{"h1":"Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Great Lakes","faq":[{"a":"Ann Arbor leads the Great Lakes: 12% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 4% across all cities in our data.","q":"Which city ranks first: best cities for entry-level jobs that want ai skills in the great lakes?"},{"a":"38 cities have at least 40 entry-level openings, so the list has 38 entries.","q":"How many cities are ranked?"},{"a":"A city's score is the share of its entry-level and early-career roles whose posting names at least one AI skill or tool. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. A city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.","q":"How is the ranking calculated?"},{"a":"Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.","q":"How often is it updated?"}],"lead":"Ann Arbor leads the Great Lakes: 12% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 4% across all cities in our data.","minN":40,"rows":[{"n":92,"bar":1,"key":"MI|ann arbor","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/ann-arbor","name":"Ann Arbor","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"11"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"92"},{"label":"All openings","value":"350"}],"value":0.1195652173913044,"change":null,"employers":["May Mobility","Torc Robotics","Thomson Reuters"],"valueLabel":"12%"},{"n":66,"bar":0.8870523415977961,"key":"MN|eden prairie","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/eden-prairie","name":"Eden Prairie","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"7"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"66"},{"label":"All openings","value":"321"}],"value":0.1060606060606061,"change":null,"employers":["Unitedhealth Group","LHC Group","Illinois Tool Works"],"valueLabel":"11%"},{"n":57,"bar":0.733652312599681,"key":"OH|dublin","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/dublin","name":"Dublin","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"5"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"57"},{"label":"All openings","value":"128"}],"value":0.08771929824561403,"change":null,"employers":["Oclc","Univar Solutions","Quantum Health"],"valueLabel":"9%"},{"n":1794,"bar":0.7132867132867132,"key":"IL|chicago","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/chicago","name":"Chicago","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"153"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"1,794"},{"label":"All openings","value":"7,607"}],"value":0.08528428093645485,"change":null,"employers":["Publicis Groupe","Northern Trust","Confidential"],"valueLabel":"9%"},{"n":232,"bar":0.5407523510971787,"key":"MI|detroit","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/detroit","name":"Detroit","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"15"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"232"},{"label":"All openings","value":"734"}],"value":0.06465517241379311,"change":null,"employers":["Wayne State University","Henry Ford Health System","Accident Fund"],"valueLabel":"6%"},{"n":54,"bar":0.4646464646464646,"key":"IL|rolling meadows","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/rolling-meadows","name":"Rolling Meadows","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"3"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"54"},{"label":"All openings","value":"281"}],"value":0.05555555555555555,"change":null,"employers":["Arthur J. Gallagher","Gallagher Bassett","Gallagher"],"valueLabel":"6%"},{"n":271,"bar":0.432069775243207,"key":"WI|milwaukee","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/milwaukee","name":"Milwaukee","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"14"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"271"},{"label":"All openings","value":"827"}],"value":0.05166051660516605,"change":null,"employers":["Michels","Rockwell Automation","Johnson Controls International"],"valueLabel":"5%"},{"n":63,"bar":0.3982683982683982,"key":"MN|bloomington","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/bloomington","name":"Bloomington","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"3"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"63"},{"label":"All openings","value":"202"}],"value":0.04761904761904762,"change":null,"employers":["HealthPartners","General Dynamics Mission Systems","Geronimo Power"],"valueLabel":"5%"},{"n":438,"bar":0.381901203819012,"key":"IN|indianapolis","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/indianapolis","name":"Indianapolis","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"20"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"438"},{"label":"All openings","value":"1,422"}],"value":0.045662100456621,"change":null,"employers":["Eli Lilly and Company","State of Indiana","Masco"],"valueLabel":"5%"},{"n":46,"bar":0.3636363636363636,"key":"MN|rochester","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/rochester","name":"Rochester","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"46"},{"label":"All openings","value":"183"}],"value":0.04347826086956522,"change":null,"employers":["Mayo Clinic","Gilbane","Via"],"valueLabel":"4%"},{"n":334,"bar":0.3505715841045182,"key":"MN|minneapolis","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/minneapolis","name":"Minneapolis","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"14"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"334"},{"label":"All openings","value":"1,276"}],"value":0.04191616766467066,"change":null,"employers":["Mortenson","Target ALS Foundation","Ameriprise Certificate"],"valueLabel":"4%"},{"n":196,"bar":0.3413729128014842,"key":"WI|madison","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/madison","name":"Madison","rank":12,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"8"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"196"},{"label":"All openings","value":"508"}],"value":0.04081632653061224,"change":null,"employers":["Universities of Wisconsin [UW_Madison]","Creative Financial Staffing","Catalent Pharma Solutions"],"valueLabel":"4%"},{"n":50,"bar":0.3345454545454545,"key":"OH|mason","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/mason","name":"Mason","rank":13,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"50"},{"label":"All openings","value":"148"}],"value":0.04,"change":null,"employers":["Cintas","L3HARRIS Technologies","Procter & Gamble"],"valueLabel":"4%"},{"n":58,"bar":0.2884012539184953,"key":"WI|la crosse","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/la-crosse","name":"La Crosse","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"58"},{"label":"All openings","value":"117"}],"value":0.03448275862068965,"change":null,"employers":["Trane U.s.","Gundersen Health","Kwik Trip"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":88,"bar":0.2851239669421488,"key":"IN|fort wayne","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/fort-wayne","name":"Fort Wayne","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"3"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"88"},{"label":"All openings","value":"276"}],"value":0.03409090909090909,"change":null,"employers":["BAE Systems","RTX","L3HARRIS Technologies"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":59,"bar":0.2835130970724191,"key":"MI|southfield","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/southfield","name":"Southfield","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"59"},{"label":"All openings","value":"230"}],"value":0.03389830508474576,"change":null,"employers":["Lucid Motors","Sun Communities","Lear"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":124,"bar":0.2697947214076246,"key":"OH|akron","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/akron","name":"Akron","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"4"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"124"},{"label":"All openings","value":"308"}],"value":0.03225806451612903,"change":null,"employers":["FirstEnergy Akron","Babcock International Group PLC/ADR","Akron Childrens Hospital"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":157,"bar":0.2663578459756804,"key":"MI|grand rapids","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/grand-rapids","name":"Grand Rapids","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"5"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"157"},{"label":"All openings","value":"424"}],"value":0.03184713375796178,"change":null,"employers":["Corewell Health","Acrisure","BDO USA"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":549,"bar":0.2437489650604405,"key":"OH|cincinnati","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/cincinnati","name":"Cincinnati","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"16"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"549"},{"label":"All openings","value":"1,379"}],"value":0.02914389799635701,"change":null,"employers":["Medpace Holdings","Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center","Procter & Gamble"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":689,"bar":0.2427760918326956,"key":"OH|columbus","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/columbus","name":"Columbus","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"20"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"689"},{"label":"All openings","value":"1,892"}],"value":0.02902757619738752,"change":null,"employers":["State of Ohio","Nationwide","Ohio State University-Newark Campus"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":147,"bar":0.2275819418676562,"key":"OH|dayton","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/dayton","name":"Dayton","rank":21,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"4"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"147"},{"label":"All openings","value":"432"}],"value":0.0272108843537415,"change":null,"employers":["University of Dayton","Modern Technology Solutions","Odyssey Systems Consulting"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":74,"bar":0.2260442260442261,"key":"MN|st paul","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/st-paul","name":"St. Paul","rank":22,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"74"},{"label":"All openings","value":"194"}],"value":0.02702702702702703,"change":null,"employers":["George Konik Associates","Mortenson","Old National Bank"],"valueLabel":"3%"},{"n":87,"bar":0.1922675026123302,"key":"IL|schaumburg","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/schaumburg","name":"Schaumburg","rank":23,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"87"},{"label":"All openings","value":"218"}],"value":0.02298850574712644,"change":null,"employers":["Motorola Solutions","Fictiv","Zurich"],"valueLabel":"2%"},{"n":54,"bar":0.1548821548821549,"key":"IL|northbrook","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/northbrook","name":"Northbrook","rank":24,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"1"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"54"},{"label":"All openings","value":"171"}],"value":0.01851851851851852,"change":null,"employers":["UL Solutions","Astellas (ADP)","Medline Industries"],"valueLabel":"2%"},{"n":329,"bar":0.1525283227410887,"key":"OH|cleveland","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/cleveland","name":"Cleveland","rank":25,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"6"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"329"},{"label":"All openings","value":"891"}],"value":0.0182370820668693,"change":null,"employers":["Flexjet","Sherwin Williams","KeyBank"],"valueLabel":"2%"},{"n":118,"bar":0.1417565485362096,"key":"IL|springfield","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/springfield","name":"Springfield","rank":26,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"2"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"118"},{"label":"All openings","value":"283"}],"value":0.01694915254237288,"change":null,"employers":["State of Illinois","Army National Guard Units","Hshs Medical Group"],"valueLabel":"2%"},{"n":61,"bar":0.1371087928464978,"key":"IL|peoria","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/peoria","name":"Peoria","rank":27,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"1"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"61"},{"label":"All openings","value":"157"}],"value":0.01639344262295082,"change":null,"employers":["Osf Healthcare System","Caterpillar","Nexstar Media Group"],"valueLabel":"2%"},{"n":69,"bar":0.1212121212121212,"key":"MI|auburn hills","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/auburn-hills","name":"Auburn Hills","rank":28,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"1"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"69"},{"label":"All openings","value":"149"}],"value":0.01449275362318841,"change":null,"employers":["Alten Technology USA","Stellantis","Nexteer"],"valueLabel":"1%"},{"n":70,"bar":0.1194805194805195,"key":"OH|toledo","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/toledo","name":"Toledo","rank":29,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"1"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"70"},{"label":"All openings","value":"180"}],"value":0.01428571428571429,"change":null,"employers":["Owens Corning","Bon Secours Mercy Health","Turner Construction"],"valueLabel":"1%"},{"n":92,"bar":0.0909090909090909,"key":"MI|troy","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/troy","name":"Troy","rank":30,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"1"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"92"},{"label":"All openings","value":"249"}],"value":0.0108695652173913,"change":null,"employers":["Aptiv","Publicis Groupe","Flagstar Bank, National Association"],"valueLabel":"1%"},{"n":103,"bar":0,"key":"MI|lansing","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/lansing","name":"Lansing","rank":31,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"103"},{"label":"All openings","value":"212"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["University of Michigan Health-Sparrow","Auto-Owners Insurance","Sparrow Clinton Hospital"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":88,"bar":0,"key":"IL|mundelein","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/mundelein","name":"Mundelein","rank":32,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"88"},{"label":"All openings","value":"247"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["Coda Search│Staffing"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":72,"bar":0,"key":"IL|naperville","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/naperville","name":"Naperville","rank":33,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"72"},{"label":"All openings","value":"191"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["KeHE","viaPhoton","Wipfli"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":65,"bar":0,"key":"WI|green bay","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/green-bay","name":"Green Bay","rank":34,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"65"},{"label":"All openings","value":"136"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["Michels","W.W. Grainger"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":64,"bar":0,"key":"WI|appleton","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/appleton","name":"Appleton","rank":35,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"64"},{"label":"All openings","value":"150"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["Illinois Tool Works","Ducommun","Oshkosh"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":57,"bar":0,"key":"IL|rockford","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/rockford","name":"Rockford","rank":36,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"57"},{"label":"All openings","value":"140"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["RTX","Woodward","Top Echelon Network (recruiter member boards)"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":45,"bar":0,"key":"IL|oak brook","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/oak-brook","name":"Oak Brook","rank":37,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"45"},{"label":"All openings","value":"138"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["Hub Group","Sotera Health"],"valueLabel":"0%"},{"n":44,"bar":0,"key":"IN|evansville","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/evansville","name":"Evansville","rank":38,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level AI openings","value":"0"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"44"},{"label":"All openings","value":"119"}],"value":0,"change":null,"employers":["Deaconess Homecare","Old National Bank","Deaconess Womens Hospital Of Southern Indiana"],"valueLabel":"0%"}],"slug":"best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-the-great-lakes","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"great-lakes","kind":"region","name":"Great Lakes"},"title":"Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Great Lakes","family":"Entry-level","method":["A city's score is the share of its entry-level and early-career roles whose posting names at least one AI skill or tool.","Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. A city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score."],"builtAt":"2026-11-03T04:15:57.376Z","edition":"2026-11","measure":"pf_entryai","sources":["NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week"],"baseline":{"label":"all cities in our data","valueLabel":"4%"},"keyFacts":["#1 Ann Arbor, MI: 12%","#2 Eden Prairie, MN: 11%","#3 Dublin, OH: 9%","38 cities ranked in the Great Lakes","Data as of November 2026"],"placeNoun":"cities","commentary":["The lead is wide: Ann Arbor (12%) is well clear of Rochester at #10 (4%).","Chicago is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,794 entry-level openings behind its figure.","Cities with fewer than 40 entry-level openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful."],"license":"Free to use and share with a link to https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-the-great-lakes"}