The Denver Tech Center started when California’s Silicon Valley was just dipping its toe in the tech water. Denver and the surrounding areas remain one of the greatest leaders in “firsts” across all sectors of technology. The DTC and all of the Denver Metro area are still hotbeds of tech activity, spilling over to some of the nation’s most enviable neighbors, each dedicated to major tech centers. Early adopters who recognized the tremendous advantage of starting their companies in Denver include legends in communications, including United Cablevision, United Artists Cable, and AT&T Broadband. The current list of eleven Fortune 500 companies in Denver jostle to snatch up new and seasoned professionals to continue dominating the business scene. Overall, the Denver Metro area is home to more than sixty of the most well-known tech-specific names in the world.
Nearby Boulder spurred on global technology in the first days of 1970 with the establishment of The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). NCAR revolutionized research in its stunning location at the base of the Flatirons, a mountainous foothill area near the University of Colorado. It’s still the go-to resource for the latest global information in meteorology, climate science and atmospheric energy, solar-terrestrial interactions, and environmental and societal impacts. The list of technology firsts is still at the top, with the ability to see the legendary CRAY computer at NCAR and the atomic clock at NOAA. Continuing with some of the most impressive developments in technology, the excitement made other tech companies sit up and notice, who quickly set up shop to create a dedicated tech center in close proximity to Boulder, becoming the Denver Tech Center.
For the third consecutive year, three Colorado cities have been honored as those in the Top Twenty Tech Towns by CompTIA, the trade association for the IT industry. Each of those three towns is located within an hour commute between each and includes Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs. Denver is such a tech mecca that it doesn’t need to brag about the complete list of awards and accolades, but for those interested in how immense the tech landscape is, two excellent resources include the Denver Business Journal, Tech Times Denver, and especially for startups and entrepreneurs, Built In Colorado.
Denver landed on the map initially as the epicenter for the second gold rush in 1858, an auspicious beginning. Seemingly overnight, the area grew by thousands seeking not only gold but also the ability to capitalize on mining technology—still an active force today. In 1870, the Colorado School of Mines was founded; it still ranks as the top engineering college of its kind. Close on their heels came the University of Colorado, another school with a foundation in engineering and technology, again grabbing the spotlight for modern technology. C.U. currently ranks as one of the top Aerospace, Mechanical, Computer Science, and Cybersecurity schools, according to U.S. News and World Report. It is a playground for those interested in any career involving space, ranking in the top five universities that receive major funding from NASA for research, as well as massive grants from other aero and astrospace engineering big names. Denver and surrounding area professionals are excited to have the opportunity to work on any of these programs since C.U. has created campuses in Denver and Colorado Springs.
The Mile High City is a tech haven that allows all sizes and types of businesses to grow successfully, with plenty of room to develop scaled and sustainable plans. It is able to prove its claim to foster ingenuity and prosperity by the number of major tech entities relocating to Denver. One example is highly ranked analytics company Palantir, one of the most recent transplants from Silicon Valley, citing the Denver area as a better cultural fit. The City of Denver’s Economic Council has always had a business outlook that has strived to create an environment tailor-made for tech, with the motto, “start up, scale up, grow up, ” pumping millions of dollars into supporting all types and sizes of business, frequently matched by venture capitalists. It’s undeniably an environment that has accomplished its goals to make the Rocky Mountain state a thriving tech ecosystem buoyed by state and local resources.
Palantir’s move reflects a broader trend. According to LinkedIn’s recent Workforce Report, Denver is up 1% in employment and hiring, while San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York are down 13%, 11%, and 9.4%, respectively. More statistics that make Denver attractive include the more than 7,000 tech jobs added in just one year, a 2.5% increase year-over-year. With a low corporate tax rate, an educated workforce, and plenty of resources, the Denver Metro area is clearly business-friendly, but it’s the intangibles that truly make it work. It’s hard to find a location with deep roots in collaborative culture in a geographical location that is the pinnacle for an excellent work/life balance.
About Tech Careers in Denver
Tech professionals in any field simply cannot go wrong if they want to work in technology in Denver. More than ever, the tech industry has been called upon to keep the country and world connected, reaffirming the need for a skilled, savvy, and prepared workforce along with innovative ideas. Denver is emblematic of the vibrancy of America’s tech community, posting nearly 80,000 jobs in the past year, up from 8,000 the previous year. IT jobs are expected to grow by 12% over the next five years, but with the number of firms relocating at a record level in recent months, that’s likely a conservative number. Boulder and Broomfield, now connected by growth, posted more than 20,000 technology jobs in the past year, with companies willing to expand into Golden and further north to Longmont and Fort Collins. Colorado Springs, now nearly touching the southern reaches of the Denver Metro area, presents another hotbed for employment with at least 100 new jobs posted on local boards per week.
Denver’s diversified economy is one of its greatest strengths. The major industry sectors are aerospace, broadcast, telecommunications, healthcare and wellness, financial services, bioscience, energy, IT software, topped off by the biggest driver of the local economy—tourism. Denver thinks forward and thinks fast, so those driven to succeed do great in the Mile High City. The state is legendary as the place to be to enjoy Colorado’s more than 300 days of sunshine per year, snow-capped Rocky Mountains, and the plethora of outdoor activities. These are just some of the basic reasons companies—and employees—want to make Denver their home. The Front Range is a base camp for all of the biggest names in every technology sector, with each of the fourteen distinct tech sectors the state lists represented. But idyllic life in Denver at the base of the foothills is just the tip of the iceberg among the primary reasons people move to Colorado.
The Colorado Tourism Office’s website has so much to show off that daily updates frequently surprise locals. Denver hosts major cultural events, concerts at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, world-class training competitions of all sorts (Denver was a finalist for the Winter Olympic Games but residents declined, not wanting to risk damage to pristine mountain areas), and much more. Of course, it would be remiss not to bring up Colorado’s main reason for visiting: year-round sports of every nature, including legendary hiking and climbing, the epicenter for road and mountain biking, and so much more, including of course, skiing.
Skiing and all outdoor sports are areas that tech professionals will likely be delighted to discover that they can include all of their passions in and outside of work. From technical gear, including things like geolocators as well as the most advanced outerwear, to huge-scale projects like machinery (think chairlifts and beyond) and city planning to handle growth within the sports and outdoor realm, the possibilities are endless. It is easily possible to work with a world-class brand, get going with a new concept or become a freelance consultant, or move into direct tourism with incredible opportunities for project and event managers.
One example of how to make the combination of intensely satisfying outdoor adventures with a challenging, rewarding career possible is to examine the example of Vail Resorts, now based in the Denver suburb of Broomfield. For a name that is instantly recognizable to skiers, Vail Resorts has grown far beyond its beginnings as just a luxury ski resort. Named one of “America’s Best Large Employers of 2021” by Forbes Magazine, not only does the company now own 37 ski resorts around the world, it dominates resort and destination travel real estate holdings and hospitality management. The company is divided into those three segments, but all of its branches come together at the Broomfield headquarters, making Denver and the surrounding area professionals extremely happy. While VR’s central business location is not technically in the mountains, it is nestled in the foothills and less than an hour away from one of its smaller resorts. More than an astounding 26,000 employees enjoy life with the company, including perks such as ski passes, many of whom are directly related to technical operations.
A vast number of technical industries operate from the Denver area, and salaries vary widely depending upon which sector a professional is employed in. For a general idea of what certain roles average per year, examples include Data Scientists earning $112,000 and Software Engineers earning $99,000. The best way to estimate a tech position salary range in Colorado is to check targeted company websites before applying to jobs posted on national boards.
In innovative, active, and technology-rich Denver, substantial salaries across all tech sectors make acquiring the skills it takes to enter a career in tech a wise investment. There are an amazing amount of technology bootcamps and classes in Denver to choose from. More than 400 of the best course offerings from area schools provide in-person, live online, and on-demand course options. Schools are located in the heart of the city and in nearby areas that are easy to reach and out of the way of traffic. For tech students, schools cover a vast array of subjects in technology, including Design, Digital Marketing, Data-related training, Coding, Business, Web Development, and IT. Two schools, Certstaffix and ONLC, hold classes in a computer lab, preloaded with the latest equipment and software, led by a live, off-site instructor. Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, has compiled an extensive list of the top schools and the subjects they offer.
Denver has a total of nine locations to choose from to take in-person classes and bootcamps in Graphic Design. Those wanting to pursue a design career have more than enough options to learn anything they’d like about the field, and many schools also offer live, online, and on-demand options. Types of programs that can be found include bootcamps/immersives, certificates, and classes, ranging from six hours to twelve weeks in length. Topics across the graphic design spectrum are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Visual Design, and UX Design. Schools in the metropolitan area that offer in-person and online are Ledet Training, Digital Workshop Center, University of Denver Boot Camps, Mission Critical, Visual Persuasion, New Horizons, and General Assembly. Additionally, ONLC and Certstaffix hold classes in computer labs with equipment preloaded with the latest software and a live, off-site instructor.
Schools that offer Data Science classes and bootcamps in Denver include training locations that provide twenty-two excellent in-person and live online courses. Schools are located downtown or just outside of the city center, making it possible to find a spot that fits with busy schedules. Courses range from three hours to 72 weeks, including bootcamps, which dive deeply into hands-on instruction in this fast-growing field. Subjects within the realm of Data Science include Python, SQL, Machine Learning, and R. The schools that offer a range of data science courses include the University of Denver Boot Camps, Flatiron School, Galvanize, Digital Workshop Center, Mission Critical, New Horizons, and General Assembly. There is one other school that offers a hybrid option in a computer lab with a live, remote instructor, Certstaffix.
For in-person Web Development boot camps and classes and bootcamps in Denver, students can choose from over 30 classes provided by Galvanize, Flatiron School, Hack Reactor, Ledet Training, New Horizons, and General Assembly. The schools are located downtown Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins, making it convenient to find a training center that fits students’ needs. Another school, Certstaffix, offers live instruction in a state-of-the-art computer lab with a live, off-site instructor.
There are more than 50 options presented by ten highly ranked schools to choose from for in-person, live online, and on-demand coding classes and bootcamps in Denver. These training centers offer live, online courses and provide a way for students to take classes from wherever they choose and are close to both downtown and outlying areas. Schools include Mission Critical, Turning, the University of Denver Boot Camps, General Assembly, Flatiron School, Hack Reactor, Ledet, Galvanize, and Digital Workshop Centers. Two other schools, Certstaffix and ONLC, hold their coding classes in a dedicated computer lab, with instruction from a live, remote instructor. All courses take students through the learning process step-by-step and provide object-based experiential learning experiences.
Students can find coding-related options in Web Development, Data Science, Computer Science, iOS Development, Front-end Development, Back-end Development, Python, JavaScript, Java, SQL, HTML and CSS, and PHP and MySQL. Offerings range from comprehensive and immersive bootcamps to extensive information certificates and classes. Most courses are also available live and online and offer a variety of times and lengths. For more extensive programs, financial assistance is often available.
Those looking for in-person Web Design classes and bootcamps in Denver can choose from courses at schools around the heart of the city center and in nearby cities. Topics within web design include Front-end Web Development, Visual Design, UX Design, WordPress, HTML and CSS, JavaScript and jQuery, Sketch, and Adobe XD. Courses include bootcamps and hands-on classes, ranging from three hours to twelve weeks, and are offered in-person, live online, and via on-demand sessions. Schools that offer web design courses include New Horizons, General Assembly, the University of Denver Boot Camps, Ledet, Visual Persuasion, Mission Critical, and Digital Workshop Centers. Two other schools, Certstaffix and ONLC, hold courses in dedicated computer labs, led in real-time by off-site instructors.
Attending an in-person Digital Marketing classes or bootcamps in forward-thinking Denver is a wise investment to get ahead of the competition in the booming digital world. Schools in the city offer live, online classes, as well as on-demand sessions. Students can choose to take face-to-face courses at General Assembly, the University of Denver Boot Camps, Mission Critical, Ledet, and The Digital Workshop Center. Other options can be found through Certstaffix and ONLC, two schools that hold courses in a computer lab with a live, remote instructor leading the class. Subjects students can choose from include Google Analytics, Google Ads, SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and ecommerce.
Denver is an excellent place to learn Python skills in an in-person bootcamp or class. Four highly rated schools offer face-to-face and live online classes in convenient locations for busy professionals both downtown and nearby areas. Top schools that offer computer programming languages, including Python, are General Assembly and New Horizons. Two other schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, provide classes in a computer lab with preloaded professional-level software and are led by a live, off-site instructor. Python is essential for most careers in technology, and certain professions require knowledge in specific syntaxes of the language.
Students can choose from twenty-three in-person Video Editing classes and bootcamps in Denver at Ledet Training, Visual Persuasion, Digital Workshop Centers, or Certstaffix, which holds classes in a computer lab led by a live, off-site instructor. Video editing classes are fast-paced, hands-on learning experiences that range from two to ten days. General areas of study in video editing include motion graphics, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Final Cut Pro.
In-person and live, online UX Design classes and bootcamps in Denver are offered by General Assembly, The University of Denver Boot Camps, and Ledet Training. Each location is in the city center and offers classes that are important to every professional in the field of design, including Sketch, Adobe XD, and UX Design Research. These excellent schools offer comprehensive overviews of the user experience (UX) and place particular emphasis on Sketch and Adobe XD.
Students have a choice of forty unique in-person and live online Excel classes and bootcamps throughout the Denver area. All Excel sessions range from three hours to three days and are provided by the noteworthy schools, General Assembly, Digital Workshop Centers, Ledet, New Horizons, and Mission Critical. Two different schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold Excel classes in dedicated computer labs led by an off-site instructor. Further options for Excel and other business-related skills are offered live and online by Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool. The need for Excel skills stretches into most areas of a professional career, so essential general and specific classes in the software are available face-to-face, live and online, or on-demand.
In tech-focused Denver, it’s essential to keep your team up-to-date with the latest developments in technology. That’s why Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, provides onsite corporate training in technology. An expert Noble Desktop instructor will arrange a session in a vast array of technical subjects and can provide training at your location. Additionally, a live session can be arranged via a video conferencing platform such as Zoom.
If it is easier for individual employees to attend a class on their own schedule, vouchers can be obtained for them to attend an open enrollment session. There is a discount on the purchase of multiple vouchers. Contact Noble Desktop to arrange a tailored training session for your workplace and employees.