Washington Computer Training Schools

Perhaps most famous for Microsoft, Washington State has plenty of other high-tech employers -- and there are plenty of computer training centers in Washington to feed and compliment them.

Computer schools in Washington

At IT training centers in Washington, individuals may learn cutting edge technology due to rapidly evolving tech scene that grows from the Seattle area. Washington computer schools offer the same types of education as other state's schools, including certificate courses and associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. Professionals can also take individual classes on an emerging technology or earn vendor certifications.

Students have their pick of computer learning centers in Washington. In addition to the state's six colleges and universities, one of which is Seattle's largest employer, Washington is home to more than 300 community colleges, private colleges and vocational and technical schools, according to the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Washington tech jobs: Employment, salary and job outlook

The Washington Technology Industry Association says that 38 percent of all workers in Washington State are employed by technology-based companies. The 2010 Washington State Labor Market and Economic Report revealed that, with regard to employment trends, the computer and software development industry "is holding relatively strong." Between 2013 and 2018, Washington's information industry is expected to grow 2.2 percent.

Although not all of the technology companies in Washington are located in Seattle, many are. According to the City of Seattle, information and communications technology companies account for $13.6 billion in revenue and 186,800 jobs. Major employers include Amazon.com, Microsoft and Real Networks. Seattle's video game companies account for one-third of the industry's yearly $10 billion revenues. For those interested in cloud computing and virtualization, Seattle is home to Parallels, Skytap and Symform.

The only non-health career to make Washington's "Top Ten Occupations for 2010" list was computer software applications engineer, according to the Washington Employment Security Department. In 2010, the state's 23,895 software engineers earned a median annual wage of $92,765. The 2,307 computer and information systems managers earned a median annual wage of $118,922.