The United States is home to many of the world‘s largest and most influential technology companies. Giants like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Facebook have become household names, with products and services that reach billions of people worldwide. But America‘s tech industry extends far beyond the well-known titans of Silicon Valley. All fifty states host innovative tech companies, from tiny startups to major employers. This article will take a tour of some of the largest tech companies across the United States.
First, let‘s look at the overall biggest U.S. tech companies by revenue and market value. Apple leads the pack, with over $274 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2020. The iPhone maker also became the first U.S. company to reach a $2 trillion market capitalization in August 2020. Microsoft is close behind, with $143 billion in fiscal 2020 revenue and a $1.6 trillion market cap as of July 2021. Amazon, Google (Alphabet), and Facebook round out the top five, each with annual revenues well over $50 billion. These five companies alone employ over 1.2 million people.
California‘s Silicon Valley remains the undisputed capital of the tech world. Apple, Google, Facebook, Intel, Cisco Systems, Oracle, Netflix, and many others call the San Francisco Bay Area home. The region has been a hotbed of tech innovation since the 1970s and today still attracts billions in venture capital funding for startups looking to become the next big thing.
But California is far from the only state with a thriving tech industry. Washington state is home to two of the world‘s most valuable companies: Microsoft and Amazon. Microsoft, co-founded by Bill Gates in 1975, has grown into a global software behemoth. Its Windows operating system powers over 1 billion PCs worldwide, and its Azure cloud computing platform is second only to Amazon Web Services. Amazon has transformed from an online bookseller into one of the most dominant and far-reaching companies in the world. Beyond its massive e-commerce business, Amazon is a leader in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and media streaming. Washington is also home to other major players like telecom giant T-Mobile and travel tech company Expedia.
Moving south, Texas has seen massive growth in its tech industry over the past few decades. Austin in particular has become a major tech hub, attracting companies with its lower costs of living and doing business compared to coastal cities. Dell Technologies, a leader in PCs and enterprise computing, was founded in Austin in 1984. The metro area is also home to major offices of Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, IBM, Oracle, and many others. Other notable Texas tech companies include telecom giant AT&T, which is headquartered in Dallas, and IT services firm Rackspace in San Antonio.
The East Coast has its share of tech heavyweights as well. New York is home to IBM, which traces its roots back to 1911. Though no longer the dominant force it once was, IBM remains an important player in enterprise IT hardware, software, and services. The New York City area also hosts major offices for Amazon, Google, Facebook, and many other tech companies attracted to the business and media capital.
A couple hundred miles north, Massachusetts boasts a booming biotech scene as well as a strong IT sector. Boston-based Akamai is one of the world‘s largest cloud services and cybersecurity providers, helping major websites stay online and protected from attack. Wayfair has grown into a leading e-commerce platform for home goods. The state is also home to robotics companies like Boston Dynamics and iRobot, as well as major research centers and startups connected to MIT and other universities.
Some of the largest tech companies are located in states not typically seen as tech hubs. Wisconsin is home to Epic Systems, which provides electronic health record software used by many of the largest hospitals and health systems. Garmin, known for its GPS devices and smartwatches, is headquartered in Kansas. Micron Technology, the largest U.S. maker of computer memory chips, hails from Idaho. Virginia hosts the headquarters of Northrop Grumman, DXC Technology, and several other large government IT contractors.
The tech industry is a major driver of economic growth and job creation across the country. According to the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the tech sector employs over 12 million people in the U.S. as of 2021. This includes over 8 million tech workers across all industries, as well as over 4 million workers employed by tech companies. The average tech industry wage is more than twice the national average. In 2019, the tech industry accounted for 10.5% of total U.S. GDP and 18.2% of total private sector investment. CompTIA projects the tech industry will grow at over twice the rate of the overall economy over the next decade.
Looking ahead, technology will continue to reshape the business world and daily life. Artificial intelligence is becoming ubiquitous, powering everything from virtual assistants to autonomous vehicles to diagnostic tools that can detect diseases earlier than ever before. The Internet of Things will bring online billions of devices in our homes, offices, and public spaces. Edge computing will make the processing of data faster and more efficient by moving it closer to the source. 5G networks will open up new frontiers for smart cities, telemedicine, robotics, and more. Clean technologies like electric vehicles and new forms of renewable energy will help build a more sustainable future.
American tech companies large and small will be at the forefront of developing these exciting innovations. While Silicon Valley remains the global tech mecca, we can expect to see more tech hubs emerge across the country, from Austin to Pittsburgh to Salt Lake City and beyond. As technology becomes ever more central to the economy, the companies leading the digital transformation will play an outsized role in driving growth and prosperity. With a spirit of creativity, risk-taking, and problem-solving, there‘s no limit to what the vibrant U.S. tech industry will achieve in the years and decades ahead.
