Best Companies to Work for in Austin

If you’re looking for a great tech job in the Austin area, getting started may be a bit overwhelming. With so many great Austin tech companies, how do we distinguish which ones are the best to work for? Stick around for the breakdown of the best companies to work for in Austin.

While underestimated in past years, Austin has grown into one of the region’s largest hubs of technical innovation. An estimated 6,500 startups were located in Austin last year. Between startups and major companies, Austin’s tech job market is booming. As you’ll soon find out, the best and brightest tech minds of Austin are generously compensated for their expertise and innovative work ethic.

Tech Job Trends in Austin

Before we dive into the best companies of Austin, we need to take a step back and look at the city as a whole. What’s it like to work in Austin? Is Austin a profitable city? We’ve got answers to all these answers and more!

Is Austin a good place to work? Absolutely! The culture in Austin is diverse and widespread, with many people coming from a variety of backgrounds. The city is alive with many cultures and opportunities. The tech industry in Austin is also booming. Regular tech meetups and networking events are common throughout the Austin area. The sense of community and family throughout Austin’s tech industry is immense! 

Is Austin a profitable city? Not only is Austin profitable, but the city is absolutely prospering and shows no signs of slowing down. We’ve even got the numbers to prove it. 

Austin by Numbers 

When you think of major tech cities in the United States, Austin may not be the first place that comes to mind. Coined the term, Silicon Hills, Austin’s tech scene is actually rising at a much faster pace than anyone could have anticipated. 

A variety of startups also call Silicon Hills home. In 2017, an estimated 5,500 startups were located in Austin. These companies brought in around $950 million in total funding within one year. Today, that number has increased to over 6,500.

The median home price in Austin is around $370,000, which is significantly lower than other major tech cities. It’s estimated that the average salary needed to live comfortably in the city of Austin is around $55,000 per year. The average salary for a tech worker in Austin is $125,000 per year and has grown at a rate of 15% over the past three years. 

3 Signs of a Great Austin Tech Job

It’s important to remember that humans are more than just numbers. While salaries and monetary benefits are a great part of working, they’re not the only thing to look for when searching for the perfect job. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you search for your dream job in Austin. 

1. Company Culture 

A happy worker makes a happy boss. A happy boss makes a happy company. The cycle continues and continues. The moral of the story is, when workers are happy, companies make a profit. That’s why companies are motivated to make employees as comfortable as possible. Company culture can make or break a work experience. Finding a place where you fit and feel comfortable is absolutely vital to your success. 

It’s also important to find a company where the employees have a great work ethic and are passionate about what they do. If employees are highly motivated in their job, chances are the company offers plenty of upward mobility. Be sure to ask questions about the office environment and growth opportunities during your interview to gauge company culture.

2. Free Time

Work t pays the bills, and it’s usually fulfilling, but everyone needs downtime. It’s easy to get burnt out in our professional lives, especially in the tech industry. Being at a company that values free time and a healthy work-life balance can mean the difference between success and a major burn out. 

3. Perks

While perks aren’t everything, they certainly are awesome. Companies are constantly vying for talent and are now turning to offer flashy perks as a way to retain employees. So if your company has free gym memberships, fancy nap pods, and free lunches, why not take advantage? 

Best Companies to Work for in Austin

Now that we’ve covered both a history of Austin’s tech scene and also what you should be looking for in a great tech job, let’s get down to business. To better assess the companies, let’s break them into two categories: Tech Giants and Tech Startups. 

Top 5 Austin Tech Companies

The competition for major tech companies in Austin is insanely high. If you can pass the interviews and make the cut, then these tech companies are definitely for you! 

1. Google

This one should come as no surprise, given that Google is one of the top-rated places to work in the world. Google is definitely one of the top places for any tech worker who aspires to work for a major company. Recently Google acquired a 35-floor building in downtown Austin, which they have converted into the Google Austin campus.  

Employee perks include free massages, multiple cafeterias, free daily meals, a dog park, a converted airstream trailer turned food truck and coffee bar, and others. Additionally, Google offers stock options, exceptional healthcare, 401K matching, and much more. 

2. Dell

Based in Red Rock, Texas, Dell’s headquarters is located only 25 minutes from Austin. The computer company actually got its start in the dorm rooms of the University of Austin back in 1984, when founder Michael Dell decided to provide customized upgrades for PCs. Dell has since grown into the technology powerhouse that it is today. 

Perks include flexible work schedules, remote work options, 401K matching of 6%, great health insurance, paid maternity/paternity leave, and more. 

3. Under Armor

The apparel company has chosen Austin to house one of its first-ever Connected Fitness digital headquarters. The company is located in the Seaholm Power Plant District of Austin. 

Perks include a spin boardroom, office bike storage and repair stations, a fitness recreation room, treadmill desks, a fully stocked kitchen with healthy options for everyone. Additionally, the office is located one block north of Lady Bird Johnson Trail, which allows for access to nearby running and cycling paths. 

4. Forcepoint

Previously known as Websense or Raytheon, this tech giant of 2,300 employees specializes in cybersecurity. The multinational corporation software company develops computer security software and data protection, firewall and cross-domain, and cloud access security broker solutions. Forcepoint has a diverse demographic; 28.9% percent of the company is female, and 32.1% of the company are ethnic minorities. Most employees work at Forcepoint for an average of 2 years and makes about $82, 082 each year.

5. Big Commerce

This publicly owned technology company provides a SaaS commerce platform. Big Commerce employees over 600 workers and boasts a yearly revenue of 175 million . Although workers at Big Commerce typically only stay at the company for about one year, they make an average annual salary of $109,466.

6. Cirrus Logic

Cirrus Logic has been headquartered in Austin, Texas since 1998. The fabless semiconductor supplier focuses in mixed-signal, analog, and audio DSP integrated circuits. This Austin tech giant has an annual revenue of 1.5 billion and currently employees 1500 workers.

Workers typically stay at the company for a total of four years, and their average salary is $102,156. Cirrus Logic offers its employees a great benefits package, including a 401(k), health insurance, and generous PTO.

7. Silicone Labs

Silicone Labs is an international fabless semiconductor company. The Austin tech giant specializes in providing software, silicon and devices for the consumer, automative, and industrial automation markets. Founded in 1996, the company has since grown to employee over 1000 employees and earn an annual revenue of $868.2 million.

Employees at Silicone Labs earn an average yearly salary of $103,036. In addition to a competitive salary, employees can enjoy health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Other company benefits include retirement benefits, profit sharing, and short and long term disability.

Honorable mentions

While not in the top three, it’s important to note that Austin has a high concentration of major companies. Some other great tech companies to work for in Austin include:

• Apple
• 3M
• Whole Foods (which is based in Austin)
• Cisco
• Adobe
• Electronic Arts
• Zynga
• IBM. 

Best 3 Tech Startups in Austin

Now that we’ve covered the top three major tech companies in Austin, let’s take a look at the top three startups in the area. It’s important to note that with so many startups in the surrounding Austin area, it is near impossible to review every one of them. However, from our research, we’ve gathered that the following three companies offer some pretty great perks for employees. 

1. Convey

Convey makes software that helps businesses ship items to customers more easily. The company’s mission is to enable businesses to make customer deliveries amazing through better data, better collaboration and communication, and better tools.

Employee perks include great healthcare packages, free gym membership, stock grants, a 401K plan, free food, and more.  

2. ScaleFactor

ScaleFactor is a digital finance and accounting platform that uses machine learning to create a more accurate budgeting and forecasting information for small businesses. There are currently almost 200 employees at the Austin based company. 

Employee benefits include healthcare, Unlimited PTO, free lunches and snacks, stock options, new parent paid leave, and work from home. 

 3. Dropoff

Dropoff offers on-demand, same-day delivery to businesses across industries to help meet the ever-rising delivery expectations of consumers. Based in Austin, the company has a wide array of top tier clients and business partners. 

Employee perks include great healthcare, 401K options, free snacks, work from home options, and more. 

The Takeaway

Austin is a bustling hub of innovation and growth. The city’s tech scene has experienced a massive amount of economic success over the past decade and is only looking to grow from here. With many companies flocking to the city in search of their own slice of Austin’s success, job opportunities are growing faster than ever? 

What does this mean for you? If you’re in the market for a job in Austin, you’ve got plenty of opportunities to choose from. Better yet, companies need workers so much that they’re usually willing to offer major perks and salaries to get them. Use this to your advantage, recognize your worth, and arrive at your job interview determined to ask for what you deserve.