Dallas offers better access to both the East and West Coasts than other major metros in the state. With its strategic location, Dallas is also home to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the second busiest international airport in the world, just after Atlanta. DFW connects travelers and corporations to more than 300 global destinations, providing accessibility without the cost of coastal living. As diverse communities develop throughout the region, Dallas has cultivated a distinct industry blend that fuels its expanding economy.
Dallas maintains a regional GDP of over $600 billion, making the city's economy larger than several European countries. Experts consistently rank Dallas among the top U.S. cities for employment growth. The city attracts talent from across the country seeking opportunities in thriving sectors such as technology, healthcare, finance, and logistics. However, Dallas also supports a strong creative economy with strong footprints in film, music, design, and tourism. This mix of industry clusters draws a highly skilled, diverse population eager to capitalize on competitive salaries and a fast-growing job market.
Dallas has quickly become the sixth-largest tech workforce in North America, having experienced a 28% job growth increase since 2017. While the industry is not as large as the Austin tech scene, Dallas still hosts several major Fortune 500 companies. Many of the tech positions in Dallas focus on software engineering, data, or cybersecurity. Google invested $1 billion in data centers in the city to highlight the importance of AI and cloud services to the industry in this region.
Unlike other financial hubs, Dallas is experiencing a 2.9% annual job growth rate, well over the national average for the finance sector. Many have dubbed Dallas 'Y'all Street' for the major growth within the industry. Several major financial institutions have moved to Dallas recently to take advantage of the cheaper costs and international access. Careers in this sector cover various skill sets, from data analytics to programming to investing.
This sector actively contributes around $50 billion annually to the Dallas economy. The industry is experiencing major growth as over,000 new jobs have been created in the last year. While the Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to several major hospitals and healthcare centers, there is also a large focus on biomedical research. Various biotech startups focus on genomics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. If one does not want to pursue a traditional medical role but wants to remain in this industry, one can pursue data analytics, medical software engineering, or cybersecurity roles.
Despite the decline in traditional publishing, Dallas has adopted a more digital approach to publishing and media. The film industry has taken hold in Dallas, with annual revenue pushing close to $2 billion, and has created over 50,000 new positions. While the industry can utilize software engineers and other IT professionals, companies more commonly seek out design professionals skilled in motion graphics, Adobe, video editing, animation, or visual effects.
Design and other creative jobs have seen major increases throughout Texas in recent years, especially in freelance opportunities. The graphic design industry throughout the state expects to reach $1 billion in income in the coming years. Graphic Designers, Project Managers, and Web Designers can find various positions throughout Dallas, from major retailers to Designer firms to freelance work.
At the heart of every consumer-based company stands a strong marketing team that runs various campaigns to bring in customers and sales. Dallas stands with the expected national average of 8% for job growth within this industry. This sector relies on creative and technical professionals to run successful campaigns. Data Analysts help collect data and determine what marketing efforts will produce the best outcome, while design teams prepare the various marketing materials.
With the diverse industrial landscape, one can find their dream career in Dallas. Many of these positions offer competitive salaries that match other major cities like New York or San Francisco. However, Dallas provides a much lower cost of living, allowing these professionals to enjoy more of their hard-earned money. The jobs listed below account for the most in-demand positions throughout Dallas.
All of these positions may require additional skill sets depending on which industry one enters. However, salaries can significantly increase depending on the demand for each position throughout industries.