NextChapter

Best cities for junior jobs in the Southeast

Lynchburg leads the Southeast for junior jobs: 49% of its professional openings are entry-level or early-career, against 32% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Lynchburg, VA: 49%
  • #2 Virginia Beach, VA: 48%
  • #3 Fayetteville, NC: 46%
  • 85 cities ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 32% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Lynchburg VA49%
  2. 2Virginia Beach VA48%
  3. 3Fayetteville NC46%
  4. 4Savannah GA46%
  5. 5Norcross GA46%
  6. 6Tallahassee FL45%
  7. 7Asheville NC44%
  8. 8Chesapeake VA44%
  9. 9Cape Canaveral FL44%
  10. 10Spartanburg SC44%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Lynchburg leads on 49%, and #10 Spartanburg is at 44%.
  • Tallahassee is the largest market in the top ten, with 739 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Lynchburg VA

    49%

    Entry-level openings
    55
    All openings
    113
    Openings with pay posted
    27%

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

    Based on 113 openings.

  2. 2

    Virginia Beach VA

    48%

    Entry-level openings
    122
    All openings
    255
    Openings with pay posted
    18%

    Hiring most here: HII Mission Technologies, Sentara Health, Amazon

    Based on 255 openings.

  3. 3

    Fayetteville NC

    46%

    Entry-level openings
    50
    All openings
    108
    Openings with pay posted
    19%

    Hiring most here: Veterans Health Administration

    Based on 108 openings.

  4. 4

    Savannah GA

    46%

    Entry-level openings
    86
    All openings
    186
    Openings with pay posted
    12%

    Hiring most here: Great Dane, Parsons

    Based on 186 openings.

  5. 5

    Norcross GA

    46%

    Entry-level openings
    63
    All openings
    138
    Openings with pay posted
    7%

    Hiring most here: ACI Worldwide, Pruitthealth Home Health, Slip Robotics

    Based on 138 openings.

  6. 6

    Tallahassee FL

    45%

    Entry-level openings
    331
    All openings
    739
    Openings with pay posted
    11%

    Hiring most here: State of Florida, L3HARRIS Technologies, Florida

    Based on 739 openings.

  7. 7

    Asheville NC

    44%

    Entry-level openings
    62
    All openings
    140
    Openings with pay posted
    16%

    Hiring most here: RTX, Rha Health Services, Eaton

    Based on 140 openings.

  8. 8

    Chesapeake VA

    44%

    Entry-level openings
    58
    All openings
    131
    Openings with pay posted
    16%

    Hiring most here: Family Dollar, Oceaneering International, Trane U.s.

    Based on 131 openings.

  9. 9

    Cape Canaveral FL

    44%

    Entry-level openings
    76
    All openings
    172
    Openings with pay posted
    22%

    Hiring most here: SpaceX, Relativity Space, Sidus Space

    Based on 172 openings.

  10. 10

    Spartanburg SC

    44%

    Entry-level openings
    44
    All openings
    100
    Openings with pay posted
    12%

    Hiring most here: Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Expert Connections, Amazon

    Based on 100 openings.

  11. 11

    Wilmington NC

    43%

    Entry-level openings
    82
    All openings
    190
    Openings with pay posted
    12%

    Hiring most here: Corning, Novant Health, Acadia Healthcare Company

    Based on 190 openings.

  12. 12

    Pensacola FL

    43%

    Entry-level openings
    75
    All openings
    174
    Openings with pay posted
    7%

    Hiring most here: Baptist Health Care, Navy Federal Credit Union, Danaher

    Based on 174 openings.

  13. 13

    Mobile AL

    43%

    Entry-level openings
    59
    All openings
    137
    Openings with pay posted
    9%

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

    Based on 137 openings.

  14. 14

    Clearwater FL

    43%

    Entry-level openings
    69
    All openings
    161
    Openings with pay posted
    9%

    Hiring most here: Honeywell Aerospace, Kemco Systems, Knowbe4

    Based on 161 openings.

  15. 15

    Kennesaw GA

    42%

    Entry-level openings
    72
    All openings
    171
    Openings with pay posted
    8%

    Hiring most here: Enercon, Staff Financial Group, CARRIER GLOBAL

    Based on 171 openings.

  16. 16

    Roanoke VA

    42%

    Entry-level openings
    74
    All openings
    177
    Openings with pay posted
    12%

    Hiring most here: Carilion Clinic, Carilion Medical Center, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 177 openings.

  17. 17

    St. Petersburg FL

    42%

    Entry-level openings
    55
    All openings
    132
    Openings with pay posted
    18%

    Hiring most here: Jabil, Hilton Grand Vacations

    Based on 132 openings.

  18. 18

    Charlottesville VA

    41%

    Entry-level openings
    206
    All openings
    504
    Openings with pay posted
    5%

    Hiring most here: UVA Health, University of Virginia, University of Virginia-Main Campus

    Based on 504 openings.

  19. 19

    Fort Myers FL

    40%

    Entry-level openings
    62
    All openings
    155
    Openings with pay posted
    10%

    Hiring most here: Gartner, Apex Companies, Hearst

    Based on 155 openings.

  20. 20

    Norfolk VA

    39%

    Entry-level openings
    129
    All openings
    327
    Openings with pay posted
    22%

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

    Based on 327 openings.

  21. 21

    Knoxville TN

    39%

    Entry-level openings
    174
    All openings
    446
    Openings with pay posted
    7%

    Hiring most here: University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee System, Covenant Health (Tennessee)

    Based on 446 openings.

  22. 22

    Greenville SC

    39%

    Entry-level openings
    121
    All openings
    313
    Openings with pay posted
    8%

    Hiring most here: Vertiv Holdings, United Community Banks, Ogletree Deakins

    Based on 313 openings.

  23. 23

    Naples FL

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    75
    All openings
    195
    Openings with pay posted
    6%

    Hiring most here: Arthrex, Pyramid Global Hospitality, Community Health Systems

    Based on 195 openings.

  24. 24

    Boca Raton FL

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    130
    All openings
    340
    Openings with pay posted
    15%

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

    Based on 340 openings.

  25. 25

    Augusta GA

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    74
    All openings
    195
    Openings with pay posted
    17%

    Hiring most here: Inscripta, Veterans Health Administration, Turner Construction

    Based on 195 openings.

Full ranking

All 85 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Lynchburg VA49%113
2Virginia Beach VA48%255
3Fayetteville NC46%108
4Savannah GA46%186
5Norcross GA46%138
6Tallahassee FL45%739
7Asheville NC44%140
8Chesapeake VA44%131
9Cape Canaveral FL44%172
10Spartanburg SC44%100
11Wilmington NC43%190
12Pensacola FL43%174
13Mobile AL43%137
14Clearwater FL43%161
15Kennesaw GA42%171
16Roanoke VA42%177
17St. Petersburg FL42%132
18Charlottesville VA41%504
19Fort Myers FL40%155
20Norfolk VA39%327
21Knoxville TN39%446
22Greenville SC39%313
23Naples FL38%195
24Boca Raton FL38%340
25Augusta GA38%195
26Montgomery AL38%193
27Sarasota FL37%195
28Duluth GA37%150
29Manassas VA37%228
30Fairfax VA37%407
31Gainesville FL37%136
32Marietta GA36%267
33Richmond VA36%1,133
34Newport News VA35%144
35Fort Lauderdale FL35%565
36Greensboro NC35%436
37Raleigh NC35%1,421
38Columbia SC35%334
39Tampa FL35%1,717
40Hampton VA35%112
41Jacksonville FL35%1,055
42Vienna VA35%162
43Louisville KY34%2,065
44Birmingham AL34%584
45Doral FL34%138
46Columbus GA34%104
47Alexandria VA34%576
48Daytona Beach FL33%102
49Chattanooga TN33%208
50Brentwood TN33%189
51Falls Church VA33%168
52Greenville NC32%122
53Charlotte NC32%3,201
54Charleston SC32%307
55Fort Belvoir VA32%192
56Lexington KY32%221
57Jackson MS31%113
58Orlando FL31%1,256
59Mc Lean VA31%234
60Morrisville NC31%154
61Franklin TN30%132
62Alpharetta GA30%566
63Miami FL29%2,311
64Coral Gables FL29%252
65Memphis TN28%718
66Arlington VA28%1,978
67Atlanta GA28%5,502
68Herndon VA27%820
69Chantilly VA27%554
70Nashville TN27%1,654
71Sterling VA27%305
72Durham NC26%775
73Frankfort KY26%153
74Palm Beach Gardens FL26%178
75Huntsville AL25%1,146
76Tysons VA25%189
77Cary NC24%229
78Lake Mary FL23%126
79Ashburn VA22%257
80Oak Ridge TN21%196
81Reston VA21%782
82McLean VA20%1,167
83Springfield VA18%269
84Melbourne FL15%305
85Research Triangle Park NC13%102

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles tagged entry-level or early-career, read from the full posting text.

Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. Internships are left out.

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 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 junior jobs in the southeast?
Lynchburg leads the Southeast for junior jobs: 49% of its professional openings are entry-level or early-career, against 32% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
85 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 85 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles tagged entry-level or early-career, read from the full posting text. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. Internships are left out. 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 cities for junior jobs in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-junior-jobs-in-the-southeast

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

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

The job market, once a week

One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.