San Francisco at a Glance

Working in San Francisco

San Francisco is the economic and financial center of the Bay Area.

Working in San Francisco may not offer the typical Californian weather to expat employees. However, the City by the Bay has a lot in store for professionals from all over the globe. Read our guide to working in San Francisco and learn about the economy, social security, business culture and more.

Working in San Francisco: The Financial Sector

Since the early days of the California Gold Rush, San Francisco has been an important financial center at the west coast. Expats who consider working in San Francisco’s finances sector will benefit from the city’s location, halfway between Tokyo and London, and between San Diego and Seattle.

San Francisco’s natural harbor has let it thrive on trade and shipping ever since the early days. Today, the port handles 30% of the west coast trade and business undertaken by people living in San Francisco. The city is indeed home to some of the country’s largest banks and over 30 financial institutions. All this makes this city a center of world commerce and the place to be for expats who plan on working in San Francisco’s financial sector.

Working in San Francisco: New Media and Technology

Expats keen on working in San Francisco will also be happy to learn that the surrounding Bay Area is considered the birth place of new media. The city’s South Park neighborhood hosts quite a few innovative new technology companies. Mission Bay, on the other hand, shows collaborative innovation between the biotech industry and academic research.

The high-tech development that started in San Francisco during World War II is still under way. The nearby Silicon Valley and Stanford University are the places where the tech boom began, and today they remain cutting edge. Specialists working in San Francisco’s over 2800 high-tech companies produce computers, semiconductors and other electronic equipment. Expats interested in working in San Francisco’s aerospace industry may also find an occupation with NASA or Lockheed.

Working in San Francisco: Other Sectors

Expats who think about working in San Francisco’s medical science sector will feel right at home here. After all, this city is setting the pace in terms of research and development of pharmaceutical products, medical electronics and genetic engineering. Almost one third of the entire biotech workforce around the world is currently working in San Francisco.

Another prominent economic sector in the Bay Area is the tourism industry. Since it is the largest industry in the entire region, it is likely that expats interested in working in San Francisco may find an occupation in this sector. After all, tourism generates $6.73 billion in income each year.

Working in San Francisco: Financial District

The Financial District, located in San Francisco’s north-east, functions as the city’s central business district. The entire area is marked by clusters of high-rise buildings and towers. Here, you will also find San Francisco’s tallest buildings, including the Transamerica Pyramid.

Moreover, the Financial District is home to San Francisco’s largest concentration of corporate headquarters, law firms, banks as well as other financial institutions. Montgomery Street forms the traditional heart of this area and is often referred to as “Wall Street of the West.” Several consulates are located in the Financial District as well: As a member of the diplomatic corps, you could be working in San Francisco’s consulates for Brazil, Luxembourg, Ireland or the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Republic of China.

Working in San Francisco: Labor Force

San Francisco has the highest concentration of new immigrants and expats in the nation, thus providing a continuous supply of workers. In addition to the diversity of employees working in San Francisco, the city’s labor force is well-educated. Some of the best-trained professionals of the country are now working in San Francisco. More than 16% of all people working in San Francisco hold graduate or professional degrees.

San Francisco’s work force is a magnet for business and employment. The US Department of Labor estimates that San Francisco’s diverse and well-educated population is creating one of the most productive labor forces in the country. Small and medium-sized businesses are abundant throughout the city. 95% of all businesses employ 50 workers or less.