2017 IT jobs report: Mountain region

This IT jobs report covers Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. (Also see our reports for the Pacific, North Central, South Central, Northeast and Southeast regions.)

Job market snapshot

The Mountain region sells itself: Encompassing everything from the high peaks of the Rockies to Southwestern mesas, there’s plenty of space for outdoor activities, from fishing to skiing to hiking. There are multiple urban areas, from Salt Lake City to Denver, where business is booming. The weather is great, with various states in the region offering plenty of heat for sun worshippers and snow for winter enthusiasts.

Like the rest of the country, this region has a high demand for technology workers, says Andrew Butkus, division director for Denver at staffing firm Robert Half Technology. In fact, according to a Robert Half poll of CIOs from the Mountain region, 21% plan to hire for newly created IT positions in the second half of 2017.

Butkus says high-demand IT positions tend to break down into two buckets. In one category are the software-related positions – developers, programmers, software engineers and the like. “There’s a talent shortage across all those positions,” he says. Then there are the network positions, where network security is particularly hot.

He says tech workers generally have the upper hand, notably in cities such as Boulder and Colorado Springs where there’s a lot of economic growth. “Those markets are experiencing talent shortages,” he says, noting that the growing number of telecommunication companies and technology firms in the region has fueled demand.

However, hiring managers aren’t looking to fill positions with just anyone. Butkus says companies remain careful about their selections, seeking out professionals who have the mix of technology skills, business acumen and interpersonal skills that fit their needs.

Adam Swofford is the managing director of product, which includes IT, for DriveTime, a used car retailer and finance company based in Tempe, Ariz. He says companies are competing for top talent, competition that has accelerated as more companies have opened shops in the Mountain states.

“The job market is great for employees and not good for us employers,” he says, adding that he recruits new talent from Arizona colleges to help keep up with demand.

IT salaries: National vs. Mountain region

Average 2017 total compensation (base salary + bonus)

See Computerworld's IT Salary Watch for lots more information about tech salaries this year.

Best Places to Work in IT 2017: Mountain region

Six employers from the Mountain region were named to Computerworld's 100 Best Places to Work in IT list for 2017. Click on any company name to see its employer profile.

• Carvana - Phoenix
• CHG Healthcare Services - Salt Lake City
• DigiCert - Lehi, Utah
• DriveTime Automotive Group - Tempe, Ariz.
• Health Catalyst - Salt Lake City
• Pax8 - Greenwood Village, Colo.

See the full Best Places to Work in IT 2017 report.