NextChapter

Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast

Tysons leads the Southeast: 27% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 4% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 Tysons, VA: 27%
  • #2 Alpharetta, GA: 13%
  • #3 McLean, VA: 10%
  • 77 cities ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 4% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Tysons VA27%
  2. 2Alpharetta GA13%
  3. 3McLean VA10%
  4. 4Reston VA10%
  5. 5Oak Ridge TN10%
  6. 6Herndon VA9%
  7. 7Arlington VA8%
  8. 8Chantilly VA7%
  9. 9Vienna VA7%
  10. 10Ashburn VA7%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Tysons (27%) is well clear of Ashburn at #10 (7%).
  • Oak Ridge reaches #5 on a sample of 41 entry-level openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Arlington is the largest market in the top ten, with 559 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.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Entry-level roles used to ask for little technical background. When they ask for AI skills, the starting line has moved. This list shows where that has happened most.

How to use it

If you are applying for first roles, learn the tools named in the postings you want and show a small project that uses them.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Tysons VA

    27%

    Entry-level AI openings
    13
    Entry-level openings
    49
    All openings
    190

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

    Based on 49 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tysons

  2. 2

    Alpharetta GA

    13%

    Entry-level AI openings
    22
    Entry-level openings
    168
    All openings
    576

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

    Based on 168 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alpharetta

  3. 3

    McLean VA

    10%

    Entry-level AI openings
    24
    Entry-level openings
    229
    All openings
    1,155

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 229 openings.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  4. 4

    Reston VA

    10%

    Entry-level AI openings
    16
    Entry-level openings
    162
    All openings
    783

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

    Based on 162 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Reston

  5. 5

    Oak Ridge TN

    10%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    41
    All openings
    196

    Hiring most here: UT-Battelle (ORNL), Centrus Energy, BWX Technologies

    Based on 41 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oak Ridge

  6. 6

    Herndon VA

    9%

    Entry-level AI openings
    21
    Entry-level openings
    222
    All openings
    821

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 222 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

  7. 7

    Arlington VA

    8%

    Entry-level AI openings
    46
    Entry-level openings
    559
    All openings
    1,989

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Bloomberg Industry Group

    Based on 559 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  8. 8

    Chantilly VA

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    11
    Entry-level openings
    149
    All openings
    555

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Trinzic, Peraton

    Based on 149 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chantilly

  9. 9

    Vienna VA

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    57
    All openings
    163

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

    Based on 57 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Vienna

  10. 10

    Ashburn VA

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    58
    All openings
    260

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Caci Technologies, L3HARRIS Technologies

    Based on 58 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Ashburn

  11. 11

    Atlanta GA

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    100
    Entry-level openings
    1,529
    All openings
    5,566

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

    Based on 1,529 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Atlanta

  12. 12

    Durham NC

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    13
    Entry-level openings
    203
    All openings
    776

    Hiring most here: Duke University, Duke Health Lake Norman Regional Medical Center, GSK

    Based on 203 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Durham

  13. 13

    Sterling VA

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    5
    Entry-level openings
    81
    All openings
    305

    Hiring most here: CACI International, BAE Systems, Axon Enterprise

    Based on 81 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sterling

  14. 14

    Chattanooga TN

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    66
    All openings
    204

    Hiring most here: Sargent & Lundy, Unum Group, University of Tennessee System

    Based on 66 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chattanooga

  15. 15

    Lynchburg VA

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    55
    All openings
    113

    Hiring most here: BWX Technologies, BWXT, BWXT Ordnance Tennessee

    Based on 55 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lynchburg

  16. 16

    Sarasota FL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    74
    All openings
    196

    Hiring most here: Springhill Memorial Hospital, Slidell Memorial Hospital, CACI International

    Based on 74 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sarasota

  17. 17

    Boca Raton FL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    7
    Entry-level openings
    132
    All openings
    344

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

    Based on 132 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boca Raton

  18. 18

    Miami FL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    35
    Entry-level openings
    682
    All openings
    2,344

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

    Based on 682 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Miami

  19. 19

    Cape Canaveral FL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    78
    All openings
    174

    Hiring most here: SpaceX, Relativity Space, Sidus Space

    Based on 78 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cape Canaveral

  20. 20

    Huntsville AL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    15
    Entry-level openings
    294
    All openings
    1,154

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

    Based on 294 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Huntsville

  21. 21

    Mobile AL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    59
    All openings
    125

    Hiring most here: Seattle Aquarium Society-seas, Alten Technology USA, PRF Technologies

    Based on 59 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mobile

  22. 22

    Jacksonville FL

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    19
    Entry-level openings
    376
    All openings
    1,071

    Hiring most here: Confidential, Intercontinental Exchange, UF Health

    Based on 376 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jacksonville

  23. 23

    Fort Belvoir VA

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    61
    All openings
    197

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Teksynap, LMI

    Based on 61 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Belvoir

  24. 24

    Morrisville NC

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    47
    All openings
    154

    Hiring most here: Teleflex, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alcami Home

    Based on 47 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Morrisville

  25. 25

    Raleigh NC

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    21
    Entry-level openings
    505
    All openings
    1,427

    Hiring most here: First Citizens Bank, Dewberry, MaintainX

    Based on 505 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Raleigh

Full ranking

All 77 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Tysons VA27%49
2Alpharetta GA13%168
3McLean VA10%229
4Reston VA10%162
5Oak Ridge TN10%41
6Herndon VA9%222
7Arlington VA8%559
8Chantilly VA7%149
9Vienna VA7%57
10Ashburn VA7%58
11Atlanta GA7%1,529
12Durham NC6%203
13Sterling VA6%81
14Chattanooga TN6%66
15Lynchburg VA5%55
16Sarasota FL5%74
17Boca Raton FL5%132
18Miami FL5%682
19Cape Canaveral FL5%78
20Huntsville AL5%294
21Mobile AL5%59
22Jacksonville FL5%376
23Fort Belvoir VA5%61
24Morrisville NC4%47
25Raleigh NC4%505
26Nashville TN4%447
27Charleston SC4%100
28Charlotte NC4%1,026
29Springfield VA4%54
30Falls Church VA4%55
31Cary NC4%56
32Columbia SC3%115
33Birmingham AL3%202
34Brentwood TN3%62
35Norcross GA3%65
36Charlottesville VA3%206
37Naples FL3%76
38Orlando FL3%398
39Virginia Beach VA2%122
40Memphis TN2%205
41Norfolk VA2%133
42Doral FL2%48
43Alexandria VA2%199
44Fairfax VA2%151
45Tampa FL2%603
46Duluth GA2%57
47Knoxville TN2%177
48Chesapeake VA2%59
49Fort Lauderdale FL1%203
50Richmond VA1%411
51Clearwater FL1%69
52Lexington KY1%71
53Mc Lean VA1%72
54Coral Gables FL1%73
55Kennesaw GA1%73
56Augusta GA1%74
57Montgomery AL1%74
58Greensboro NC1%156
59Pensacola FL1%78
60Manassas VA1%88
61Greenville SC1%124
62Louisville KY1%710
63Tallahassee FL0%342
64Marietta GA0%96
65Savannah GA0%87
66Wilmington NC0%83
67Roanoke VA0%74
68Asheville NC0%62
69Fort Myers FL0%62
70St. Petersburg FL0%57
71Fayetteville NC0%52
72Gainesville FL0%50
73Melbourne FL0%49
74Palm Beach Gardens FL0%48
75Franklin TN0%41
76Frankfort KY0%40
77Newport News VA0%40

How this ranking works

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.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 40 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week. 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 cities for entry-level jobs that want ai skills in the southeast?
Tysons leads the Southeast: 27% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 4% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
77 cities have at least 40 entry-level openings, so the list has 77 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
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.
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 cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-the-southeast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-the-southeast">Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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