Smartasset’s “Best Cities for Women in Tech” rankings list has just come out, and the District of Columbia was once again at the top of the list.
According to a recently published study conducted by the financial technology company Smartasset.com, Washington, D.C., is the place to be for women who work in the technology sector. The District was ranked No. 1 for the fourth consecutive year as the number of tech jobs has increased by 33 percent since 2013 -- and because 38.5 percent of tech jobs in D.C. are currently held by females. Smartasset’s rankings were determined by an analysis of gender pay gaps and the increase in the number of women holding tech positions, as well as gross income after deducting housing costs. The study found that, despite being the birthplace of countless startups and highly successful computer and internet companies, cities in California tended to rank lower on the list. In fact, only one Cali town, Fremont, made it into the top 15.
Four main categories were used to calculate an overall index on a scale of 0-100, and Washington, D.C.’s index ranking was nearly 10 percentage points higher than the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked cities. Baltimore took the third spot on the list with an 80.39 index (compared to Washington, D.C.’s 90.31 index), while Philadelphia’s 77.97 index earned the Pennsylvania capital the fourth best ranking.
Of the rankings within the four different categories, D.C.’s strong points were employment growth over a four-year period, the number of tech jobs filled by women, and disparity in the gender pay gap while still remaining strong in the average income of women after housing costs. ,In each respective category, the District ranked well above the national averages.
To view Smartasset’s rankings list, statistical findings and analyses, click here.
