Washington, D.C. is more than just the United States' capital; it is a busy hub packed into a small geographic area that is chock-full of tech opportunities. Technology is one of the main drivers of employment and innovation in D.C., especially with the federal government attracting a large number of information and communications technology businesses to the D.C. area. Assisted by a large federal client base, the D.C. metro region is an epicenter for cybersecurity and other security technologies, cloud computing, and digital services.
The District of Columbia has climbed in nationwide rankings as a tech hub, growing jobs in the sector by over 50% in the last decade. Surrounded by politics, there are numerous non-governmental positions, especially with major non-federal employers, including Fannie Mae, Capital One, and Amtrak.
A recent development on the corporate scene has been Amazon’s decision to step into the D.C. political scene with a higher number of public policy jobs, boosting the career possibilities for tech professionals. The company is proud to let the public know that they can bring growth to central D.C. instead of locating a hub in the suburbs, with a desire to support the local infrastructure.
With a demonstration of success for existing businesses, many professionals choose to start new ventures. Startups are strongly supported in Washington, D.C., as proven by more than 4 out of every 100 new businesses debuting each year, which is higher than the average for a metropolitan area. There is a dedicated site for startups through D.C.Gov, too, to help them get off the ground quickly. Tech startups such as Optoro and Social Tables have found terrific success in a short amount of time.
Technology in the District of Columbia also boasts business-to-business technological successes that are less federal-dependent such as Blackboard, which is a supplier of software and services for higher education. Another large tech employer is HelloWallet, an enterprise provider of workplace financial wellness benefits. In the past decade, the software industry brought $94.5 million from ten investment deals to Washington, D.C., including a $52.6 million contract for MapBox, which is the creator of mapping software for developers.
Careers in tech in Washington, D.C. offer a bright future, with the Census Bureau’s classifications showing that the technology sector accounts for 31,000 in the metro area, helped by the importance of industries such as life sciences and consulting. The D.C. region also has the sixth-highest concentration of tech talent as a percentage of the total workforce, at 8.8%. Tech in D.C. creates intense regional competition for the location of new and existing tech companies via tax and relocation incentives, investment funding mechanisms, and university partnerships, all significant advantages for professionals.
Unsurprisingly, the federal government remains the largest single employer in the Washington metropolitan area, directly employing 364,000 in the D.C. area, with 54% of those jobs within the small geographical location of the district itself. Local government ranks as the second-highest employer hiring top technical talent, with 341,000 professionals in the metropolitan area.
Major job sectors are also found in hospitality and tourism, health care, higher education, and construction. Between Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, Dulles International, and BWI Marshall, 6.5 million passengers passed through the gate, many of them for visitor status. This is phenomenal news for the ever-growing hospitality and tourism field, which demonstrates enthusiasm for providing jobs at a growth rate of 3%.
The Golden Triangle is the nickname for the economic epicenter of the District of Columbia. Professionals have a terrific resource at their fingertips with a page dedicated just to the local economic infrastructure and the state of technology found on the GoldenTriangle Economic page. Tech professionals are not alone in D.C., as the location of one of the nation’s largest MeetUp groups, with 26,869 members.
Since jobs in all areas of technology tend to come with solid job security and high average earnings, residents of Washington D.C. will be able to look into living within the District’s boundaries. The average price of a single-family home in and close to the District’s center is $580,000, far below the Bay Area near Silicon Valley, at $1,477,422. Commuting to D.C. from next-door neighbors Virginia and Maryland are the most popular ways to maintain a work/life balance, however, with average home prices coming in at $389,000 for both states.
Residents of Washington, D.C. not only enjoy being local authorities on the nation’s history when hosting visitors, but they also get to frequent some of the nation’s highest-rated breweries and eateries. Earning the number nine spot on Food and Wine magazine's “Places to Go (and Eat)”, D.C. is a bona fide dining destination, offering a smorgasbord of cuisines from America’s top toques.
Beyond visiting some of the most famous monuments in the world, those who live in D.C. enjoy surprising guests with quirky facts that outsiders don’t know. Guidebooks often include the D.C. height rule, which dictates no building can be taller than the 289-foot-high U.S. Capitol dome, subtly claiming that it is in deference to the most famous building, but there is more to the story. The ruling was also made to provide a more human-scale feeling, avoiding the claustrophobic feel of cities with numerous close-proximity skyscrapers often have.
Salaries for technology professionals are robust in Washington, D.C., averaging $78,000 for Digital Designers, $122,000 for Software Engineers, and $128,000 for Data Scientists.
As the nation’s capital, it makes sense that there is an astounding number of technology classes and bootcamps throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. More than 400-course offerings from sixteen schools provide in-person, live online, and on-demand course options. Opportunities for tech students in the District 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, pre-loaded 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.
Washington, D.C. offers more than sixty Graphic Design courses and bootcamps offered by seven schools. Those wanting to pursue a design career have abundant options for learning everything they’d like about the field, and many schools offer live online and on-demand options as well. Types of programs available include bootcamps/immersives, certificates, and classes, ranging from six hours to twelve weeks long. Topics across the graphic design spectrum are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Visual Design, and UX Design. Schools in Washington, D.C. include Ledet, General Assembly, Future Media Concepts, GW Boot Camps, New Horizons, Softek Services, and Lumenbrite. Two additional schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold classes in a computer lab with equipment pre-loaded with the latest software and a live instructor teaching from a remote site. Other choices are offered live online by Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool.
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 skills 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 Washington, D.C. include training locations throughout the metropolitan area that provide more than 29 courses both in-person and as 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 include General Assembly, Flatiron School, Data Science Dojo, Georgetown School of Continuing Education, GW Boot Camps, New Horizons, and Softek Services, Inc. Additionally, Certstaffix holds Data Science classes in a central 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 Web Development classes and bootcamps in Washington, D.C., students can choose from thirty classes provided by 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. Additionally, Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, offers live online classes in web development and beyond. Schools that hold Web Development programs include Flatiron, Ledet Training, Softek Services, Inc., Future Media Concepts, and General Assembly. Hybrid-style schools that offer computer lab access and a remote instructor are ONLC and Certstaffix.
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, engaging in in-class projects, and receiving support from a dedicated 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 Washington, D.C.. Seven of these training centers offer live online courses and provide a way for students to take classes from wherever they choose. Schools in the Washington, D.C. area include Coding Dojo, GW Boot Camps, Flatiron, Data Science Dojo, Ledet, Future Media Concepts, Softek Services, Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, 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 tool, 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 & CSS, and PHP & MySQL. Offerings range from comprehensive and immersive bootcamps to extensive certificate programs and classes. Most courses are also available live online and offer a variety of times and lengths. For more extensive programs, financial assistance is often available.
One example of a class found in a Washington, D.C. 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, engaging in in-class projects, and receiving support from a dedicated 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 Washington, D.C., can choose from forty courses at five schools in the Central District area. Topics within web design include Front-end Web Development, Visual Design, UX Design, WordPress, HTML & CSS, JavaScript & 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. A wide variety of programs related to web design are offered by Ledet, New Horizons, Softek Services, GW Boot Camps, 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 online are offered by Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool.
An example of a web design-related bootcamp is the UX Design Immersive offered at General Assembly. This deep dive into the world of User Experience (UX) Design provides students who have little to no experience 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 iteration and development, as well as best practices when working on a design team.
Washington, D.C. is the perfect choice to take classes in the fast-paced field of Digital Marketing. Attending an in-person Digital Marketing class or bootcamp in Washington, D.C., 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 in-person courses at Ledet Training, Boot Camp Digital, GW Boot Camps, Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, and General Assembly. Additionally, two schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold courses in computer labs with a live, remote instructor leading classes. Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, also offers a wide array of options that are held live 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.
Washington, D.C., is a fantastic place to learn Python skills in an in-person bootcamp or class. Four top schools offer in-person classes and live online and on-demand programs and are located at the city center and in Arlington, Fairfax, and Alexandria. These schools include GW Boot Camps, Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, New Horizons, and General Assembly. Two additional schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, offer classes in computer labs with pre-loaded 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 tool.
An example of a Washington, D.C. 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-eight in-person classes or bootcamps, or live online courses in video editing from schools located in convenient locations in the city center and in Arlington, Fairfax, and Alexandria. Video editing classes are fast-paced, hands-on learning experiences that range from two to ten days. Schools located in the city that offer in-person courses include Ledet, Future Media Concepts, Softek Services, 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 tool, also offers many courses in video editing that are held live 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 course in Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C. are offered by three top-notch schools, Ledet Training, GW Boot Camps, 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 tool, 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 UX 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 more than thirty unique in-person and live online Excel bootcamps and classes throughout Washington, D.C., conveniently located within District limits. Excel sessions range from three hours to three days and are provided by prominent schools including Ledet, GW Boot Camps, and General Assembly. Two more schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold their Excel courses in computer labs, with a live remote instructor available for assistance during class time. More options for Excel and other business-related skills are offered live online by Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool. The need for Excel skills stretches into most areas of a professional career, so general and specific classes in the software are available in-person, live online, or on-demand.
Prime examples of Excel workshops are those from General Assembly which offers Excel Bootcamps. This three-hour, hands-on, beginner-friendly session teaches attendees skills such as formatting techniques, mathematical formulas, PivotTables, charts, and beyond. This bootcamp can also be taken in a live online class.
In a fast-paced area like Washington, D.C., it’s necessary to keep your team up-to-date on cutting-edge 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.