Belfast is ninth in the UK for tech careers, new study finds
The UK’s tech sector shows no signs of slowing down. From software development and data analytics to cybersecurity and AI, demand for skilled tech workers continues to grow, and cities are increasingly competing to attract top talent. But while London often dominates the conversation, it’s no longer the only place offering strong salaries, career progression and long-term opportunity.
A new study by Optisearch has revealed which UK cities are genuinely the best places to build a tech career in 2025, taking into account not just pay, but job availability, remote working opportunities and the strength of local tech communities. The results show a more balanced picture of the UK’s tech landscape, with smaller cities outperforming major hubs in key areas.
Belfast scores 43.95 overall, placing it ninth in the study. The city has a strong tech job demand rate of 3.7%, the second highest in the uk, while the average monthly tech salary is £2,195, ranking 37th nationally. It hosts 4.56 tech events per 10,000 people, ranking 60th, showing a smaller local tech community.
Remote work is moderate in belfast, with 20% of tech workers recently working from home, ranking 25th overall. The combination of high job demand and growing tech opportunities makes the city an attractive option for professionals looking to build a career in tech.
Cambridge comes out on top mainly because it has the highest demand for tech jobs in the UK, backed up by strong salaries and a steady flow of tech events. Oxford takes second place, offering a good balance of job opportunities and flexibility, with a high share of people able to work from home. Lichfield ranks third and stands out for its high average pay and a busy tech events scene, even though overall job demand there is lower than in the bigger cities.
London and Nottingham make up the rest of the top five. London still offers the best pay for tech roles, but its events scene looks much thinner when adjusted for population. Nottingham performs well thanks to strong job demand and a growing tech sector. Edinburgh and Preston follow, with Preston leading the rankings for remote working. Leeds, Belfast and Manchester complete the top ten, showing that good tech opportunities can be found across the UK, not just in the largest cities.
According to Louis Riat-Bonello, the findings reflect a broader shift in how tech professionals assess career opportunities in the UK.
“Salary still matters, but it’s no longer the only deciding factor for tech workers,” he explains. “We’re seeing more professionals prioritise job availability, long-term career growth and flexibility over simply chasing the highest pay in London.”
He adds that cities performing well tend to offer a strong ecosystem rather than relying on one standout metric. “The most attractive tech cities are those that combine consistent demand, competitive salaries and an active tech community. Events, meetups and networking opportunities play a bigger role than many employers realise, particularly for early- and mid-career professionals.”
Looking ahead, Riat-Bonello believes the gap between traditional hubs and smaller cities will continue to narrow. “As remote and hybrid work become more embedded, talent is spreading more evenly across the UK. Cities that invest in digital infrastructure and tech communities now are far more likely to attract skilled workers in the years to come.”
The study analysed 61 major UK cities using four weighted factors: tech job demand (40%), average salary (25%), share of people recently working from home (20%), and the number of tech events per 10,000 people (15%). Each metric was scaled from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating stronger performance. Data was sourced from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Eventbrite.
List of the best UK cities for tech careers:
| Rank | City | Tech Job Demand % | Average Salary | Number of tech events per 10,000 people | Recently Worked from Home | Total Score |
| 1 | Cambridge | 5.10% | £3,139.99 | 68.00 | 10% | 70.21 |
| 2 | Oxford | 2.90% | £2,709.69 | 61.44 | 34% | 58.38 |
| 3 | Lichfield | 1.40% | £3,400.00 | 92.61 | 27% | 53.43 |
| 4 | London | 2.60% | £3,770.47 | 1.01 | 25% | 52.21 |
| 5 | Nottingham | 3.30% | £2,270.87 | 30.91 | 28% | 49.55 |
| 6 | Edinburgh | 3.30% | £2,792.64 | 8.02 | 24% | 49.09 |
| 7 | Preston | 1.10% | £2,670.00 | 53.93 | 46% | 47.48 |
| 8 | Leeds | 2.30% | £2,484.31 | 12.11 | 38% | 45.32 |
| 9 | Belfast | 3.70% | £2,195.25 | 4.56 | 20% | 43.95 |
| 10 | Manchester | 3.20% | £2,289.43 | 17.88 | 22% | 43.68 |
| 11 | Coventry | 1.90% | £3,228.29 | 28.98 | 22% | 43.49 |
| 12 | Milton Keynes | 2.50% | £2,756.44 | 34.21 | 13% | 40.07 |
| 13 | Southampton | 1.50% | £2,595.24 | 39.99 | 30% | 39.61 |
| 14 | Worcester | 1.50% | £2,314.40 | 95.66 | 18% | 39.18 |
| 15 | Southend-on-Sea | 0.90% | £2,836.11 | 54.60 | 30% | 39.09 |
| 16 | Chester | 1.20% | £2,300.00 | 90.65 | 24% | 38.81 |
| 17 | Dundee | 2.80% | £2,106.25 | 24.24 | 17% | 36.73 |
| 18 | Cardiff | 2.40% | £2,375.19 | 22.20 | 19% | 36.67 |
| 19 | Norwich | 1.30% | £2,739.14 | 22.01 | 29% | 35.98 |
| 20 | Westminster | 1.68% | £2,850.00 | 39.20 | 15% | 35.71 |
| 21 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 2.40% | £2,630.44 | 16.36 | 14% | 35.68 |
| 22 | Birmingham | 2.00% | £2,429.18 | 8.68 | 26% | 35.31 |
| 23 | York | 1.60% | £2,571.87 | 41.00 | 18% | 34.09 |
| 24 | Winchester | 1.60% | £2,200.00 | 77.09 | 14% | 33.90 |
| 25 | Glasgow | 2.50% | £2,742.41 | 5.31 | 9% | 33.31 |
| 26 | Bristol | 2.20% | £2,479.60 | 20.87 | 14% | 33.14 |
| 27 | Derby | 2.30% | £2,432.00 | 37.88 | 8% | 33.03 |
| 28 | Leicester | 2.70% | £1,790.37 | 27.05 | 16% | 32.61 |
| 29 | Lancaster | 1.10% | £2,225.00 | 50.77 | 27% | 32.54 |
| 30 | Gloucester | 2.00% | £1,775.00 | 74.64 | 13% | 32.23 |
| 31 | Chelmsford | 0.80% | £2,447.07 | 54.46 | 25% | 31.67 |
| 32 | Lincoln | 1.10% | £1,993.00 | 97.07 | 16% | 31.66 |
| 33 | Stoke-on-Trent | 1.20% | £1,694.44 | 38.49 | 37% | 31.45 |
| 34 | Stirling | 0.70% | £2,945.13 | 36.47 | 21% | 30.87 |
| 35 | Chichester | 0.80% | £2,127.75 | 79.28 | 22% | 30.78 |
| 36 | Portsmouth | 1.90% | £1,930.00 | 47.44 | 17% | 30.76 |
| 37 | Brighton and Hove | 1.60% | £2,362.44 | 35.58 | 17% | 30.62 |
| 38 | Aberdeen City | 1.30% | £2,988.67 | 6.64 | 18% | 30.28 |
| 39 | Canterbury | 0.60% | £2,140.07 | 63.09 | 27% | 29.26 |
| 40 | Exeter | 1.40% | £2,075.00 | 32.25 | 24% | 29.18 |
| 41 | Sheffield | 1.90% | £2,250.00 | 17.88 | 16% | 28.82 |
| 42 | Bath | 1.20% | £2,733.33 | 49.43 | 9% | 28.81 |
| 43 | Salford | 1.90% | £2,016.67 | 35.64 | 15% | 28.73 |
| 44 | Newport | 1.10% | £2,115.00 | 51.91 | 20% | 27.93 |
| 45 | St Albans | 1.10% | £2,332.67 | 66.22 | 8% | 26.03 |
| 46 | Carlisle | 1.68% | £2,043.33 | 49.41 | 8% | 25.55 |
| 47 | Liverpool | 1.50% | £2,198.89 | 18.76 | 17% | 25.49 |
| 48 | Wolverhampton | 1.50% | £2,033.33 | 37.61 | 14% | 25.20 |
| 49 | Kingston upon Hull | 0.80% | £1,924.17 | 24.17 | 28% | 23.29 |
| 50 | Peterborough | 1.40% | £2,035.78 | 45.77 | 9% | 23.00 |
| 51 | Colchester | 0.90% | £2,167.91 | 51.56 | 13% | 22.99 |
| 52 | Wrexham | 0.90% | £2,091.67 | 67.95 | 9% | 22.68 |
| 53 | Hereford | 0.90% | £2,333.33 | 50.80 | 8% | 21.89 |
| 54 | Swansea | 1.40% | £1,674.67 | 16.40 | 21% | 21.12 |
| 55 | Bradford | 0.90% | £2,476.60 | 17.13 | 12% | 20.17 |
| 56 | Plymouth | 0.90% | £2,004.73 | 8.01 | 22% | 19.29 |
| 57 | Sunderland | 1.50% | £1,500.00 | 13.17 | 11% | 14.48 |
| 58 | Doncaster | 0.60% | £1,687.50 | 32.23 | 16% | 14.13 |
| 59 | Wakefield | 0.80% | £1,847.00 | 28.18 | 10% | 13.67 |
| 60 | Durham | 0.70% | £1,269.59 | 9.02 | 20% | 9.31 |
| 61 | Perth | 0.50% | £1,300.00 | 23.60 | 10% | 4.88 |