NextChapter

Best all-round cities for new graduates in the Mid-Atlantic

Alexandria is the best all-round city for new graduates in the Mid-Atlantic, with a score of 72 / 100.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 Alexandria, VA: 72 / 100
  • #2 Annapolis, MD: 69 / 100
  • #3 Arlington, VA: 66 / 100
  • 32 cities ranked in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1Alexandria VA72 / 100
  2. 2Annapolis MD69 / 100
  3. 3Arlington VA66 / 100
  4. 4Manassas VA66 / 100
  5. 5Mc Lean VA62 / 100
  6. 6New York NY61 / 100
  7. 7Vienna VA61 / 100
  8. 8Washington DC60 / 100
  9. 9Pittsburgh PA59 / 100
  10. 10Richmond VA58 / 100

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Alexandria leads on 72 / 100, and #10 Richmond is at 58 / 100.
  • Vienna reaches #7 on a sample of 163 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • New York is the largest market in the top ten, with 20,589 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

New graduates need a place with many entry-level roles, pay that covers the cost of living and employers that state their pay. This list weighs those together and shows the weights, so it ranks the all-round picture rather than one number.

How to use it

Start with the top ten and read each city's numbers against what you value most. If one thing matters most to you, such as pay, switch to the single-measure list for it.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Alexandria VA

    72 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    34%
    Pay after cost of living
    $139k
    Entry-level openings
    199

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

    Based on 584 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alexandria

  2. 2

    Annapolis MD

    69 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    44%
    Pay after cost of living
    $119k
    Entry-level openings
    164

    Hiring most here: Northrop Grumman, Luminis Health, TEKsystems

    Based on 377 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Annapolis

  3. 3

    Arlington VA

    66 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    28%
    Pay after cost of living
    $143k
    Entry-level openings
    559

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Bloomberg Industry Group

    Based on 1,989 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  4. 4

    Manassas VA

    66 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    38%
    Pay after cost of living
    $136k
    Entry-level openings
    88

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

    Based on 231 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Manassas

  5. 5

    Mc Lean VA

    62 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    31%
    Pay after cost of living
    $161k
    Entry-level openings
    72

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

    Based on 234 openings.

  6. 6

    New York NY

    61 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    24%
    Pay after cost of living
    $147k
    Entry-level openings
    4,970

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 20,589 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  7. 7

    Vienna VA

    61 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    35%
    Pay after cost of living
    $131k
    Entry-level openings
    57

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

    Based on 163 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Vienna

  8. 8

    Washington DC

    60 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    22%
    Pay after cost of living
    $147k
    Entry-level openings
    994

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

    Based on 4,457 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Washington

  9. 9

    Pittsburgh PA

    59 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    35%
    Pay after cost of living
    $121k
    Entry-level openings
    533

    Hiring most here: PNC Financial Services Group, Highmark Health, UPMC

    Based on 1,514 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Pittsburgh

  10. 10

    Richmond VA

    58 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    36%
    Pay after cost of living
    $99k
    Entry-level openings
    411

    Hiring most here: Mckesson, Capital One, Genworth Financial

    Based on 1,136 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Richmond

  11. 11

    Norfolk VA

    57 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    40%
    Pay after cost of living
    $103k
    Entry-level openings
    133

    Hiring most here: Commonwealth of Virginia, Seacorp, United States Fleet Forces Command

    Based on 332 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Norfolk

  12. 12

    Herndon VA

    55 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $159k
    Entry-level openings
    222

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 821 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

  13. 13

    Fort Meade MD

    54 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    29%
    Pay after cost of living
    $142k
    Entry-level openings
    79

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

    Based on 276 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Meade

  14. 14

    Fort Belvoir VA

    53 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    31%
    Pay after cost of living
    $133k
    Entry-level openings
    61

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Teksynap, LMI

    Based on 197 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Belvoir

  15. 15

    Rockville MD

    53 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    29%
    Pay after cost of living
    $142k
    Entry-level openings
    103

    Hiring most here: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, The Emmes Company, BAE Systems

    Based on 355 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rockville

  16. 16

    Syracuse NY

    52 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    36%
    Pay after cost of living
    $109k
    Entry-level openings
    143

    Hiring most here: Upstate Medical University, Hidden Level, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 400 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Syracuse

  17. 17

    Brooklyn NY

    50 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $126k
    Entry-level openings
    186

    Hiring most here: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Williams-Sonoma, Altana AI

    Based on 680 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Brooklyn

  18. 18

    Philadelphia PA

    49 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $127k
    Entry-level openings
    499

    Hiring most here: Confidential, GSK, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    Based on 1,820 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Philadelphia

  19. 19

    Chantilly VA

    49 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $192k
    Entry-level openings
    149

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Trinzic, Peraton

    Based on 555 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chantilly

  20. 20

    Buffalo NY

    47 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    32%
    Pay after cost of living
    $100k
    Entry-level openings
    134

    Hiring most here: Moog Military Aircraft, University at Buffalo, Moog

    Based on 416 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Buffalo

  21. 21

    White Plains NY

    46 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    31%
    Pay after cost of living
    $121k
    Entry-level openings
    69

    Hiring most here: New York Power Authority, FormativGroup, RWE Clean Energy

    Based on 222 openings.

    Jobs and employers in White Plains

  22. 22

    McLean VA

    45 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    20%
    Pay after cost of living
    $148k
    Entry-level openings
    229

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 1,155 openings.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  23. 23

    Reston VA

    44 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    21%
    Pay after cost of living
    $157k
    Entry-level openings
    162

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

    Based on 783 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Reston

  24. 24

    Albany NY

    44 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    31%
    Pay after cost of living
    $95k
    Entry-level openings
    115

    Hiring most here: KPMG, New York State, Broadview Credit Union

    Based on 366 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Albany

  25. 25

    Baltimore MD

    40 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $118k
    Entry-level openings
    292

    Hiring most here: Northrop Grumman, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins University

    Based on 1,066 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Baltimore

Full ranking

All 32 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Alexandria VA72 / 100584
2Annapolis MD69 / 100377
3Arlington VA66 / 1001,989
4Manassas VA66 / 100231
5Mc Lean VA62 / 100234
6New York NY61 / 10020,589
7Vienna VA61 / 100163
8Washington DC60 / 1004,457
9Pittsburgh PA59 / 1001,514
10Richmond VA58 / 1001,136
11Norfolk VA57 / 100332
12Herndon VA55 / 100821
13Fort Meade MD54 / 100276
14Fort Belvoir VA53 / 100197
15Rockville MD53 / 100355
16Syracuse NY52 / 100400
17Brooklyn NY50 / 100680
18Philadelphia PA49 / 1001,820
19Chantilly VA49 / 100555
20Buffalo NY47 / 100416
21White Plains NY46 / 100222
22McLean VA45 / 1001,155
23Reston VA44 / 100783
24Albany NY44 / 100366
25Baltimore MD40 / 1001,066
26Rochester NY39 / 100518
27Princeton NJ37 / 100396
28Bethesda MD35 / 100443
29Jersey City NJ34 / 100618
30Newark NJ33 / 100426
31Tysons VA32 / 100190
32Springfield VA18 / 100274

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): entry-level share of openings 40%, pay after cost of living 25%, entry-level openings 20%, openings with pay posted 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 new graduates in the mid-atlantic?
Alexandria is the best all-round city for new graduates in the Mid-Atlantic, with a score of 72 / 100.
How many cities are ranked?
32 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 32 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): entry-level share of openings 40%, pay after cost of living 25%, entry-level openings 20%, openings with pay posted 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 new graduates in the Mid-Atlantic,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-new-graduates-in-the-mid-atlantic

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-new-graduates-in-the-mid-atlantic">Best all-round cities for new graduates in the Mid-Atlantic (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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