When choosing a new location for your business, what matters most? Is it access to top talent, affordability, quality of life for employees or opportunities for collaboration and growth?
Whatever your priorities are, making the best choice starts with reliable data. That’s where our new Technology Data Book comes in. It’s where you can find clear, comparative data that highlights the strengths and challenges of different regions, helping you identify competitive advantages quickly and confidently.
Take Pittsburgh, for example. It’s known for its talent pool, strategic location and expertise in robotics and automation. But the Waterloo region holds its own in these areas – and more.
Our Technology Data Book covers 11 major North American tech ecosystems, comparing workforce, salaries, costs and quality of life. We’ve already stacked Waterloo against Silicon Valley. Now, it’s Pittsburgh’s turn.
Let’s see how they measure up.
Key Takeaways
- Waterloo outscores Pittsburgh in terms of tech talent workforce, growth and concentration
- Waterloo region’s population growth far outpaces Pittsburgh’s, especially among young professionals
- Pittsburgh’s estimated one-year company cost is $10M more than Waterloo’s
- The Waterloo area has one of the lowest corporate tax rates among major tech hubs, while Pittsburgh has one of the highest out of the cities compared in our Tech Data Book
Data Point #1: Tech workforce size and growth
Source: CBRE Scoring Tech Talent Report 2025
It’s a strong victory for Waterloo here. Not only does Waterloo region have more tech workers than Pittsburgh, but we are part of the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor – home to over 373,600 tech workers. Together, these regions create a tech powerhouse that easily outpaces Pittsburgh in workforce size.
While Pittsburgh’s tech workforce has shrunk by 5.7% over the past three years, Waterloo experienced one of the highest growth rates among 50 markets in CBRE’s 2025 Scoring Tech Talent report. With strong talent concentration and rapid growth, it’s no surprise that the Waterloo community is once again the #1 small tech talent market in North America.
Data Point #2: Population growth
Sources: Lightcast, 2025. Population growth from 2018-2023 at the CD/MSA level; CBRE Scoring Tech Talent Report 2025
Waterloo’s population growth far outpaces Pittsburgh’s, especially among young professionals. Our community leads all 50 ranked communities in growth for people in their 20s and 30s – key talent pipelines for growing businesses. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh saw a decline in its population of 20s-30s, with a -3.4% decline in growth.
This surge in young, employable talent strengthens Waterloo’s workforce and adds to its appeal for companies looking to expand.
Data Point #3: Estimated one-year company cost
Source: CBRE Scoring Tech Talent Report 2025 – based on office space and wages for 500 people
Although Pittsburgh and Waterloo are both classified as midsized tech hubs, Waterloo is more affordable for companies looking to expand. Over the course of a year, it costs almost $10M less to set up shop in Waterloo than in Pittsburgh.
Waterloo’s business affordability is due to our Canadian tax advantages and lower real estate and salary costs. Corporate income and payroll taxes are lower in Canada than in the United States, while tax credit programs like SR&ED can save companies up to 66.5% of R&D costs.
Data Point #4: Payroll taxes
Source: Taxes from respective governments – based on an average office-based employee salary of $75,000 USD
As a result of higher state, medical and social security/pension taxes, overall payroll taxes in Pittsburgh are higher than in Waterloo. For a software engineer earning $75,000 in Pittsburgh, you’d pay $6,160.50 annually in payroll taxes. In Waterloo, the same role earning the same amount would cost just $4,781.08.
Data Point #5: Corporate tax rates
Sources: BDO, 2025 Corporate Income Tax Rates; 2025 State Corporate Income Tax Rates & Brackets; PWC, 2025 Corporate income tax (CIT) rates
Corporate tax refers to the combined federal and state/provincial tax rate for technology companies and it directly affects financial performance and business operations.
Waterloo has one of the lowest corporate tax rates among major tech hubs, tied with Toronto. In contrast, Pittsburgh has one of the highest, which directly affects your company’s bottom line. Lower corporate taxes mean more capital for growth and innovation.
Our new Technology Data Book offers thirteen different tables comparing salaries, taxes, population growth, talent diversity and more across eleven North American tech communities, including Austin, Seattle, Detroit, New York and Silicon Valley. Download your free copy now.