Houston is a technology mecca across the broadest spectrum of industries imaginable. As the fourth biggest city in America, there is room—and enthusiasm—to support a myriad of technology-based industries and research. Famously known as the home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, including Mission Control, all the major players in aerospace and astronautics are located in the Houston metropolitan area. NASA contracts not just with aerospace-related entities, but with project management professionals, digital marketing, web development, and most other online efforts.
Houston is the global capital in the oil and gas industry, with over 30% of the world's oil and gas jobs. The city is also heavily invested in finding alternative energy sources and is straining with the need for qualified workers in the engineering realm. The heaviest demand is for professionals such as wind turbine technicians, statisticians, and operational analysts. Other sectors looking for immediate tech talent include aerospace and aviation engineering, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and life sciences connected to biotech.
The list of what Houston has to offer in tech goes on, especially since it is home to the 6th largest port in the world, Port Houston. The port is a 50-mile long complex of diverse facilities and is the busiest port in the nation in terms of foreign tonnage. Many petroleum corporations have built refineries along the channel, including a petrochemical complex that is one of the largest in the world. Interestingly, the Port of Houston also harbors the world’s largest cruise ships and has been sounding the departure horn for thousands of happy travelers since 1922.
Houston aggressively lures all fast-growing tech businesses to the city, knowing that the metropolis can provide a much lower cost of doing business and has ample space for the warehouses, offices, and corporate testing buildings. Tech professionals also appreciate that they have solid job security, especially with the city’s economic commitment predicting the tech sector to skyrocket, with an estimated 9,000 jobs being added in the next few years. A tremendous bonus for working in the city is that individuals and companies pay no income tax in Texas, making it easier to recruit top talent. The overall statistics for the economy of Houston are astounding, including boasting a $490B regional GDP and more than 500 technology-based employers.
Houston is currently the home of more than twenty-four Fortune 500 companies and ranks third in the nation for the number of major corporate headquarters. Major players include Shell Oil, Halliburton, Boeing, Sysco, Jacobs, BP, and Hewlett Packard.
Technology-based careers in Houston come with high salaries and a robust choice of where to work. As major technology corporations continue to move their headquarters to Houston, creating what is being nicknamed the Silicon Bayou, it is apparent why they are looking to position themselves away from the former well-known locations in the Bay Area. The cost of living in Houston is 44% lower than in San Francisco, demonstrated by statistics such as computer programming, where a programmer earning $107,070 in the Bay Area would only need to make $60,369 in Houston to maintain the same standard of living.
Finding a career in any technology sector in Houston is promising due to an 11% increase in available jobs in 2021.
An example of where the tech jobs are coming from can be seen in examples such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company’s decision to shift its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Houston. The company praises housing as “an attractive market for us to recruit and retain talent, and a great place to do business, ” quite a strong statement from a robust corporation that could choose any location in the world to call home. HPE already employs more than 2,500 people in the Houston area, and the demand for more tech professionals by this company alone demonstrates the possibilities for techies to find the job they’ve been looking for.
Additionally, as the home of NASA’s Human Space Program and headquarters for all of the major players in the energy industry, Houston has long been known for its engineering prowess. The majority of the technology talent is embedded in some of the field’s largest enterprises such as energy and health care, subsectors such as software development, programming, and database management.
With high salaries, no state income tax, and plenty of job security, Houstonians also like the many choices of neighborhoods, called “wards, ” with the broadest span of diversity in the nation, partly due to the ease of relocation via the Port of Houston and Houston International Airport, which ranks among the 20 busiest airports in the United States. Other popular places to settle down include the suburb of The Woodlands to the northwest of the city center and League City, bordering on NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Another option for Houstonians to strike out on their own in technology or enjoy their engineering passions is by joining “makerspaces, ” huge warehouses that provide individual “cubicle” style workbenches, surrounded by equipment such as AutoCAD and other software-preloaded computer labs, laser cutters, 3D printers, soldering and welding centers, pottery and advanced jewelry areas, and much more. TXRX in downtown Houston is one of the largest non-profit makerspaces in the world and allows members to work on their own on any of the equipment and offer classes in an array of subjects.
The Gulf of Mexico is a short hour or two away from Houston, depending on busy seasons. Galveston is a center of fun for Houstonians and travelers from around the world for a vast stretch of clean beaches and dunes, as well as dolphin watching. Locals know how to escape the tourist season with the free Bolivar Ferry, which takes passengers to the Bolivar Peninsula and allows beachgoers a chance to drive onto the beach and park next to their spot to swim in the warm water and soak in the sun.
Residents and visitors love the fact that they can visit Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. With rotating exhibits, talks given by current and former astronauts, and the highlight of a visit to the Smithsonian Affiliates museum: a tour of the JSC grounds, including Mission Control, which still operates as the base for everything space-related for the U.S. NASA programs.
Salaries in Houston encourage anyone in technology to call the city home. Examples of what professionals in the area can earn include digital designers, who average $128,000 per year; software engineers, who can find entry-level jobs at $90,000; and earnings for data scientists at $111,000 on average.
The city of Houston is the fourth-largest city in America, so it makes sense that there are an astounding number of technology bootcamps and classes throughout the metropolitan area. More than fifteen training locations offer over 300 in-person, live online, and on-demand courses to choose from in Houston in a vast array of subjects in technology, including design, digital marketing, data-related training, coding, business, web development, and IT. Two schools, ONLC, hold classes in a computer lab preloaded with the latest equipment and software, led by a live, off-site instructor. One of the notable training locations is the top tech school, Rice University, a beautiful campus in the middle of the heart of downtown that is known for the number of graduates that get snapped up by the highest-ranked companies in tech. Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, has compiled an extensive list of the top schools and the subjects they offer.
Houston offers more than a total of forty courses 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 options, in addition to live online and on-demand. Types of programs that can be found include bootcamps and 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. Examples of the schools in Houston that offer in-person Graphic Design include New Horizons, Ledet, General Assembly, Rice University, and Lumenbrite. Two other schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold classes in a computer lab with equipment preloaded with the latest software and a live instructor teaching from a remote site.
One example from Lumenbrite is a four-day Photoshop Bootcamp. This immersive, experiential session covers how to retouch and manipulate photos as well as layers, masks, and typography concepts. Students gain education to help them produce image effects and work with camera raw files, leading to advanced compositing techniques. Additional subjects covered include color management, adjustment layers, blending modes, and the basics of Adobe Illustrator and Smart Objects. Upon completion, students will have earned an Adobe Nationally Recognized Course Certificate.
Schools that offer Data Science classes and bootcamps in Houston include training locations throughout the metropolitan area that provide more than 25 courses both in-person and live online sessions. 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 in Houston are Rice University, Bauer College of Business, Byte Academy, Flatiron School, New Horizons, and General Assembly. Additionally, Certstaffix holds Data Science classes in a Houston-area computer lab led by a live, off-site instructor.
An example of a school that offers an in-person Data Science Bootcamp is General Assembly. Their Data Science Immersive capitalizes on the advantages of a curriculum that is guided by the Data Science Standards Board and includes Python, data analysis, and statistical models. Additionally, students branch into machine learning with algorithms of increasing complexity, from decision trees and random forests to natural language processing and neural networks.
For in-person classes and bootcamps in Houston in Web Development, students can choose from five schools with traditional classrooms and two schools that offer live instruction in a state-of-the-art computer lab with a live, off-site instructor leading the session. Schools that hold web development programs include Flatiron, Ledet Training, and General Assembly. Hybrid-style schools that offer computer lab access and a remote instructor are ONLC and Certstaffix. Additionally, Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, offers numerous live online and on-demand courses.
One example of an in-person web development program is General Assembly's Software Engineering Immersive. This software engineering program is a deep dive into programming to help individuals with little-to-no programming or computer science experience head towards a career in the field during a fast-paced, intensive session. Students prepare for entering the field of software engineering by receiving 14 hours of preparatory work, in-class projects, and support from a devoted career coach. Starting with the fundamentals of software engineering such as HTML and CSS, students also learn JavaScript. As the course progresses, students become familiar with front-end and full-stack development, focusing on algorithmic thinking, core programming concepts, and best practices when debugging programs. The course concludes with front-end frameworks, incorporating APIs into full-stack development.
There are more than sixty course options presented by nine schools to choose from for in-person coding classes and bootcamps in Houston. Schools in the area are located both in the city center and away from traffic a short distance north and also west of Houston. Seven of these training centers offer live online courses, allowing students to learn from anywhere. Schools in the Houston area include Byte Academy, Ledet Training, Flatiron, New Horizons, Rice University, Digital Crafts, and General Assembly. Additionally, two schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold their coding classes in a dedicated computer lab, with instruction from a live, remote instructor. Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, also offers a plethora of live online courses, private lessons, and on-demand sessions. 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.
One example of a prominent school is General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive. This software engineering program is a deep dive into programming to help individuals with little-to-no programming or computer science experience head towards a career in the field during a fast-paced, intensive session. Students prepare for entering the field of software engineering by receiving 14 hours of preparatory work, in-class projects, and support from a devoted career coach. Starting with the fundamentals of software engineering such as HTML and CSS, students also learn JavaScript. As the course progresses, students become familiar with front-end and full-stack development, focusing on algorithmic thinking, core programming concepts, and best practices when debugging programs. The course concludes with front-end frameworks, incorporating APIs into full-stack development.
Those looking for in-person Web Design classes and bootcamps in Houston can choose from forty courses at schools that are located both within the city and in smaller locations to the north. Many classes are also offered live and online, as well as options for attending in-demand sessions. Subjects 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. A wide variety of programs related to web design are offered by Ledet, Rice University, New Horizons, and General Assembly. Two schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold courses in dedicated computer labs, led in real time by off-site instructors. Additional courses held live and online are offered by Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource.
An example of a web-design focused program is the UX Design Immersive offered at General Assembly. This deep dive into the world of User Design (UX) provides students who have little to no experience the chance to learn the standard tools and concepts that launch their career. Students in this program start their UX journeys by learning UX fundamentals, including the design process, affinity mapping, rapid prototyping, and usability testing. The course progresses further, looking into User Interface foundations, design interaction, and development, as well as best practices when working on a design team.
Houston is one of the hottest places to work in the field of Digital Marketing. Attending an in-person Digital Marketing class or bootcamp in Houston is a wise investment to get ahead of the competition in the booming digital world. Many schools offer live online classes, as well as on-demand sessions too. Students can choose from courses offered face-to-face at Ledet Training, Rice University, Bauer College of Business, and General Assembly. Additionally, two schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold courses in computer labs with a live, remote instructor leading classes. Additionally, Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, offers a wide array of options that are held live and online. Subjects students can choose from include Google Analytics, Google Ads, SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and ecommerce.
An example of a class offered by General Assembly is SEO Essentials—Introduction to Search Engine Optimization, essential for all online marketing efforts. This two-day introductory workshop is an experiential learning session that teaches search engine optimization best practices and what abilities are necessary to execute the skills presented. Specific topics include keyword research, content creation, manual optimization, click-through rate improvement, and SERP ranking optimization. This session also features how to avoid pitfalls, search basics, blog optimization, and SEO creativity.
Houston is a fantastic place to learn Python skills in-person. Four top schools offer not just face-to-face classes and bootcamps, but also live online and on-demand programs. These schools include Byte, Rice University, New Horizons, and General Assembly. Two additional schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, offer classes in computer labs with preloaded professional-level software and are led by a live instructor who is offsite. Python is essential for most careers in technology, and certain professions require knowledge in specific syntaxes of the language. Instruction in Python for all levels and career-related topics can be found throughout the schools listed and offered live online, as well as on-demand by Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource.
An example of a Houston school that offers a course in Python is General Assembly. Their beginner-friendly Python course is designed to teach coding through a hands-on approach by building Python programs and working with data. This course covers key programming concepts such as data science fundamentals and culminates with a project incorporating the use of APIs to pull third-party data.
Students can choose from twenty in-person or live online bootcamps and courses in video editing from schools located in convenient locations around the central business district in Houston. Video editing classes are fast-paced, hands-on learning experiences that range from two to ten days. Schools located in the city that offer face-to-face courses include Ledet and Lumenbrite. Additionally, Certstaffix is a school that offers courses in a fully equipped computer lab led by a live, offsite instructor. Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, also offers many courses in video editing that are offered live and online. General areas of study in video editing include motion graphics, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Final Cut Pro.
An example of one video editing program in Houston is Lumenbrite’s After Effects Training Bootcamp. This comprehensive five-day After Effects course teaches beginner to advanced techniques in the software, including video blending, advanced text effects, keying effects, track mattes, and motion tracking. Further topics covered are more advanced techniques such as footage keying in Mocha AE, techniques in nesting, and compositing. Additionally, students will receive an Adobe Nationally Recognized Course Certificate upon completion.
In-person and live online UX Design classes and bootcamps in Houston are offered by three top-notch schools, Ledet Training, Rice University, and General Assembly, each conveniently located in different areas in the metro area, allowing students to choose the best fit. Additional courses are offered by Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, in live online sessions. These schools offer comprehensive overviews of the user experience (UX) and place particular emphasis on Sketch and Adobe XD.
One example of a user-design focused class from General Assembly is their UX Design Immersive. This beginner-friendly bootcamp provides all of the information a student needs to get started in UX Design. Beginning with the foundations and fundamentals in UX, students learn about the design process, affinity mapping, rapid prototyping, and usability testing. Throughout the course, students practice UI foundations, including design iteration and development and best practices when working with a product development team.
Students have a choice of twenty-five unique in-person and live online Excel classes and bootcamps throughout central Houston and in conveniently located schools just outside of the city, as well as live online sessions and on-demand programs. All Excel sessions range from three hours to three days and are provided by prominent schools including Ledet, New Horizons, and General Assembly. Two more schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold their Excel courses in computer labs, with a live remote instructor available during class. More options for Excel and other business-related skills are offered live and online by Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource. The need to have Excel skills stretches into most areas of a professional career, so general and specific classes in the software are available face-to-face, live and online, or on-demand.
Prime examples of Excel workshops are those from General Assembly which offers Excel bootcamps. This three-hour, hands-on session welcoming beginners teaches attendees skills such as formatting techniques, mathematical formulas, PivotTables, charts, and beyond. This bootcamp can also be taken in a live online class.
Technology advances quickly, and it’s important to provide employees with the latest updates, as well as allow your workforce to conveniently explore additional skills. Noble Desktop, the creator of this resource, provides a wide range of onsite corporate technology training sessions. Each class is unique to the subject and tailored for the company, and offers the benefit of coming to your workplace. If it is more convenient, a live online session can be arranged by video conferencing platforms such as Zoom.
Another way Noble Desktop can help you invest in your employees is by providing vouchers that can be purchased in bulk at a discount. These vouchers allow your staff to attend open enrollment courses on their own schedules. Contact Noble Desktop for all of your corporate technology training needs.