Number of high-tech Jobs: 127,760

High-tech payroll: $11.2 billion

Average wage: $87,292

Area employers: Exxon Mobil, FMC Technologies, Cardtronics

Best known for its oil businesses, Houston is also home to companies that provide engineering and computer systems design services. These employers suffered when information technology spending by local companies in the oil and gas sector and other industries dropped. The average high-tech worker in the area made 57 percent more than employees in the private sector.