DC tech jobs

Of course pay isn’t as good. That’s an economics thing but there are def some start ups there and tech pockets in Reston and Herndon. I️ worked at a start up and a friend another startup.

I’m in NoVa but it’s a large geo. Gov work can be depressing. There’s lots of security companies (maniant, fireeye). There’s an Amazon Office bear Reston along with a smattering of other tech cos. Further west you have Verizon who recently incorporated Aol. A mix of smaller random companies around.

I'm in NOVA area. The tech jobs are good, mostly govt work and govt contracting. Most of the well paying jobs are as a govt contractor (booze allen, lockheed, etc) which will require a high level security clearance. Microsoft, Amazon, and large accounting firms are all in the area, paying very well.

All of the tech startups are in DC. Many of them function in the WeWork spaces in and around DC, as that’s an inexpensive hip office space for their business.

You're pretty spot on in your analysis. I'm in NoVA and the best paying jobs are in contracting - with the highest needing a security clearance. There are a few companies doing some cool things, but the pay is lower even though the cost of living is pretty close to the Bay Area...but in terms of career mobility, I don't think DC is a wise move for someone not interested in Gov't contracting work

Is $150k a good senior sys admin salary for the area?

I moved from DC to the bay area. Worked in DC a while, you can get paid decently with defense contracting (when i left i was making 150k ~6 years exp) but the quality of talent in the DC area is just low. I’m not saying everyone is bad it’s just there are more bad than good and the work can be very behind and uninteresting. If you want a cushy job where you get paid a lot defense contracting in DC is great, but if you want to learn new things/ have an impact there are only a few companies in DC where you can do that.

TTT