Michigan’s technology industry employment grew by an estimated 5.1% in 2016, the MichiganTech News reports. The good news comes from the annual Cyberstates 2017 report from CompTIA. The technology association found that Michigan employers added more than 10,700 new tech jobs in 2016.
The survey also found that Michigan ranks 10th among the 50 states for tech industry employment with an estimated 221,994 workers. Michigan was in the top five states for 2016 tech industry job growth on a percentage change basis.
Technology occupations across all other industries in Michigan – the second part of the tech workforce – reached an estimated 271,900 in 2016. The tech sector accounts for an estimated 6.6 percent of the overall Michigan economy. The tech industry employs an estimated 5.3 percent of the overall state workforce. Leading tech occupations state-wide include:
- Mechanical engineers (42,610),
- Industrial engineers (25,500) and
- Computer user support specialists (20,130).
The metro-Detroit area leading tech jobs are:
- Software and Web Developers 11,434
- Network Architects, Admins, & Support 10,379
- Systems & Cybersecurity Analysts 9,441
- Computer Support Specialists 1,437
- Database Administrators 1,437
The annualized average wage for a Michigan tech industry worker was an estimated $89,200 in 2016, 77% higher than the average state wage ($50,400). Michigan ranks 21st nationally in average tech industry wages.
Other Key Findings
Michigan ranks 27th among all states in the Cyberstates 2017 Innovation Score, which is based on an analysis of new tech patents, tech startups, and new tech business establishments on a per capita basis.
Michigan is home to an estimated 11,223 tech business establishments. The Detroit metropolitan area is home to more than one-third of these businesses (4,174).
The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of:
- Engineering services (+ 8.3%)
- R&D and testing labs (+ 5.4%) and
- Computer systems design and IT services (+ 5.1%).
Employers posted more than 28,600 job openings for tech occupations in Q4 2016.
“The Cyberstates data affirms the strength and vitality of Michigan’s tech industry, and attests to its essential standing in the economy,” Todd Thibodeaux, president, and CEO of, CompTIA said in a presser. “Technology enables innovation and generates growth for companies, regardless of their size, locale or markets served.”
Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.