A new study has identified Glasgow as the leading UK city for tech professionals as 2026 begins, in a shift away from London-centric career paths. The research points to growing opportunities across regional cities where job availability, pay growth and market stability are reshaping expectations around work and wellbeing.
The study was conducted by SEO agency Startup Voyager and analysed the 100 most populated UK cities. It assessed conditions for software developers using four metrics: current average salary, salary increase over the past year, available vacancies per 100,000 people and vacancy growth over the same period.
Taken together, the findings suggest that access to well paid roles and a steady supply of opportunities are increasingly influencing where tech professionals choose to live and work. For employers, the results underline how location and local labour markets can play a role in supporting workforce stability and long term wellbeing.
Glasgow ranked first with a total index score of 10.00, performing strongly across all four measures. The city recorded high scores for available vacancies per 100,000 people at 8.77 and vacancy growth at 7.53, indicating sustained demand for tech skills. Cheltenham followed in second place with a score of 9.72, driven by the highest salary index score of 10 alongside solid growth in both salaries and vacancies.
Regional Growth and Workforce Stability
Cambridge placed third with an index score of 9.69 and achieved the highest score for vacancies per 100,000 people at 10. Portsmouth ranked fourth at 9.57 with strong growth in salaries and vacancies, while Northampton came fifth with a score of 9.49 after recording notable increases in both pay and job availability over the past year.
Belfast ranked sixth with an index score of 9.40, standing out for salary growth at 9.42 despite more moderate vacancy growth. Lincoln followed in seventh place with a score of 9.17, supported by high salary growth and a strong salary index. High Wycombe placed eighth with a score of 8.99, reflecting steady gains across salary and vacancy measures.
Bedford ranked ninth with an index score of 8.90, showing consistent performance across all metrics. Manchester completed the top ten with a score of 8.53, maintaining high vacancy levels alongside stable salary growth and reinforcing its position as a major tech centre outside London.
Commenting on the findings, Peter Banerjea, CEO and Co-founder of Startup Voyager, said, “This study does a great job at showing how the different areas in the UK are adapting to the digital climate, not only are the biggest capital cities doing well, smaller cities like Lincoln, which has a population of around 100,000, are also excelling.”
Infrastructure and Wellbeing Considerations
Banerjea added that vacancy data only tells part of the story.
“Vacancies paint a real-world picture, but the tech initiatives run deeper than that. Take Glasgow for example. It’s making consistent strides in the tech world. Glasgow has 99% LoRa coverage, which means smart devices like sensors and trackers can send small bits of data over long distances using very little power.
“With nearly the entire city connected to this network, it’s already one of the best in the UK for smart technology.”
For tech professionals and employers alike, the study suggests that investment in infrastructure and local ecosystems can support not only growth but also more sustainable working lives. As regional hubs continue to develop, access to opportunity combined with improved living conditions may play an increasing role in workplace wellbeing across the UK.