Learn More About IT Classes in San Francisco
Information Technology (IT) is the field focused on the development, deployment, and management of computer systems, software, and networks used to store, process, and transmit data. It encompasses areas such as system administration, network management, cybersecurity, software development, and technical support, playing a crucial role in enabling efficient business operations and data-driven decision-making. The origins of IT date back to the mid-20th century with the invention of early computers and the development of programming languages, which allowed organizations to automate calculations and data processing. Over the decades, IT has evolved rapidly with the rise of personal computers, the internet, and cloud computing, becoming a central part of nearly every industry and shaping how businesses, governments, and individuals operate in the digital age.
San Francisco is a tech hub, home to Silicon Valley, a world-famous location for tech innovation, and major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Meta. It also has a thriving startup ecosystem. For ten years, this city has been at the top of CBRE’s Scoring Tech Talent report, which rates tech labor markets. IT experts are likely to find many different job opportunities there.
According to CBRE’s “Scoring Tech Talent 2024” report, there are more than 430,000 tech workers in San Francisco. The report reveals that software development and programming are the most common tech jobs, followed by roles related to computer support, databases, and systems. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also provides statistics about IT employment in San Francisco. It finds that the city employs more than 5,300 Computer Network Architects, making it the fourth-largest employer for this role in the country, and more than 76,000 Software Developers, the third-highest number in the country. According to the BLS, San Francisco also employs more than 9,700 Computer User Support Specialists, 4,000 Information Security Analysts, and 3,700 Computer Programmers.
Top San Francisco IT Employers
IT experts work in almost every industry in San Francisco. Some of the most prominent employers are tech companies, government agencies, healthcare companies, educational institutions, and financial businesses.
- Tech: With its reputation as a tech leader, San Francisco continues to attract tech companies and funding, and offers many different job options. According to the Silicon Valley Indicators website, which provides data about Silicon Valley trends, the biggest tech employers in Silicon Valley and San Francisco are Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, Cisco, and Tesla, which together employ about 23% of the tech workforce. It finds that the rest of the top twenty employ 12% of the workforce, and the remaining 66% of workers are employed in smaller tech companies. Some people call this city an “AI capital” since it is home to well-known AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. In a San Francisco government website post titled “Why San Francisco?” the author maintains, “San Francisco has become the AI Capital of the World, with over 20 percent of all AI job postings in the United States and eight of the top 20 generative AI firms in the country.”
- Government: The government is another major employer in San Francisco, and like almost all other types of businesses, government agencies need a variety of IT employees. According to the Employment Development Department (EDD) of the State of California, the San Francisco Human Services Agency, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, San Francisco Recreation & Parks, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission are among the largest employers in the city.
- Healthcare: The EDD reports that the city’s largest employers also include several healthcare companies: Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, the Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center, and St. Francis Memorial Hospital. In recent years, the healthcare industry has embraced tech, for instance, utilizing data science and AI to improve healthcare, and it offers many IT job roles in San Francisco.
- Education: This city has one of the most highly educated populations in the United States and a large education system, with both public and private schools, including Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of San Francisco. In recent years, the education sector in San Francisco has integrated many digital learning tools, increasing the need for IT specialists within that industry.
- Finance: San Francisco is a financial hub, with many major banks and other financial institutions headquartered there. Its financial sector includes many FinTech companies like Alpaca, Adyen, and Block. The Bay Area Council Economic Institute estimates that the Bay Area employs more than 130,000 people in finance and insurance.
An Overview of San Francisco IT Salaries
IT salaries in San Francisco are some of the highest in the country. However, the cost of living in this city is also significantly higher than average, 70%, according to Payscale. The following salary estimates come from the BLS website. For all jobs, salaries in San Francisco are significantly higher than the national average.
- Computer User Support Specialist: $90,200 yearly, compared to a national average of $65,000
- Computer Network Architect $160,000, compared to $136,000
- Software Developer $188,000, compared to $145,000
- Information Security Analyst $166,000, compared to $128,000
- Computer Programmer, $130,000, compared to $98,000
- Database Architect $178,000, compared to $123,000
IT Job Trends in San Francisco
San Francisco has been a major tech hub for many years and has firmly established its dominance in this field. Most experts expect that IT roles will remain plentiful in the future. According to job projections published by the BLS, most IT roles will experience strong job growth all over the country in the next ten years. While the average U.S. job growth rate is only 4%, the BLS expects 17% growth for Software Developers, 33% for Information Security Analysts, 6% for Computer Support Specialists, and 13% for Computer Network Architects.
IT Classes in San Francisco
Noble Desktop offers a variety of live online IT training programs designed to meet different learning goals and career paths. The Data Science & AI Certificate is a 114-hour, beginner-friendly program focused on hands-on learning. Students develop practical skills in SQL for data querying, Python for automation, and creating interactive dashboards with Plotly. The program also includes capstone projects, one-on-one mentoring, and access to class recordings, giving learners full support as they work toward earning a recognized certificate.
For those seeking a broader foundation in IT, the Software Engineering Certificate provides an in-depth 510-hour program covering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Python, and other essential technologies. Participants start with core concepts and progress to hands-on projects, ultimately building a professional portfolio. The program also offers personalized mentoring, a free course retake, and additional resources to ensure students complete the program with confidence and marketable skills.
Students who want to focus on programming can enroll in the Python for Data Science Bootcamp, a 30-hour, hands-on course that teaches Python fundamentals, essential analytical workflows, and popular libraries like NumPy and pandas. Learners gain experience analyzing data, automating workflows, and applying practical solutions, with the added support of mentoring and the option to retake the course for extra practice.
For those interested in data visualization, Noble Desktop offers Power BI and Tableau Bootcamps to provide practical training in two of the most widely used business intelligence tools. Participants learn to build interactive dashboards, extract insights from data, and develop skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace. Additionally, the Cybersecurity Bootcamp equips students with a comprehensive skill set for starting a career in cybersecurity, covering offensive and defensive techniques along with expertise in Python programming, networking, Linux systems, and cloud computing with AWS.
IT Corporate Training in San Francisco
Noble Desktop delivers corporate training programs tailored to the specific needs of any organization, with live online options that let teams participate from anywhere while receiving hands-on instruction from experienced instructors. For larger groups or ongoing training, discounted bulk vouchers for regular classes make professional development more affordable and flexible. Contact Noble Desktop to explore how its IT training solutions can help your team strengthen skills and increase workplace efficiency.
Learn From Noble Desktop’s Experienced IT Instructors in San Francisco
If you’re searching for professional opportunities in fields related to tech, design, business, and data, look no further than San Francisco. The city is a global hub for innovative technologies, startups, and financial institutions, with some big-name companies like Google and Wells Fargo calling the Bay Area home. As a result, many IT professionals call San Francisco home. It's all about keeping the tech side of a business running smoothly, from cybersecurity measures and software development to computer and network maintenance. Through Noble Desktop’s quality instructors, you’ll be able to start your career in one of these fields quicker than you think. Their combined decades of experience give professionals and aspiring experts the skills that they’ll need to excel in a real-world setting without having to sacrifice hands-on learning. It’s an ideal place to find training that teaches technical skills and practical applications to serve you well in the job search and beyond.
Deanna Larson
As an experienced educator, researcher, and conference speaker, Dr. Deanne Larson brings her industry experience to the classroom, often teaching classes related to data, AI, Python, and project management. Her professional career is exceptional, beginning with her earning three doctorates in Computer Science (AI), International Management, and Management, as well as a Master’s in Business Analytics. Beyond academia. Dr. Larson has also worked in the field of data science and analytics for over 20 years, serving as an advisor to Fortune 500 companies, global enterprises, and FinTech startups through her firm, Larson & Associates, LLC. Her work spans AI-driven strategies, fraud detection machine learning models, and data governance solutions in cloud and blockchain environments. Her extensive training and career accomplishments give her the credibility to impart her knowledge to her students.