The Triangle is the hottest spot for tech jobs in the U.S., says a new report out today from the technology jobs website DICE.com.

Employers within a 30-mile radius of Raleigh are posting 1,120 jobs per day with an average salary of $79,000.

That jobs number is up 50 percent from a year ago and nearly triple from the depths of the recession in March 2009.

Salaries are up 3 percent from a year ago, DICE says. The national increase average is 2 percent.

The growth in jobs and salaries as reported by DICE dating back to 2008:

  • March 1, 2012: 1,120 jobs,  $79,000 average salary
  • March 1, 2011: 747 jobs, $77,000 salary
  • March 1, 2010: 548 jobs, $74,000 salary
  • March 2, 2009: 402 jobs, more than $70,000
  • March 1, 2008: 878 jobs, More than $68,000 in 2008

While the North Carolina unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent and Triangle joblessness around 8, the increase in tech jobs did not come as a surprise to DICE, which minotirs job openings around the U.S.

“When you look at the Raleigh area there are jobs in financial services and you do have that research park,” a spokesperson said, “so it makes sense jobs are growing.” 

Richmond ranked second in job openings growth at 40 percent followed by Houston (37 percent), Sacramento (37 percent) and Kansas City (30 percent).

Tom Silver, senior vice president for DICE in North America, noted about the Triangle:

“Their college basketball team isn’t ranked number one, but Raleigh tops our list of fastest growing cities for tech jobs. With more than 1,100 opportunities on any given day (+50 percent year over year), tech professionals in Raleigh enjoy a broad base of possibilities, including current openings at banks and nearby universities.”

In an overview of the national jobs picture, Silver added:

“The fastest-growing cities for tech jobs are as varied as their geographic locations. In Houston, tech job postings on Dice (+37% yr/yr) are flattered by the oil and gas industry’s strength. Compare that to Portland (#6) – often called the “Greenest City” – where the emergence of cloud and virtualization jobs are contributing to its current growth.

“From north to south, California has more to offer tech professionals than just Silicon Valley. In Sacramento, firms in healthcare and technology are hiring and tech paychecks have jumped six percent yr/yr to $87,000 on average. In San Diego, tech salaries average more than $85,000 annually, while defense and aerospace companies are recruiting.”

Silver also offered a bit of advice to job seekers:

“It’s important for tech professionals to remember with growing opportunities comes expanding options — if you’re willing to be flexible about where you live. Consider going for that promotion, asking for a raise or changing it up and finding that new opportunity.”

Get the latest news alerts: Follow WRAL Tech Wire at Twitter.