Texas is where tech happens, and nowhere knows it better than Houston. Home to both emerging startups and established industry giants like Chevron and JP Morgan, the Bayou City relies on a talented tech workforce in order to run its various industries, spanning from medical to oil and gas to finance.

In fact, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association's (CompTIA) Cyberstates 2019 report, Houston saw 62,008 tech occupation job postings listed in 2018, up 140 percent from 2017.

Not only did the number of tech job posting increase dramatically year over year, but job availability for roles related directly to software engineering and data science drove the growth of the top two leading tech occupations in Houston: software/web developers (+2.1 percent year over year) and computer systems analysts (+1.3 percent year over year).

With so many tech jobs available, one might think the landscape isn't competitive or desirable. But according to CompTIA's report, the median tech wages in Houston are 93 percent higher than median wages for the state, with the median tech salary coming in at $86,716.

Given this backdrop of job availability, tech growth, and favorable salary, Houston is an ideal place to start a career as a software engineer or data science. But how to start?

Coding and data science bootcamps, like WeWork's Flatiron School, help people pivot into tech careers. Flatiron School specializes in training its students in software development and data science through its 15-week immersive courses in Houston.

Andrew, a Flatiron School Houston graduate, saw first-hand that finance was turning toward big data. He wanted to become a software engineer to stay ahead of the curve and gain the skills he needed to succeed in a future job market. Now Andrew works for iland Internet Solutions as a full-time software developer in Houston.

Flatiron School is a global school that specializes in teaching tech skills like software engineering, data science, and UX/UI design, on campus and online. Since 2012, Flatiron School has helped thousands of people change their careers and their lives, by offering an alternative education model focused on training people on the most in-demand tech skills of today to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. Interested in learning more about Flatiron School? Sign up for a free campus tour.