Introduction

Austin, Texas has become a leading hub for technical innovation and startup culture in the US.

Austin ranked #5 overall in CBRE’s 2024 Scoring Tech Talent Report, with its tech workforce growing 29% between 2018 and 2023 – the highest growth rate of any US tech market.

“Austin’s tech labor market is constantly evolving, from its origins in government, higher education, and semiconductors to the dot-com era of software development and entrepreneurship to more recently over the last ten years, with major multinational companies planting flags here or significantly expanding footprints here.”

Nate Stricklen, Vice Chairman, CBRE

Why is Austin popular among tech companies?

Austin, Texas has become a popular spot for both emerging startups and major names. One of the biggest draws is its young, educated population. Over half of Austin’s residents aged 25+ have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, making it the third most educated of the 50 leading US tech markets behind DC and San Francisco. The University of Texas at Austin is a particularly strong college for technical graduates.

Another draw is the lower costs, both operational and living costs. Compared to areas like Silicon Valley, Austin has a lower cost of living and more affordable commercial real estate, allowing both startups and leading companies to grow and scale.

Furthermore, Austin offers a uniquely business-friendly environment; Texas has no state income tax, and Austin in particular offers favorable tax policies and other incentives like property tax abatements.

Some of the leading companies who have made their home in Austin include:

• Dell Technologies, the leading technology company
• Bumble, the prolific dating mobile application
• Whole Foods, the nationwide grocery retailer
• Tesla, who’s Gigafactory opened in Austin in 2020
• Indeed, the global employment platform
• Apple, who built a $1bn campus in Austin in 2019
• Electronic Arts, the gaming company famous for FIFA and The Sims

Austin also has a thriving startup scene, boasting famous names like Jasper.ai and Gusto. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Austin startups raised a record-breaking $3.4bn, followed by a $1.3bn second quarter.

How many developers are in Austin?

Austin is home to just under 100,000 tech professionals, with the majority of these, about 62%, working as software developers, according to CBRE.

Furthermore, tech jobs account for 16.3% of all positions in Austin, significantly higher than the 9% national average.

However, this still isn’t enough to meet demand. Austin outranks both LA and San Francisco in 2025 for tech job openings, coming third nationwide, according to Bioscience LA.

Is it hard to hire a developer in Austin?

As a major tech hub, it can be hard to find highly skilled developers in Austin that fit your budget. Austin has a highly competitive tech talent market, with startups and small businesses struggling to compete with the salaries and benefits offered by major players in the region.

Talent retention can also be a challenge, with many developers looking to start their own companies as a result of Austin’s strong startup culture.

As a result, many companies in Austin are turning to dedicated tech hiring platforms like HireDevelopers.com to simplify the process of hiring developers and tech talent in Austin and across Texas. These platforms offer a faster alternative to traditional hiring, offering thousands of pre-vetted engineers currently looking for new opportunities.

How much does it cost to hire a developer in Austin?

According to Built In, the average annual compensation for a software developer in Austin is $159,825 around $30,000 more than the national average for software developers in the United States and over $100,000 more than the national average salary for all jobs in the US.

With pre-vetted platforms like HireDevelopers.com, companies in Austin can save up to 80% on salaries and hiring costs.

How to hire a developer in Austin

The first step to hiring a developer in Austin is to decide on a hiring method. Traditional hiring methods include local job adverts, LinkedIn job posts and using your professional network to identify potential candidates.

However, these methods are often time consuming and can be expensive. The median time to hire a developer is around 41 days, with the slowest 10% taking up to 82 days and 38% of companies reporting project delays due to recruitment problems, according to the Linux Foundation’s 2024 State of Tech Talent Report.

Alternatively, many companies are now turning to services like HireDevelopers.com to cut costs and speed up the hiring process. With HireDevelopers.com, you can hire Austin developers at any price point and in just 24 hours.

You should also consider using coding challenges alongside a traditional interview during the hiring process – if you’re using a pre-vetted talent pool like HireDevelopers.com, this has already been done for you. Coding challenges allow you to assess problem-solving skills and coding expertise in a realistic, real-time environment.

If you need help putting together a job description or conducting a job interview, you can check out our helpful and comprehensive guides below. Alternatively, to cut your time-to-hire by 90% and unlock savings of up to 80%, get in touch and book your free HireDevelopers.com consultation today.

Why hire Austin developers with HireDevelopers?

Hiring the right Austin developer for your team is a huge undertaking, and the process can be intimidating, especially for startups and small businesses.

At HireDevelopers.com, our pre-vetted, global tech talent marketplace streamlines your hiring journey and cuts time-to-hire by over 90% without compromising on quality or stretching your budget. Receive a custom shortlist of top developers at any seniority level and at any price point within just 24 hours of your consultation.

Plus, we’ll handle all payroll, legal compliance and HR completely for free, giving you more time to start building with your new Austin dev.

Get in touch today and start hiring top-notch Austin developers in just 24 hours with HireDevelopers.com