While Vermont may be known as a rural state, more Vermonters have jobs in tech occupations and in tech industries than in any other business sector.
Vermont’s technology sector includes a diverse array of innovative companies that deliver cutting-edge products, software, and services to customers well beyond the state’s borders. With a growing reputation for launching dynamic companies and seeing them thrive here, Vermont’s tech sector now generates a quarter of Vermont’s total employment and 30% of the state’s private employment (based on 2014 data).
Software and technology companies of all kinds call Vermont home. The largest companies—like long-time anchor industry IBM (now GlobalFoundries) and Dealer.com—employ thousands. Smaller enterprises like Logic Supply, MyWebGrocer, and Global-Z International are spreading across the state. And cutting-edge companies like Vermont Systems, Game Theory, and Frame Interactive are all at the forefront of the industry.
According to a recent report by the Vermont Technology Alliance, total employment in the tech sector grew at 8.3% from 2005 to 2014 — seven times faster than employment overall — and tech sector jobs are projected to continue growing at a 7.5% annual rate from 2014 to 2022. Tech jobs generate an estimated $6.3 billion in annual wages throughout the Vermont economy, and tech workers earn over 63% more than the state average.
Vermont higher education institutions contribute to the software/IT industry with relevant programs like Champlain College’s game programming and digital forensics degrees, Norwich University’s cybersecurity degree, and research in evolutionary robotics and computation at the University of Vermont.
Annual events such as Vermont Tech Jam (job fair and tech expo), Hack VT (24-hour programming competition), Invention2Venture (tech commercialization conference), Launch VT (business pitch competition) and Peak Pitch/Road Pitch (venture capital pitch competition) help connect coders, inventors, entrepreneurs, and mentors — and keep ramping up the momentum of Vermont’s tech ecosystem.
KEY FACTS AND FIGURES
Jobs
Billion in annual tech wages
Annual growth rate in tech employment
Average annual wage in the tech sector
[Source: Vermont Technology Alliance]
REPRESENTATIVE VERMONT COMPANIES IN SOFTWARE AND IT
Region | Location | ||
---|---|---|---|
Ai Squared | 7372 Software/Computer | Southern | Manchester Center |
asicNorth | 7371 Computer Services | Northwest | Williston |
BioTek Instruments | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Winooski |
Competitive Computing | 4822 Internet Services; 7373 Computer Systems; 7379 Computer Consultants | Northwest | Colchester |
Comtech TCS | 7372 Software/Computer; 7389 Business Services/Nec | Northeast | Saint Johnsbury |
Dealer.com | 7336 Design/Graphic/Website; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Burlington |
GE Healthcare | 7371 Computer Services; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | South Burlington |
GlobalFoundries | 3674 Semi-conductors | Northwest | Essex Junction |
Harmony Information Systems | 7371 Computer Services; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Essex Junction |
Inntopia | 4724 Travel Agents | Northeast | Stowe |
iSystems | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | South Burlington |
Logic Supply | 7373 Computer Systems | Northwest | South Burlington |
Mach7 Technologies | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | South Burlington |
MBF Bioscience | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Williston |
MED Associates Inc. | 3821 Lab Equipment; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | St. Albans |
MyWebGrocer | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Winooski |
The Physician's Computer Company | 5734 Computer Equip Sales; 7371 Computer Services; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Winooski |
Par Springer-Miller Systems | 7372 Software/Computer; 7389 Business Services/Nec | Northeast | Stowe |
Small Dog Electronics | 5734 Computer Equip Sales | Central | Waitsfield |
SymQuest | 7373 Computer Systems; 7629 Electronic Repair | Northwest | South Burlington |
Systems & Software | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Williston |
Technical Connection | 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Burlington |
Vermont Information Processing | 7371 Computer Services; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Colchester |
Vermont Systems | 7371 Computer Services; 7372 Software/Computer | Northwest | Essex Junction |
Vertek Corp | 7371 Computer Services | Northwest | Colchester |