Are you considering a career move into the coveted and lucrative technology sector? Well I‘ve got insider knowledge to share with you on an under-the-radar Midwest city that‘s positioned as a blossoming hub for top-paying jobs in high-demand tech occupations – Columbus, Ohio.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide an insider‘s overview of Columbus‘ surging technology industry, then profile the 7 highest salary tech jobs currently taking off in the city based on exclusive analysis of real market data. For each role, I share inside understanding of core duties, must-have skills, average pay benchmarks, active hiring companies, and tips to fast-track your candidacy.
So if you‘re exploring new, well-compensated technology career paths in an affordable city with major growth upside, stick with me through this deep-dive into the tech job market of Columbus, Ohio!
Quick Snapshot: Columbus‘ Rising Technology Industry
Before diving into specifics on the city‘s 7 top tech jobs, let me quickly sum up why Columbus is an emerging player for in-demand technology careers:
- Major venture capital funding pouring into Columbus startups annually – over $350M invested in 2020!
- 7,500+ STEM degrees granted yearly from schools like Ohio State University means access to skilled, young tech talent
- Success stories like insurance disruptor Root‘s rise to $6B valuation inspires confidence in the region‘s startup potential
- Lower than average cost of living compared to other tech cities allows salaries to stretch further
Fueled by capital, talent and early wins, Columbus‘ tech industry has achieved critical momentum. Read on for specifics on how to access the city‘s best high-paying technical job opportunities!
1. Enterprise Architect
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $151,865
- Top Skills Needed: Infrastructure Planning, Technical Strategy, Vendor Management
- Common Certifications: TOGAF, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect
Charged with designing the complex technology blueprint for an entire organization, the Enterprise Architect plays a critical role in building and steering an company‘s technological capabilities to drive growth and efficiency.
Day-to-day you‘ll be cooperating closely with executives and IT managers to shape long-term infrastructure plans across systems, networks and applications. You‘ll research and vet new solutions for security, storage, business intelligence – you name it! After decisions made, you‘ll oversee technical teams during rollout and ensure all pieces integrate.
With digital transformation accelerating across every industry, talented Enterprise Architects are in major demand. You‘ll find open roles across leading Columbus companies like Alliance Data, Nationwide Insurance and Cardinal Health.
Getting started generally requires 5+ years experience in solution architecture roles paired with deep technical knowledge and people leadership moxie. A master‘s degree focused in technology strategy is also preferred.
2. Data Warehouse Architect
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $130,646
- Top Skills Needed: Data Modeling, Database Administration , Analytics Architecture
- Common Certifications: Oracle DBA, AWS Data Analytics
Every company now realizes the importance of extracting maximum value from their data to support strategic moves – where Data Warehouse Architects step in as technical masters of building business intelligence infrastructure.
In the job, you‘ll collaborate with leaders across sales, marketing, finance and product teams to deeply grasp their reporting and analytic needs. You‘ll design warehouse schema and pipelines supporting those use cases. And you‘ll support expansion to new data sets and tools.
In Columbus, marquee employers like JPMorgan Chase and Cardinal Health post openings seeking Data Warehouse Architects to empower advanced analytics. Qualified candidates generally possess 5+ years direct warehouse architecture experience coupled with SQL fluency and data modeling mastery – a PhD provides upside!
3. Data Scientist
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $111,395
- Top Skills Needed: Statistical Modeling, Machine Learning, Analytics Storytelling
- Common Certifications: Cloudera Data Scientist, AWS Machine Learning
As the premier "rock stars" of the modern analytics function, Data Scientists represent the ultimate marriage between advanced technical and business acumen.
Charged with detecting hidden patterns within an organization‘s mass data ecosystem to unlock transformative efficiency improvements and strategic advantages, the Data Scientist circulates through roles of analyst, statistician and storyteller – mining gold nuggets of insight through models, visuals and narratives alike.
In Columbus, marquee innovation hubs like Root Insurance and Battelle Memorial Institute aggressively hire Data Scientists to inform breakthroughs in fintech, bio sciences, materials research and more. qualifying candidates boast PhD or Master‘s level data science academics paired with multiple years analyzing complex data sets using Python, R and other toolsets.
4. Network Security Engineer
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $111,001
- Top Skills Needed: Risk Management, Security Operations, Incident Response
- Common Certifications: CISSP, CISA, CCSP
Tasked with safeguarding an organization‘s systems, network infrastructure and data from destructive cyber attacks and unauthorized access, the mission-critical Network Security Engineer deploys a formidable defense.
Daily activities include auditing environments for vulnerabilities, designing and integrating sophisticated tools for intrusion detection and threat intelligence, monitoring networks for irregularities, and enacting incident response plans.
With attacks from hackers, viruses and ransomeware dangerously on the rise year after year, major Columbus institutions like JP Morgan Chase, Huntington Bancshares and Ohio State University all currently seek experienced Network Security Engineers to fortify defenses.
Getting hired generally requires an expert level grasp of security frameworks, protocols, risk management and infrastructure gained from 5+ years direct experience. A masters degree focused in cyber security, certifications like the CISSP and previous incident response success also key advantages.
5. Software Developer
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $98,229
- Top Skills Needed: Cloud Architecture, Containerization, Microservice Patterns
- Common Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Developer Associate
The epicenter of technological innovation – Software Developers translate ideas and requirements into breakthrough capabilities powering transformations across industries through skillfully crafted applications and programs.
Daily coding activities include designing systems architectures, authoring performant and scalable front and back-end logic from interface to database, integrating with legacy and third-party elements, testing rigorously, and supporting continuous deployment.
Columbus companies such as Root Insurance, Olive AI and CrossChx currently have hundreds of developer job openings across experience levels – though the most lucrative positions seek experts in trending architectures like distributed cloud, containers and microservices.
While some junior roles hire boot camp and computer science grads with just portfolio experience, signing for higher salary bands requires mastery gained working several years directly building, testing and shipping software.
6. User Interface Designer
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $94,562
- Top Skills Needed: Interaction Design, Visual Mockups, Style Guides
- Common Certifications: NN Group UX Certification, Google UX Design Professional Certificate
User Interface (UI) Designers focus on crafting attractive layouts, interfaces and experiences enabling users to seamlessly engage with websites, apps and software programs.
Depending on product purpose and audience, day-to-day activities include conducting user research, wireframing site maps and screen flows based on key tasks, designing appealing visual interfaces across desktop and mobile leveraging color schemes, typography and imagery, presenting prototypes and vision to stakeholders, and working closely with engineers on implementation.
In Columbus, top employers like JP Morgan Chase, Olive AI and Victoria‘s Secret manage global digital products and hire specialized UI Designers continuously to enhance online user experiences. Ideal hires possess relevant bachelor degrees in human-computer interaction or graphic design, mastery over tools like Sketch and Figma, and online portfolios or client work showcasing visual design skills.
7. Mobile Developer
- Average Base Salary in Columbus: $90,654
- Top Skills Needed: iOS, Android, React Native
- Common Certifications: Apple Certified iOS Developer, Google Associate Android Developer
Focused on building the next era of digital capabilities accessed constantly through mobile devices, Mobile Developers design, code, test and continuously improve apps enabling intuitivity and performance across smartphones and tablets.
Daily coding activities center on translating provided UX designs and wireframes into elegantly functioning iOS and Android applications leveraging languages like Swift, Java and JavaScript. You‘ll also integrate real-time data services, ensure security protections are vigilant and expand capabilities through new features.
In Columbus, all digital innovators like Root Insurance, Olive AI, CrossChx and more hire Mobile Developers to make services seamlessly accessible via mobile. Ideal candidates possess 2-3+ years professional app development experience across iOS and Android, validated through app store publications and technical assessments.
How Columbus Tech Salaries Stack Up
While absolute pay lags behind major established tech hubs like Silicon Valley and Seattle, Columbus technology salaries extend further when factoring the city‘s very affordable cost of living – offering strong buying power.
Comparing Columbus to Midwest peers, salaries exceed average compensation levels in other regional cities like Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and St. Louis – especially factoring tax rates.
So technologists seeking lucrative careers with financial upside driving digital innovation are wise to target Columbus roles – while enjoying benefits of a thriving, culture-rich Midwestern city nearly 40% below the national average cost of living!
Ready for a Well-Compensated Tech Career Move?
I hope this guide has helped demonstrate why Columbus, Ohio represents an appealing emerging hub to target for fast-growing, high salary careers in technology occupations ranging from software architecture to data analytics and user experience design!
Leveraging insider expertise of the Columbus tech marketplace based on robust data analysis, I‘ve aimed to provide you tangible details on the lucrative positions exploding locally and how you can demonstrate value to leading employers.
Does making an impact through a technical role focused on advancing how individuals and organizations operate digitally excite you? If so, consider Columbus – an welcoming city actively investing in technology innovation and talent.
Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions I can help answer on breaking into the area‘s thriving technology sector – where myriad opportunities for personal growth and financial upside exist backed by a blossoming startup scene positioned for primetime success!
