Number of high-tech Jobs: 88,936

High-tech payroll: $8.2 billion

Average wage: $92,156

Area employers: Qwest Communications International (part of CenturyLink)

Between 2007 and 2009, Denver gained 5,200 high-tech jobs, proving itself an anomaly among the U.S.'s largest high-tech cities. The area's companies focus on telecommunications services, computer system design, and engineering services. The area's average techie earned 81 percent more than its average private sector employee.