6 Reasons to Build a Tech Career in Tulsa and How to Start with Holberton Tulsa

Holberton School Tulsa is taking the bold move of helping Tulsa actualize its dream of becoming a major tech hub. Popularly referred to as “the oil capital of the world,” Tulsa is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that it places itself at the forefront of technological advancement.

The technological industry has experienced exponential growth within the last decade, and it is forecasted to undergo rapid growth within the next 10 years, according to the World Economic Forum. As a result, the demand for tech talents has been on a constant increase. This has created a massive gap in the job market as employers find it challenging to source skilled tech professionals.

Holberton School Tulsa, therefore, aims to become a breeding ground for tech talents by offering a conducive environment and providing financial support to those who wish to pursue their tech career in Tulsa.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why launching your career in the city of Tulsa is worth considering and how Holberton School Tulsa can be your stepping stone towards this goal.

Why Should You Start Your Tech Career in Tulsa?

Apart from being a thriving city with great nightlife and beautiful architectural designs, the following are some of the reasons to consider starting your tech career in Tulsa.

Low Cost of Living

According to PayScale, Tulsa is one of the most affordable cities to live in the US. This presents an opportunity for aspiring tech professionals who choose to pursue their careers in Tulsa to worry less about the wallet-breaking cost of living in a high-end city. Instead, they can focus on achieving their career goals.

Emerging Tech Hub

CBRE, one of the largest real estate and investment service companies, ranked Tulsa among the fastest-rising cities for tech talents in the US in its annual tech talent report. According to the report, tech wages have increased 13 percent in Tulsa over the last five years, with the average tech worker earning $82,815 annually.

To achieve its goal of becoming a major tech hub, Tulsa is leading the charge on the future of work by partnering with major stakeholders through its Tulsa Innovation Labs initiative. This initiative is designed to support anyone coming to Tulsa to start their tech career journey and bolster the local tech talents through a wide range of programs.

Tulsa Workforce Development

Tulsa wants to build a solid local community of tech professionals. To achieve this, it is partnering with Holberton School, one of the top-rated vocational schools in the US, and Urban Coders Guild, a non-profit organization specializing in teaching coding skills to junior and senior high school students from underrepresented and underserved communities.

Tulsa Talent Relocation

Tulsa is not only building its local workforce, but it’s also attracting talents from all over the US to come and work from Tulsa through its Tulsa Remote program. It offers a $10,000 living stipend to applicants who choose to work remotely from Tulsa. Applicants are also provided a co-working space to work and collaborate with other remote workers and entrepreneurs.

Tulsa Entrepreneurial Support

Providing support to various groups of remote workers, startups, innovators, and a diverse community of entrepreneurs, 36 Degree North is a basecamp for growth facilitation in Tulsa. It offers co-working spaces in two locations in downtown Tulsa and provides meeting spaces, mentorship, workshop, and events.

Access to Early Stage Venture Funds

Atento Capital, one of the investment firms in Tulsa that provides early-stage direct investments and investment funds, is joining the effort to build a thriving tech ecosystem in Tulsa. Feature investments include BBC Ventures, which focuses on consumer tech startups; Bonfire Ventures, which focuses on business software solutions; Hanako Ventures, which focuses on emerging startups; and many others.

In alignment with Tulsa’s dream of becoming a major tech hub, Holberton School’s software engineering programs are designed to equip students with tech skills that will set them up for success in the ever-evolving tech space.

How to Break Into the Tulsa Tech Industry with Holberton School

Holberton School Tulsa is part of a global network of software engineering schools on five continents. It offers highly in-demand software engineering programs designed and curated by industry experts. The programs are designed to equip students with in-demand tech skills to take up entry-level positions in the tech market.

The school also aims to create a diverse and inclusive workforce in tech through its niche programs that are currently underrepresented but highly in demand in the tech market. The programs are practical-oriented, giving students firsthand experience in solving real-world problems with a hands-on approach.

Before enrollment, prospective students are advised to visit the school facility, meet with staff, and understand the program structure before proceeding to enroll. Learn more about Holberton School’s key features here.

A Deep Dive into Holberton School Tulsa’s Computer Science Programs

1. Computer Science and Front End Web Development

• Duration: 12 months

The program covers both the fundamentals and the essential topics of front end web development. Students interact with a wide range of technologies currently being used in the industry during the program, such as React, Typescript, ES6, Redux, GraphQI, and programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

A career in software development is one with countless future opportunities as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13 percent increase in software development and digital designer’s jobs by 2030. Front end software developers also earn an average of $76,512 annually, according to PayScale, which is another factor to consider when making your career decision.

2. Computer Science and Backend Web Development

• Duration: 12 months

Learn the entire framework of backend development currently being used in the industry. The program curriculum is designed for students to be well-versed in creating, maintaining, and improving web applications and APIs.

As students progress through the course, they will gain a solid knowledge of advanced technologies such as NodeJS, NoSQL, MySQL (advanced), Redis, MongoDB, Python, and many more.

A backend software development career provides a future of many job opportunities and growth. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developer jobs are projected to grow by 22 percent by 2030. The annual salary of a backend software developer sits at $87,009, according to PayScale.

3. Computer Science and DevOps Engineering

• Duration: 12 months

Students will learn industry-standard DevOps engineering skills with a major focus on the skills currently in demand in the tech market. By the end of the program, students will be able to deploy and maintain web infrastructures at a scale for platforms that are high in traffic.

Before completing the program, students will gain solid knowledge in CI/CD, Network Security, Cloud technology, logging, and monitoring. Students will also interact with Numpy, Keras, Tensorflow, Pandas, Spark, among others.

A career path in DevOps engineering may be considered a wise career choice. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 22 percent growth in DevOps engineering and related jobs by the end of the decade. They also earn an annual salary of $97,168, according to PayScale.

4. Computer Science and Full Stack Web Development

• Duration: 12 months; 20 months

This is an all-in-one software development program designed to equip students with advanced front end and backend web development skills. Students will be working on real-life projects using technologies such as Reatjs, SASS, MySQL, NoSQL, and NodeJS. They will also build interactive designs and perform unit and integration testing.

Full stack web developers are currently in high demand as their skills to handle both the front end and backend of web development make them a desirable choice for medium to large businesses. Full stack professionals are also among the top well-paid tech jobs in the US. They earn an average of $79,521 annually, according to PayScale.

5. Computer Science Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

• Duration: 12 months; 20 months

Augmented reality (AR) is among the top emerging technologies of the 21st century. It comes with unlimited opportunities and a 360-degree experience on how we interact with the physical world, providing us with boundless reach. The program is designed to equip students with advanced skills to take up jobs in the emerging market of AR and virtual reality (VR).

Statista cites that augmented reality is projected to transform jobs in various industries by 2030, enhancing over 23 million jobs within the same time frame. According to PayScale, augmented reality professionals make an average of $82,000 a year, placing this job category among the highest earners in tech.

6. Computer Science, Linux Programming, Advanced Algorithm, and Blockchain Programs

• Duration: 12 months; 20 months

Blockchain has been among the disrupting technologies in the last decade. Cutting across finance, gaming, and a wide range of applications that are still yet to be discovered.

Students will receive in-depth knowledge of the C programing language and the Linux kernel interface. They will dig into data structures and explore the mechanism behind blockchain technology.

The annual take-home salary of blockchain professionals reflects how this tech niche is growing. According to PayScale, blockchain engineers earn an average of $112,000 per year, making it one of the highest-paying jobs in the tech market.

7. Computer Science and Machine Learning

• Duration: 12 months; 20 months

Machine learning is a growing field in tech with applicability in various industries. From self-driving cars to natural language processing to computer vision, it brings many opportunities to those considering this career path.

Students will receive solid practical skills to set them up for a quick break into the tech space. They will interact with many of the sophisticated technologies currently being used in the industry. They will be well-versed in technologies such as MongoDB, Tensorflow, Pandas, Spark, and all major Python libraries for machine learning.

The annual salary of machine learning professionals stands at $111,983 according to PayScale—a reflection of the high demand for machine learning professionals.

Holberton School Tuition and Payment Options

Holberton School’s 12-month programs cost $30,000 while the 20-month programs cost $50,000. The upside: students who don’t have the financial capacity to pay up front can take advantage of Holberton School’s flexible financing options.

For instance, students can opt for the Income Share Agreement (ISA). This payment model allows students to enroll and complete their chosen program without paying a dime. They are only required to pay back in monthly installments for a maximum of 42 months once they have landed their first job and only if they earn at least $40,000 per year.

An admissions advisor will discuss the available financing options with you based on your chosen program. Follow this link to fill out an online form with your name, your program of choice, and contact details. The process will only take a few minutes to complete, and an admissions advisor will contact you.

Begin Your Tech Career in Tulsa Today

Tulsa is offering a one-of-a-kind opportunity to those who want to grow their tech career in a thriving community of tech professionals and entrepreneurs. Without having to worry about moving and settling costs, prospective tech professionals will receive all the support they need in integrating into a diverse community of like-minded people.

With a solid presence in Tulsa, Holberton School is revolutionizing the tech space and mentoring the tech skills that will place Tulsa on the map of the most diverse tech force in the US and beyond. Apply to Holberton School today and begin your tech career journey in Tulsa.