SD tech bounceback happened last year

By the end of last year, San Diego technology industries had more than bounced back from the Great Recession, according to a study by Kelly Cunningham of the National University System Institute for Policy Research.

As of last year, technology-oriented businesses employed 142,100 workers, generating $41.4 billion in sales. The categories are biotech/biomedical, communications equipment, computers and electronics, defense and transportation, environmental technology, recreational goods, software, and tech consulting services.

Tech accounts for 11 percent of the county's payroll jobs, but 21 percent of total payroll dollars. Reason: average wages in tech are $103,600, compared with $47,700 for non-tech jobs.

The Milken Institute ranked San Diego seventh among leading high-tech metro areas in North America.