NextChapter

Best all-round cities for AI careers in the Southeast

McLean is the best all-round city for AI careers in the Southeast, with a score of 90 / 100.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 McLean, VA: 90 / 100
  • #2 Arlington, VA: 87 / 100
  • #3 Reston, VA: 87 / 100
  • 29 cities ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1McLean VA90 / 100
  2. 2Arlington VA87 / 100
  3. 3Reston VA87 / 100
  4. 4Herndon VA85 / 100
  5. 5Atlanta GA81 / 100
  6. 6Chantilly VA75 / 100
  7. 7Nashville TN67 / 100
  8. 8Charlotte NC65 / 100
  9. 9Miami FL63 / 100
  10. 10Tysons VA62 / 100

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: McLean leads on 90 / 100, and #10 Tysons is at 62 / 100.
  • Tysons reaches #10 on a sample of 190 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Atlanta is the largest market in the top ten, with 5,566 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 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

    McLean VA

    90 / 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

  2. 2

    Arlington VA

    87 / 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

  3. 3

    Reston VA

    87 / 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

  4. 4

    Herndon VA

    85 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    13%
    AI-skill openings
    109
    Median posted pay
    $161k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 821 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

  5. 5

    Atlanta GA

    81 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    13%
    AI-skill openings
    701
    Median posted pay
    $135k

    Hiring most here: Emory University, Oxford College of Emory University, Capgemini Invent

    Based on 5,566 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Atlanta

  6. 6

    Chantilly VA

    75 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    10%
    AI-skill openings
    54
    Median posted pay
    $194k

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Trinzic, Peraton

    Based on 555 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chantilly

  7. 7

    Nashville TN

    67 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    8%
    AI-skill openings
    140
    Median posted pay
    $133k

    Hiring most here: Oracle, Amazon, Vanderbilt University

    Based on 1,650 openings.

  8. 8

    Charlotte NC

    65 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    9%
    AI-skill openings
    294
    Median posted pay
    $121k

    Hiring most here: Truist Financial, Scout Motors, SMBC Americas

    Based on 3,198 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Charlotte

  9. 9

    Miami FL

    63 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    8%
    AI-skill openings
    185
    Median posted pay
    $134k

    Hiring most here: University Of Miami, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises / Holland America Line

    Based on 2,344 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Miami

  10. 10

    Tysons VA

    62 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    20%
    AI-skill openings
    38
    Median posted pay
    $126k

    Hiring most here: M.C. Dean, Alarm.com Holdings, LMI

    Based on 190 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tysons

  11. 11

    Alpharetta GA

    61 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    12%
    AI-skill openings
    68
    Median posted pay
    $125k

    Hiring most here: Morgan Stanley, Fiserv, Landis+Gyr

    Based on 576 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alpharetta

  12. 12

    Mc Lean VA

    57 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    8%
    AI-skill openings
    18
    Median posted pay
    $163k

    Hiring most here: Capital One, Booz Allen Hamilton, Sunrise Senior Living

    Based on 234 openings.

  13. 13

    Huntsville AL

    54 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    6%
    AI-skill openings
    66
    Median posted pay
    $137k

    Hiring most here: L3HARRIS Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Blue Origin

    Based on 1,154 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Huntsville

  14. 14

    Raleigh NC

    51 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    7%
    AI-skill openings
    106
    Median posted pay
    $114k

    Hiring most here: First Citizens Bank, Dewberry, MaintainX

    Based on 1,427 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Raleigh

  15. 15

    Vienna VA

    50 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    11%
    AI-skill openings
    18
    Median posted pay
    $133k

    Hiring most here: Esri, Navy Federal Credit Union, Antithesis

    Based on 163 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Vienna

  16. 16

    Alexandria VA

    49 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    6%
    AI-skill openings
    34
    Median posted pay
    $140k

    Hiring most here: Kearney, Patent and Trademark Office, Analytic Services (ANSER)

    Based on 584 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alexandria

  17. 17

    Springfield VA

    41 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    7%
    AI-skill openings
    19
    Median posted pay
    $131k

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Caci Technologies, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 274 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

  18. 18

    Fort Belvoir VA

    38 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    7%
    AI-skill openings
    13
    Median posted pay
    $135k

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Teksynap, LMI

    Based on 197 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Belvoir

  19. 19

    Tampa FL

    37 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    6%
    AI-skill openings
    100
    Median posted pay
    $101k

    Hiring most here: DTCC, University of South Florida, Tampa Electric

    Based on 1,738 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tampa

  20. 20

    Jacksonville FL

    37 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    7%
    AI-skill openings
    74
    Median posted pay
    $100k

    Hiring most here: Confidential, Intercontinental Exchange, UF Health

    Based on 1,071 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jacksonville

  21. 21

    Boca Raton FL

    35 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    10%
    AI-skill openings
    34
    Median posted pay
    $95k

    Hiring most here: Compass, Baptist Health South Florida, SBA Communications

    Based on 344 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boca Raton

  22. 22

    Manassas VA

    28 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    2%
    AI-skill openings
    5
    Median posted pay
    $137k

    Hiring most here: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Electra.Aero, Holder Construction

    Based on 231 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Manassas

  23. 23

    Richmond VA

    27 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    5%
    AI-skill openings
    52
    Median posted pay
    $100k

    Hiring most here: Mckesson, Capital One, Genworth Financial

    Based on 1,136 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Richmond

  24. 24

    Louisville KY

    24 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    2%
    AI-skill openings
    44
    Median posted pay
    $104k

    Hiring most here: BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare, GE Appliances

    Based on 2,064 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Louisville

  25. 25

    Orlando FL

    24 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    3%
    AI-skill openings
    41
    Median posted pay
    $101k

    Hiring most here: Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin Services, Sikorsky Aircraft

    Based on 1,272 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Orlando

Full ranking

All 29 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1McLean VA90 / 1001,155
2Arlington VA87 / 1001,989
3Reston VA87 / 100783
4Herndon VA85 / 100821
5Atlanta GA81 / 1005,566
6Chantilly VA75 / 100555
7Nashville TN67 / 1001,650
8Charlotte NC65 / 1003,198
9Miami FL63 / 1002,344
10Tysons VA62 / 100190
11Alpharetta GA61 / 100576
12Mc Lean VA57 / 100234
13Huntsville AL54 / 1001,154
14Raleigh NC51 / 1001,427
15Vienna VA50 / 100163
16Alexandria VA49 / 100584
17Springfield VA41 / 100274
18Fort Belvoir VA38 / 100197
19Tampa FL37 / 1001,738
20Jacksonville FL37 / 1001,071
21Boca Raton FL35 / 100344
22Manassas VA28 / 100231
23Richmond VA27 / 1001,136
24Louisville KY24 / 1002,064
25Orlando FL24 / 1001,272
26Tallahassee FL22 / 100759
27Frankfort KY19 / 100153
28Norfolk VA18 / 100332
29Fort Lauderdale FL15 / 100572

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 100 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 in the southeast?
McLean is the best all-round city for AI careers in the Southeast, with a score of 90 / 100.
How many cities are ranked?
29 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 29 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 in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-ai-careers-in-the-southeast

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

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

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