Best Classes Seattle, WA

Seattle has a higher proportion of tech workers than almost anywhere else in the country, and that has helped the city stay resilient. More tech jobs are added to the employment forefront in Seattle than most other locations on the West Coast, and many companies formerly headquartered in the Bay Area are now finding it more attractive to be located in the Pacific Northwest. The pattern of expansion is similar to the beginnings of the technology boom in San Francisco, but with the advantages of having more geographic room to grow.

The Seattle tech landscape is primarily concentrated in South Lake Union, a location historically known for manufacturing. The area saw a tech transformation when Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen bought a significant amount of land in the area. His vision was to build an enormous park known as the Seattle Commons, to rival anything seen before. The land he purchased was used to develop an epicenter for technology and life sciences, valuable for tech pros to know. Today, South Lake Union is home to Amazon headquarters and outposts for companies like Facebook and Google.

Seattle professionals are encouraged knowing that a recent announcement by Amazon, which is working on a substantial expansion, means adding 10,000 more jobs to the city by 2025. Bellview is part of the Greater Seattle Area and a short ferry ride away from the center of the Emerald City. The City of Bellevue has become a tech hub itself, with political leaders glad to house the offices of Microsoft, T-Mobile, Concur, and Facebook. Seattle is famously recognized as the king of all nationally franchised coffee shops, Starbucks, and keeps company with other Fortune 500 entities, including Nordstrom, Weyerhaeuser, Expeditors International, and Alaska Airlines.

Companies love the benefits of doing business in Seattle, in a state that does not collect a personal or corporate income tax or capital gains tax. This has made it possible to be well known as one of the top incubation locations for startups, especially “unicorns”—fledgling business concepts that spring to success so quickly, they are almost impossible to see coming. Built In Seattle is a top resource for all things budding as a startup in Seattle, especially breaking news and job opportunities. The site provides a listing of the best startups and entrepreneurs to watch, as well as a job list showcasing opportunities at rising stars such as Chewy, Axon, Donuts Inc., and ZipWhip.

Statistics on the tech scene in Seattle are astounding—not surprising since corporations have realized they can easily gather existing top-tier talent, as well as the lure that The Emerald City provides for bringing in more tech pros. The Seattle area added a combined 33,803 tech jobs in the past three years, for a growth rate of 25.7 percent. Seattle eclipsed all other markets in terms of jobs added, with Silicon Valley ranked second at 24,971 jobs added. As for exciting positions, the Seattle area supports 165,264 high-tech software and services jobs, a figure that accounts for 42% of all office jobs. When compared to the cost of living between the two top locations, Seattle clearly wins out.

Tech Careers in Seattle

Having a secure and lucrative technology-based career in Seattle is easily attainable. Seattle added more tech jobs in 2019 than any other location in the nation, according to Geekwire. Factoring in that living in another tech-significant city, San Francisco, costs 24% more than being based in Seattle, and it’s impossible to beat living and working anywhere else in tech.

Tech giants love the Emerald City due to how extraordinarily educated the location is, with 63% of its residents holding a bachelor’s or higher-level degree. WalletHub ranked Seattle as the 11th most educated city in the entire country in just the last few years, however, the profile of up-and-coming tech professionals is changing faster than most other tech hubs. Smart students are turning towards field-specific bootcamps and certificates that can be garnered in less time—and with less cost and debt—than traditional four-year colleges.

Along with the strength of training tech pros have in Seattle, employees stay in their tech jobs longer than Bay Area residents, demonstrating a work/life satisfaction level that is hard to beat. In fact, Seattle outpaced all other similar tech hubs with a lower turnover rate and a higher level of company-wide promotions within the largest employers. Seattle residents report that along with robust salaries, their loyalty is directly connected to their employers’ devotion to employee happiness. Business Insider’s report on the “Top 25 Companies to Work For” listed several of Seattle’s most prominent business leaders, who also ranked among Fortune 500’s prestigious list, including Tableau Big Data and Software, Unity Technologies, and Ookla, which is the company behind scene-changing software Speedtest.

Likely because of the impressive level of talent of the local workforce, and the ease of providing additional training for employees, a significant number of tech legends are now either headquartered or have large satellite offices in the Greater Seattle area. This includes industry heavy-hitters such as Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Google, Apple, and Facebook. Other main-stage players with anchors in Seattle include Nordstrom, Avanade, and Alaska Airlines.

Seattle is a giant incubator for startups and entrepreneurs. As evidenced by soaring success stories like Rad Power Bikes, Highspot, and UNIFY Dots, now emerging as leaders in the industry, yet with beginnings in Seattle. With inspiration from office neighbors who already top the revenue-driving lists, the opportunity to rub elbows with CEOs is possible in the Emerald City. One of Seattle’s unique characteristics is that networking is more intimate in a less crowded tech environment. Often in bigger cities, there is an overwhelming number of entrepreneurs all vying for attention, and it’s easy for a startup to get lost in that maze. Seattle’s reputation is as a city without pretension, with plenty of opportunities to achieve mentorship in technology that wouldn’t likely be possible anywhere else.

One way of gaining support, regardless of if someone is just getting started, or has already established a career, is through a large number of local networking groups in Seattle. No group denies entrance to those willing to put themselves in the public eye, and being active within a few choice organizations puts members on the shortlist for employment and in front of the investor community. Support organizations such as the Washington Technology Alliance and The Northwest Entrepreneur Network are great starting points.

With Seattle’s welcoming workplace vibe, time spent away from work is just as friendly. Dressing casually isn’t just the office dress code, it goes for pretty much anywhere in the city and beyond. The Emerald City attracts those who like to be outside, and with plenty of northwest precipitation, residents know it’s important to wear the right clothes for adventure. “Business casual” often means hiking boots and flannel shirts, which are just as much the leading fashion statements as functional clothing. With the proximity to the Pacific Ocean and deep lush forests inland, seeing spectacular sites including beautiful Puget Sound. Other than the Space Needle, the most iconic site is Mt. Rainier, standing at 14,411’ above sea level and visible from all parts of the city.

Pike Place Market is something that is a must-do and see, not just for visitors, but residents, too. This huge chain of booths, boutiques, and vendors is picture-perfect, verging on the edge of both downtown and the water. More than just a beloved public market, Pike Place Market is a vibrant neighborhood of hundreds of farmers, craftspeople, small businesses, and florists. In addition to being a vital makeup of Seattle’s community, Pike Place Market serves as a hub for preserving and protecting the historic buildings and character of the nine-acre stretch. Whether inhaling the heavenly smells of seemingly endless booths of fresh flowers or experiencing the unique opportunity to buy seafood fresh off the boat (which, iconically, is often thrown far above the heads of bystanders to be caught by buyers, a humorous and memorable experience), the market is the place to be.

The cost of living in the Seattle area is on par with some of the averages of other major cities, such as Denver and Boston. The high average salaries that a career in technology provides make it possible to enjoy life in this coastal metropolis. Software Engineers typically see an average salary of $139,000 per year, and Data Scientists earn approximately $166,000 annually.

Tech Schools in Seattle

In innovative technology-rich Seattle, high salaries across all tech sectors make acquiring the skills it takes to enter a career in tech a wise investment. There are an amazing amount of technology classes and bootcamps in Seattle to choose from. More than 300 of the best course offerings from area schools provide in-person, live online, and on-demand course options. Schools are located in the heart of the city downtown and in nearby areas that are easy to reach. For tech students, schools cover a vast array of subjects in technology, including Design, Digital Marketing, Data-related training, Coding, Business, Web Development, and IT. Two schools, Certstaffix and ONLC, hold classes in a computer lab, pre-loaded with the latest equipment and software, led by a live, off-site instructor. Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, has compiled an extensive list of the top schools and the subjects they offer.

Seattle has five locations to choose from to take in-person and hybrid courses and bootcamps in Graphic Design. Those wanting to pursue a design career have more than enough options to learn anything they’d like about the field, and many schools also offer live, online, and on-demand options. Types of programs that can be found include bootcamps/immersives, certificates, and classes, ranging from six hours to twelve weeks in length. Topics across the graphic design spectrum are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Visual Design, and UX Design. Schools in the metropolitan area that offer in-person and online Graphic Design courses are New Horizons, Sonic, the School of Visual Concepts, Luminous, and General Assembly. Additionally, ONLC and Certstaffix hold classes in computer labs with equipment preloaded with the latest software and a live, offsite instructor.

Schools that offer Data Science classes and bootcamps in Seattle include training locations that provide twenty-six excellent in-person and live online courses. Schools are located downtown or just outside of the city center, making it possible to find a spot that fits with busy schedules. Courses range from three hours to 72 weeks, including bootcamps, which dive deeply into hands-on instruction in this fast-growing field. Subjects within the realm of Data Science include Python, SQL, Machine Learning, and R. The schools that offer a range of data science courses include Sonic, the Flatiron School, Galvanize, Coding Dojo, New Horizons, and General Assembly. There is one other school that offers a hybrid option in a computer lab with a live, remote instructor, Certstaffix.

For in-person and hybrid Web Development classes and bootcamps in Seattle, students can choose from over 40 classes provided by General Assembly, Hack Reactor, the Flatiron School, Epicodus Galvanize, and Sonic. All schools are located near downtown or just outside of the city center, making it convenient to find a training center that fits students’ needs. Another school, Cerstaffix, offers live instruction in a state-of-the-art computer lab with a live, off-site instructor.

There are more than 83 options presented by ten highly-ranked schools to choose from for in-person, live online, and on-demand coding classes and bootcamps in Seattle. These training centers offer live, online courses and provide a way for students to take classes from wherever they choose and are close to major thoroughfares. Schools in the city and close outlying centers include Digital Concepts, Coding Dojo, the University of Washington Boot Camps, General Assembly, the Flatiron School, Hack Reactor, Epicodus, New Horizons, Galvanize, and Sonic. Two other schools, Certstaffix and ONLC, hold their coding classes in a dedicated computer lab, with instruction from a live, remote instructor. All courses take students through the learning process step-by-step and provide object-based experiential learning experiences.

Students can find coding-related options in Web Development, Data Science, Computer Science, iOS Development, Front End Development, Back End Development, Python, JavaScript, Java, SQL, HTML & CSS, and PHP & MySQL. Offerings range from comprehensive and immersive bootcamps to extensive information certificates and classes. Most courses are also available live and online and offer a variety of times and lengths. For more extensive programs, financial assistance is often available.

Those looking for in-person Web Design bootcamps and classes in Seattle can choose from fifty courses at schools around the heart of the city center and nearby sub-cities. Topics within web design include Front End Web Development, Visual Design, UX Design, WordPress, HTML & CSS, JavaScript & jQuery, Sketch, and Adobe XD. Courses include bootcamps and hands-on classes, ranging from three hours to twelve weeks, and are offered in-person, live online, and via on-demand sessions. Schools that offer web design courses include New Horizons, General Assembly, Sonic, and The School of Visual Concepts. Two other schools, Certstaffix and ONLC, hold courses in dedicated computer labs, led in real-time by off-site instructors.

Attending an in-person Digital Marketing class or bootcamp in forward-thinking Seattle is a wise investment to get ahead of the competition in the booming digital world. Schools in the city offer live, online classes, as well as on-demand sessions. Students can choose to take face-to-face courses at General Assembly and Sonic. More classes can be found with Certstaffix and ONLC, two schools that hold courses in a computer lab with a live, remote instructor leading the class. Subjects students can choose from include Google Analytics, Google Ads, SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and ecommerce.

Seattle is an excellent place to learn Python skills in an in-person bootcamp or class. Four highly-rated schools offer face-to-face and live online classes in convenient locations for busy professionals both downtown and within minutes outside of the city center. Top schools include the University of Washington Boot Camps, General Assembly, and New Horizons. Two other schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, provide classes in a computer lab with pre-loaded professional-level software and are led by a live, offsite instructor. Python is essential for most careers in technology, and certain professions require knowledge in specific syntaxes of the language. Instruction in Python for all levels and career-related topics can be found throughout the schools listed and offered live online, as well as on-demand.

Students can choose from twenty-three in-person Video Editing classes and bootcamps in Seattle at Luminous or The School of Visual Concepts in traditional classrooms or at Cerstaffix, which holds classes in a computer lab led by a live offsite instructor. Video editing classes are fast-paced, hands-on learning experiences that range from two to ten days. Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, also offers many courses in video editing that are held live and online. General areas of study in video editing include motion graphics, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and First Cut Pro.

In-person and live, online UX Design classes in Seattle are offered by Sonic, The School of Visual Concepts, and General Assembly. Each school is in the city center and offers classes that are important to every professional in the field of design, including Sketch, Adobe XD and UX Design Research. These schools offer comprehensive overviews of the user experience (UX) and place particular emphasis on Sketch and Adobe XD.

Students have a choice of twenty-nine unique in-person and live online Excel bootcamps and classes throughout the Seattle area. All Excel sessions range from three hours to three days and are provided by the top-notch schools, Sonic, General Assembly, and New Horizons. Two different schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold Excel classes in dedicated computer labs led by an offsite instructor. The need for Excel skills stretches into most areas of a professional career, so essential general and specific classes in the software are available face-to-face, live and online, or on-demand.

Corporate & Onsite Tech Training in Seattle

In tech-focused Seattle, it’s essential to keep your team up-to-date with the latest developments in technology. That’s why Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, provides onsite corporate training in technology. An expert Noble Desktop instructor will arrange a session in a vast array of technical subjects, and can provide training at your location. Additionally, a live session can be arranged via a video conferencing platform such as Zoom.

If it is easier for individual employees to attend a class on their own schedule, vouchers can be obtained for them to attend an open enrollment session. There is a discount on the purchase of multiple vouchers. Contact Noble Desktop to arrange a tailored training session for your workplace and employees.