NextChapter

Best all-round cities for AI careers

San Francisco is the best all-round city for AI careers in the United States, with a score of 98 / 100.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 San Francisco, CA: 98 / 100
  • #2 Mountain View, CA: 97 / 100
  • #3 San Mateo, CA: 94 / 100
  • 100 cities ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1San Francisco CA98 / 100
  2. 2Mountain View CA97 / 100
  3. 3San Mateo CA94 / 100
  4. 4Palo Alto CA94 / 100
  5. 5Sunnyvale CA94 / 100
  6. 6Santa Clara CA93 / 100
  7. 7Seattle WA92 / 100
  8. 8San Jose CA92 / 100
  9. 9Bellevue WA90 / 100
  10. 10Boston MA89 / 100

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: San Francisco leads on 98 / 100, and #10 Boston is at 89 / 100.
  • San Francisco is the largest market in the top ten, with 11,798 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 200 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Careers that use AI cluster in a few places. This list weighs the share and number of openings that ask for AI skills and the pay they offer, to show where AI work is concentrated.

How to use it

If you are building AI skills, the top cities show where the employers and the roles are. The gap between your city and the top is a guide to what to add to your résumé.

The top 25

  1. 1

    San Francisco CA

    98 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    42%
    AI-skill openings
    4,931
    Median posted pay
    $215k

    Hiring most here: OpenAI, Anthropic, University Of California San Francisco Foundation

    Based on 11,798 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Francisco

  2. 2

    Mountain View CA

    97 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    45%
    AI-skill openings
    682
    Median posted pay
    $213k

    Hiring most here: Intuit, Waymo, Google

    Based on 1,515 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mountain View

  3. 3

    San Mateo CA

    94 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    34%
    AI-skill openings
    304
    Median posted pay
    $235k

    Hiring most here: Roblox, Verkada, Skydio

    Based on 894 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Mateo

  4. 4

    Palo Alto CA

    94 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    38%
    AI-skill openings
    472
    Median posted pay
    $203k

    Hiring most here: SpaceX, Rivian Automotive, Stanford Health Care

    Based on 1,237 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Palo Alto

  5. 5

    Sunnyvale CA

    94 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    29%
    AI-skill openings
    450
    Median posted pay
    $210k

    Hiring most here: Applied Intuition, Wayve, Amazon

    Based on 1,556 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sunnyvale

  6. 6

    Santa Clara CA

    93 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    28%
    AI-skill openings
    433
    Median posted pay
    $209k

    Hiring most here: Pure Storage, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon

    Based on 1,530 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Clara

  7. 7

    Seattle WA

    92 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    26%
    AI-skill openings
    1,382
    Median posted pay
    $180k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Blue Origin, Shield AI

    Based on 5,343 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Seattle

  8. 8

    San Jose CA

    92 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    23%
    AI-skill openings
    542
    Median posted pay
    $199k

    Hiring most here: Super Micro Computer, Advanced Micro Devices, Cisco Systems

    Based on 2,379 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Jose

  9. 9

    Bellevue WA

    90 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    28%
    AI-skill openings
    385
    Median posted pay
    $197k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, TerraPower, Okta

    Based on 1,396 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bellevue

  10. 10

    Boston MA

    89 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    22%
    AI-skill openings
    1,143
    Median posted pay
    $170k

    Hiring most here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, State Street, Confidential

    Based on 5,143 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boston

  11. 11

    Foster City CA

    88 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    24%
    AI-skill openings
    125
    Median posted pay
    $230k

    Hiring most here: Gilead Sciences, Zoox, Replit

    Based on 520 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Foster City

  12. 12

    Redmond WA

    88 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    18%
    AI-skill openings
    210
    Median posted pay
    $209k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, SpaceX, Microsoft

    Based on 1,147 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Redmond

  13. 13

    Menlo Park CA

    88 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    34%
    AI-skill openings
    148
    Median posted pay
    $195k

    Hiring most here: Snowflake, Robinhood Ventures Fund I, Hippocratic AI

    Based on 437 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Menlo Park

  14. 14

    Austin TX

    87 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    19%
    AI-skill openings
    1,097
    Median posted pay
    $163k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices, Cloudflare

    Based on 5,903 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Austin

  15. 15

    New York NY

    86 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    21%
    AI-skill openings
    4,263
    Median posted pay
    $165k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 20,589 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  16. 16

    Redwood City CA

    84 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    26%
    AI-skill openings
    123
    Median posted pay
    $187k

    Hiring most here: Corcept Therapeutics, SB Energy, C3 AI

    Based on 471 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Redwood City

  17. 17

    Cambridge MA

    83 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    15%
    AI-skill openings
    169
    Median posted pay
    $198k

    Hiring most here: Harvard University, Biogen, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

    Based on 1,141 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cambridge

  18. 18

    Oakland CA

    77 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    17%
    AI-skill openings
    98
    Median posted pay
    $179k

    Hiring most here: Pacific Gas & Electric, Blue Shield of California, Fivetran

    Based on 581 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oakland

  19. 19

    Waltham MA

    77 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    16%
    AI-skill openings
    91
    Median posted pay
    $194k

    Hiring most here: Boston Dynamics, Anduril Industries, Xometry

    Based on 583 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Waltham

  20. 20

    McLean VA

    77 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    18%
    AI-skill openings
    203
    Median posted pay
    $150k

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 1,155 openings.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  21. 21

    Reston VA

    76 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    17%
    AI-skill openings
    131
    Median posted pay
    $159k

    Hiring most here: ICF International, CACI International, Anduril Industries

    Based on 783 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Reston

  22. 22

    Washington DC

    74 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    11%
    AI-skill openings
    480
    Median posted pay
    $160k

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, CACI International, Shield AI

    Based on 4,457 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Washington

  23. 23

    Arlington VA

    73 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    14%
    AI-skill openings
    279
    Median posted pay
    $145k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Bloomberg Industry Group

    Based on 1,989 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  24. 24

    Denver CO

    73 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    16%
    AI-skill openings
    455
    Median posted pay
    $140k

    Hiring most here: True Anomaly, Blue Origin, Amazon

    Based on 2,867 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Denver

  25. 25

    Santa Monica CA

    72 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    21%
    AI-skill openings
    63
    Median posted pay
    $167k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Snap, FIGS

    Based on 307 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Monica

Full ranking

All 100 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1San Francisco CA98 / 10011,798
2Mountain View CA97 / 1001,515
3San Mateo CA94 / 100894
4Palo Alto CA94 / 1001,237
5Sunnyvale CA94 / 1001,556
6Santa Clara CA93 / 1001,530
7Seattle WA92 / 1005,343
8San Jose CA92 / 1002,379
9Bellevue WA90 / 1001,396
10Boston MA89 / 1005,143
11Foster City CA88 / 100520
12Redmond WA88 / 1001,147
13Menlo Park CA88 / 100437
14Austin TX87 / 1005,903
15New York NY86 / 10020,589
16Redwood City CA84 / 100471
17Cambridge MA83 / 1001,141
18Oakland CA77 / 100581
19Waltham MA77 / 100583
20McLean VA77 / 1001,155
21Reston VA76 / 100783
22Washington DC74 / 1004,457
23Arlington VA73 / 1001,989
24Denver CO73 / 1002,867
25Santa Monica CA72 / 100307
26Herndon VA72 / 100821
27Jersey City NJ70 / 100618
28Lexington MA70 / 100255
29Chicago IL70 / 1007,607
30Ann Arbor MI70 / 100350
31San Diego CA70 / 1003,085
32Atlanta GA70 / 1005,566
33Irvine CA69 / 1001,503
34Princeton NJ68 / 100396
35Los Angeles CA68 / 1005,126
36Dallas TX67 / 1004,429
37Fremont CA66 / 100470
38Somerville MA66 / 100295
39Irving TX65 / 100883
40San Carlos CA65 / 100210
41Chantilly VA65 / 100555
42Eden Prairie MN65 / 100321
43El Segundo CA65 / 100949
44Quincy MA63 / 100258
45Milpitas CA60 / 100257
46Nashville TN57 / 1001,650
47Charlotte NC56 / 1003,198
48Santa Ana CA55 / 100258
49Brooklyn NY55 / 100680
50Plano TX54 / 1001,051
51Miami FL54 / 1002,344
52Bethesda MD54 / 100443
53Alpharetta GA53 / 100576
54Broomfield CO52 / 100285
55Tempe AZ49 / 100672
56Rockville MD49 / 100355
57Salt Lake City UT48 / 1001,048
58Detroit MI48 / 100734
59Philadelphia PA48 / 1001,820
60Mc Lean VA47 / 100234
61Minneapolis MN47 / 1001,276
62Huntsville AL47 / 1001,154
63Raleigh NC46 / 1001,427
64Berkeley CA45 / 100238
65Torrance CA44 / 100735
66Houston TX44 / 1004,330
67Fort Meade MD43 / 100276
68Boulder CO43 / 100423
69Newark NJ43 / 100426
70Columbus OH43 / 1001,892
71Indianapolis IN42 / 1001,422
72Long Beach CA40 / 100840
73Alexandria VA40 / 100584
74Phoenix AZ38 / 1002,749
75Aurora CO38 / 100335
76Pittsburgh PA37 / 1001,514
77Fort Worth TX37 / 1001,267
78Scottsdale AZ36 / 100758
79Baltimore MD35 / 1001,066
80Westminster CO34 / 100258
81Newport Beach CA34 / 100286
82Springfield VA33 / 100274
83Hartford CT33 / 100350
84White Plains NY33 / 100222
85Jacksonville FL32 / 1001,071
86Tampa FL32 / 1001,738
87Milwaukee WI30 / 100827
88Boca Raton FL29 / 100344
89Oklahoma City OK28 / 100569
90Schaumburg IL26 / 100218
91Omaha NE26 / 100545
92Cincinnati OH26 / 1001,379
93Colorado Springs CO25 / 100692
94Sacramento CA23 / 1001,364
95Las Vegas NV23 / 100932
96Portland OR23 / 100792
97Reno NV22 / 100296
98Cleveland OH22 / 100891
99Mundelein IL21 / 100247
100Kansas City MO21 / 100879

How this ranking works

A city's score is the weighted average of its percentile rank on each measure among the ranked cities (100 is first, 0 is last): ai-skill share of openings 35%, ai-skill openings 30%, median posted pay 20%, pay after cost of living 15%.

A score of 100 would mean first on every measure and 50 is the middle of the pack. The measures and weights are fixed in advance and shown here; they are a judgment about what matters to this reader, so use the single-measure rankings when one thing matters most.

Only cities with enough openings and pay data are ranked.

A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 200 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles and posted pay; Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which city ranks first: best all-round cities for ai careers?
San Francisco is the best all-round city for AI careers in the United States, with a score of 98 / 100.
How many cities are ranked?
100 cities have at least 200 openings, so the list has 100 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the weighted average of its percentile rank on each measure among the ranked cities (100 is first, 0 is last): ai-skill share of openings 35%, ai-skill openings 30%, median posted pay 20%, pay after cost of living 15%. A score of 100 would mean first on every measure and 50 is the middle of the pack. The measures and weights are fixed in advance and shown here; they are a judgment about what matters to this reader, so use the single-measure rankings when one thing matters most. Only cities with enough openings and pay data are ranked. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Best all-round cities for AI careers,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-ai-careers

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-ai-careers">Best all-round cities for AI careers (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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