Trending cities and industries for veterans in tech
Veterans bring a mix of leadership, resilience, and technical discipline that naturally fits with today’s technology-driven workforce. SSi People notes, “The time veterans spend in the military equips them with valuable skills essential for today’s in-demand tech roles. They develop key soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving […]” With over 200,000 service members transitioning to civilian life each year, the talent pool is substantial and increasingly important for tech employers.
Below, we explore the top industries and U.S. cities for veterans in tech, why they are prominent, and provide practical steps for veterans and organizations. This includes why partnering with a tech-recruiting specialist is a smart move for your business.
Top industries hiring veterans in tech
Across the U.S., tech-driven industries are looking for talent capable of handling complexity, leading under pressure, and adapting to change. These qualities are central to military training. It’s no surprise, then, that many fast-growing sectors have become natural spaces for veterans in tech.
Information Technology and Cybersecurity
Veterans often take on roles that require organization, skills, and technical knowledge. SSi People states: “Veterans are strong candidates for positions in software development, cybersecurity, system engineering and data science.” Their experience managing secure communications systems, following strict protocols, and working under mission pressure translates well into IT environments facing talent shortages.
Defense & Aerospace
The defense and aerospace industry also aligns well with veteran experience. Veterans may hold active security clearances, understand mission-focused operations, and possess leadership in high-stakes environments. SSi Peopleemphasizes that veterans transitioning from military duty have the skill sets for these roles, “bring years of leadership, critical experience, and technical training to the table, which are directly applicable to leading tech teams and projects.”
Healthcare and Medical Technology
As healthcare organizations adopt digital transformation (e.g., health IT, analytics, device integration), veterans experienced with structured, high-stakes operations and data integrity are an excellent fit. Backgrounds in military medical support, telemetry, or logistics offer valuable transferable skills.
Logistics & Supply Chain
Veterans often bring extensive operational experience coordinating personnel, equipment, and data in complex situations. These skills directly translate to tech-enabled supply chain management, logistics software, and optimization tools; sectors where demand continues to grow. SSi People highlights that the military skillset is well-suited for tech and engineering roles because, “working with electronic equipment … operating state-of-the-art machinery … establishing communication hubs … all require skills that are easily adaptable to private-sector tech roles.”
Engineering, Manufacturing & Finance
These industries are increasingly adopting digital, automation, and analytics technologies, aligning well with the structured, disciplined approach of veterans. Additionally, the finance and fintech sectors value veterans’ expertise in compliance, risk management, and systems operations.
Top U.S. Cities Leading the Veteran–Tech Transition
Across the country, several cities have emerged as top destinations for veterans pursuing careers in technology and related fields. These metros combine strong employer demand, active veteran communities, and industry ecosystems that align with military-honed skills, such as systematic thinking, leadership, and operational discipline.
Scottsdale, Arizona
Ranked among the nation’s top cities for veterans by ClearanceJobs due to its exceptionally strong job market and support for veteran employment. The city has become a hub for roles in information technology, finance, and healthcare innovation. The expanding tech corridor in the Phoenix metro area, with employers in cybersecurity, fintech, and med-tech, provides an ideal opportunity for veterans to transfer their technical skills into the private sector.
Jacksonville, Florida
With one of the largest Navy installations in the Southeast, Jacksonville bridges its military history with a growing logistics, defense, and IT economy. The city’s robust infrastructure, shipping ports, and aviation technology employers make it a strategic destination for veterans transitioning into roles that require operational excellence and project management.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa consistently ranks among the best cities for veterans to live and work, according to WalletHub/Newsweek, 2025, thanks to its concentration of cybersecurity, defense contracting, and healthcare technology Local programs, such as CareerSource Tampa Bay’s Veteran Employment Initiative, strengthen pipelines between transitioning service members and regional tech companies.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach remains a top region for engineering, IT, and advanced manufacturing careers among veterans, thanks to its defense and aerospace presence. The Hampton Roads area continues to rank highly nationwide for veteran employment, supported by its close ties to major defense contractors and military facilities.
These cities reveal a pattern: Regions where military presence, technology development, and veteran support come together foster strong environments for veterans aiming to switch into technology careers.
Why these markets are thriving for veterans
The increasing connection between regional economies and the national workforce needs is creating strong opportunities for veterans across these cities. Each metro area’s top industries, from cybersecurity and defense to healthcare, logistics, and engineering, reflect the skill sets veterans gain during service.
Employers in these markets are also heavily investing in veteran transition programs, mentorship networks, and partnerships with recruiting firms that know how to turn military experience into civilian success. As a result, veterans aren’t just filling roles—they’re driving innovation in mission-critical sectors.
Technology companies, healthcare systems, and defense contractors all report measurable improvements in performance and retention when veterans are integrated into their teams. These outcomes highlight a simple truth: where skill demand aligns with military readiness, communities and businesses prosper.
Several key factors support the prominence of these industries and cities for veterans in tech.
- Skill alignment – Veterans develop leadership, mission focus, technical discipline, and adaptability. These qualities are highly valued by technology and engineering employers. SSi People states that veterans are, “a powerful combination of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and unwavering dedication.”
- Talent demand – Ongoing shortages in technology, cybersecurity, engineering, and logistics open opportunities for veteran talent to make an immediate impact.
- Veteran-friendly ecosystems – Cities with strong military ties often host veteran employment programs, universities and colleges offering transition training, and employer networks focused on veteran hiring.
- Retention and cultural value – Veterans’ retention rates are generally higher than those of non-veterans when the right supportive environment is available.
- Lifestyle and relocation appeal – Locations that offer affordability, a high quality of life, veteran communities, and favorable climates make relocating for veterans more appealing.
How veterans can land a role in these sectors/locations
The growing demand for technology talent isn’t just an opportunity; it’s a call to action. Veterans entering today’s workforce already possess the mission focus, adaptability, and analytical thinking that many employers find hard to locate. However, translating these strengths into civilian career language requires clarity, preparation, and the right professional support.
Veterans who succeed in these industries often take a mission-based approach to their career transition: they identify the environments that value their experience, enhance their technical skills, and build relationships with employers who understand the importance of their service.
Employers in technology, healthcare, and defense increasingly partner with veteran-ready recruiters like SSi People to close skill gaps and align transferable skills with top technology roles across the U.S. Veterans who engage with these resources often accelerate their career momentum, moving quickly from exploration to employment.
Whether you’re relocating to a veteran-friendly city like Tampa, Virginia Beach, or Scottsdale, or exploring remote work opportunities in cybersecurity or software development, transitioning from military service to a civilian tech career requires planning.
Here are some key steps to transitioning to civilian careers:
- Translate your military experience into business and tech language. Emphasize leadership, systems operations, problem-solving, security awareness, and adaptability instead of just listing Military Operational Specialties (MOS) codes or rank.
- Obtain or validate tech credentials such as cybersecurity (CompTIA Security+, CISSP), cloud certifications (AWS, etc.), software engineering bootcamps, or Skill-Bridge programs. This enhances technical credibility, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.
- Identify target industries and regions where your background aligns, such as defense/aerospace, logistics, healthcare technology, and focus on metropolitan areas known for veteran hiring momentum, like the cities listed above.
- Partner with a veteran-focused tech recruiting firm like SSi People’s ServiceStrong Veterans Program, which understands both veteran talent and the needs of tech employers. SSi notes that working with such partners allows organizations to, “build pipelines tailored to the military skillset.”
- Leverage veteran networks and support systems – Engage with veteran employment programs, local veteran business councils, job fairs in target cities, and employer veteran-hiring initiatives.
- Prepare for relocation or remote opportunities – While certain regions are hubs for Veteran workforce opportunities, remote and hybrid locations can expand your options even further. Highlight flexible workstrategies to boost veteran employment.
- Build your civilian brand and narrative – Keep your résumé and LinkedIn profile achievement-focused, and engage in local or online veteran-tech networks to showcase your leadership skills and technical expertise.
The business case: Why veterans are great hires
Veterans contribute far more than just technical skills; they bring a mindset that boosts performance across all sectors. As organizations move toward digitizing their operations and enhancing workforce agility, the qualities that define military service—discipline, teamwork, accountability, and mission focus—are emerging as clear competitive advantages.
Employers that prioritize veteran hiring consistently report higher retention, stronger leadership pipelines, and improved culture alignment. From cybersecurity to engineering to logistics, veterans not only fill roles; they raise the standard of excellence within the teams they serve. Companies that intentionally recruit and integrate veterans “gain a powerful combination of technical expertise and strategic thinking that strengthens business outcomes.”
These benefits are measurable. National surveys and SSi’s client data consistently show that hiring veterans isn’t just an act of goodwill, it’s a strategic decision with lasting results. Research from the U.S. Department of Labor and Journal of Veterans Studies supports these conclusions.
Beyond what veterans can do, employers gain substantial benefits when they hire veterans in technology beyond their core job skills. Consider the following from SSi People research and expertise:
- “Each year approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian life, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.”
- “Veterans are an untapped goldmine of talent … many veterans bring years of leadership, critical experience, and technical training to the table.”
- SSi People reports that veterans’ retention rates are higher than those of non-veterans when provided with proper support.
- Another example from a firm or client cited by SSi: “One manufacturing client saw a 30% increase in retention after implementing a veteran-targeted recruitment strategy developed with SSi.”
These data points reinforce that hiring veterans isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a smart business decision. Veterans provide proven leadership under pressure, strong process discipline, technical expertise, a mission-driven mindset, and often security clearances—everything a high-performing tech company needs.
The bottom line
For veterans looking to transition into technology and related fields, the connection between military-acquired skills and civilian tech needs has never been stronger. Whether in IT, cybersecurity, aerospace, healthcare technology, logistics, or manufacturing, veterans are well-suited. By focusing on high-opportunity industries and cities like Scottsdale, AZ; Jacksonville, FL; Tampa, FL; and Virginia Beach, VA, veterans can set themselves up for meaningful, growth-oriented careers.
For employers and technology leaders, veterans represent a valuable talent pipeline with inherent strengths in retention, discipline, and leadership. Collaborating with an experienced recruiting firm that understands the veteran-technology interface, such as through the SSi People ServiceStrong Veterans Program, ensures that both candidates and organizations succeed.