to architect HPE‘s Omaha cloud solutions center
- Systems administrators to evolve Mutual of Omaha‘s data centers
Software & Product Development
- Full stack engineers to refine Buildertrend‘s construction tools
- Quality assurance testers to harden Hudl‘s sports coaching apps
Data & Analytics
- Data scientists to derive insights for First National Bank
- Database architects to bolster Baker‘s retail systems
Information Security
- Security analysts to reinforce TD Ameritrade‘s trading infrastructure
- Network firewall specialists to protect policyholder records for Mutual of Omaha
Diverse businesses are investing substantially to compete through technology, fueling perpetual demand for these fields across economic cycles.
Launch Pads for Landing Coveted Roles
If these appealing Nebraska technology functions grab your interest, numerous pathways exist for skilled candidates:
Traditional College Degrees
Respected institutions like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Creighton University offer undergraduate and graduate degrees aligning with tech specializations.
UNL‘s 4-year computer science major combines software building fundamentals with concentrations in security, business and more. The school notably houses an Engineering Library and Design Studio providing hands-on project experience.
Coding Bootcamps
For those seeking accelerated skills development into areas like software engineering, coding bootcamps efficiently bridge gaps.
Omaha Code School immerses small classes in JavaScript, cloud services and other high-value languages during an intensive 14-week on campus program with tuition of $13,500. Career support helps grads land initial dev roles afterwards.
Certification Programs
Well-regarded certification bodies allow professionals to showcase expertise around managing tech environments and policies.
One illustration – earning a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential signifies mastery of cyber risk and threat evaluation techniques that Nebraska employers prioritize.
Online Learning
Alternatively, many innovators opt for economical self-education through mediums like Udemy, Coursera and Udacity‘s nanodegrees allowing you to Learn in-demand skills at your own pace. Upskilling via online platforms enables staying marketable.
Join the Silicon Prairie Surge
We‘ve only scratched the surface uncovering what makes Nebraska a land of opportunity for aspiring tech professionals seeking either first breaks or career advancement.
Attractive six-figure salaries, an affordable cost of living, high quality of life and a collaborative spirit across the state‘s industry make technology careers here undeniably appealing.
Whether you crave a vibrant new challenge or more life balance outside pressured coastal hubs, you owe it to yourself to explore rising Silicon Prairie companies ready to welcome new talent. Start mapping out your future in Nebraska‘s flourishing technology ecosystem today!
