Best cities for operations jobs
Key facts
- #1 New York, NY: 1,410 openings
- #2 Chicago, IL: 665 openings
- #3 San Francisco, CA: 624 openings
- 100 cities ranked in the United States
- Data as of November 2026
- 1New York NY1,410 openings
- 2Chicago IL665 openings
- 3San Francisco CA624 openings
- 4Houston TX623 openings
- 5Austin TX609 openings
- 6Atlanta GA531 openings
- 7Dallas TX512 openings
- 8Los Angeles CA483 openings
- 9Phoenix AZ412 openings
- 10Charlotte NC410 openings
What stands out
- The lead is wide: New York (1,410 openings) is well clear of Charlotte at #10 (410 openings).
- New York is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,410 openings behind its figure.
- Cities with fewer than 50 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
The top 25
- 1
New York NY
1,410 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 7%
- Median posted pay
- $135k
- All openings in the city
- 20,409
Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley
Based on 1,410 openings.
- 2
Chicago IL
665 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 9%
- Median posted pay
- $128k
- All openings in the city
- 7,616
Hiring most here: Publicis Groupe, Northern Trust, Confidential
Based on 665 openings.
- 3
San Francisco CA
624 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 5%
- Median posted pay
- $167k
- All openings in the city
- 11,776
Hiring most here: OpenAI, Anthropic, University Of California San Francisco Foundation
Based on 624 openings.
- 4
Houston TX
623 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 15%
- Median posted pay
- $133k
- All openings in the city
- 4,295
Hiring most here: Axiom Space, Trinzic, Fervo Energy
Based on 623 openings.
- 5
Austin TX
609 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 10%
- Median posted pay
- $157k
- All openings in the city
- 5,890
Hiring most here: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices, Cloudflare
Based on 609 openings.
- 6
Atlanta GA
531 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 10%
- Median posted pay
- $129k
- All openings in the city
- 5,501
Hiring most here: Emory University, Oxford College of Emory University, Capgemini Invent
Based on 531 openings.
- 7
Dallas TX
512 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 12%
- Median posted pay
- $137k
- All openings in the city
- 4,379
Hiring most here: Amazon, Shield AI, Texas Instruments
Based on 512 openings.
- 8
Los Angeles CA
483 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 9%
- Median posted pay
- $139k
- All openings in the city
- 5,100
Hiring most here: K2 Space, Cedars-sinai Medical Center, Apex Space
Based on 483 openings.
- 9
Phoenix AZ
412 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 15%
- Median posted pay
- $136k
- All openings in the city
- 2,742
Hiring most here: Honeywell Aerospace, State of Arizona, American Society for Microbiology
Based on 412 openings.
- 10
Charlotte NC
410 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 13%
- Median posted pay
- $115k
- All openings in the city
- 3,199
Hiring most here: Truist Financial, Scout Motors, SMBC Americas
Based on 410 openings.
- 11
Boston MA
389 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 8%
- Median posted pay
- $141k
- All openings in the city
- 5,086
Hiring most here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, State Street, Confidential
Based on 389 openings.
- 12
Louisville KY
367 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 18%
- Median posted pay
- $85k
- All openings in the city
- 2,065
Hiring most here: BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare, GE Appliances
Based on 367 openings.
- 13
Seattle WA
339 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 6%
- Median posted pay
- $139k
- All openings in the city
- 5,346
Hiring most here: Amazon, Blue Origin, Shield AI
Based on 339 openings.
- 14
Washington DC
333 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 8%
- Median posted pay
- $138k
- All openings in the city
- 4,428
Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, Shield AI, CACI International
Based on 333 openings.
- 15
Denver CO
296 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 10%
- Median posted pay
- $125k
- All openings in the city
- 2,885
Hiring most here: True Anomaly, Blue Origin, Amazon
Based on 296 openings.
- 16
San Diego CA
296 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 10%
- Median posted pay
- $141k
- All openings in the city
- 3,082
Hiring most here: Qualcomm Inc/De, Qualcomm Technologies, General Atomics
Based on 296 openings.
- 17
Columbus OH
265 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 14%
- Median posted pay
- $115k
- All openings in the city
- 1,941
Hiring most here: Nationwide Children's Hospital, State of Ohio, Nationwide
Based on 265 openings.
- 18
Miami FL
263 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 11%
- Median posted pay
- $110k
- All openings in the city
- 2,311
Hiring most here: University Of Miami, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises / Holland America Line
Based on 263 openings.
- 19
Nashville TN
252 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 15%
- Median posted pay
- $131k
- All openings in the city
- 1,654
Hiring most here: Oracle, Amazon, Vanderbilt University
Based on 252 openings.
- 20
Fort Worth TX
243 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 19%
- Median posted pay
- $101k
- All openings in the city
- 1,248
Hiring most here: Lockheed Martin, MP Materials, Alcon
Based on 243 openings.
- 21
San Jose CA
230 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 10%
- Median posted pay
- $165k
- All openings in the city
- 2,383
Hiring most here: Super Micro Computer, Advanced Micro Devices, Cisco Systems
Based on 230 openings.
- 22
Philadelphia PA
229 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 12%
- Median posted pay
- $115k
- All openings in the city
- 1,852
Hiring most here: Confidential, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, GSK
Based on 229 openings.
- 23
Indianapolis IN
215 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 15%
- Median posted pay
- $140k
- All openings in the city
- 1,418
Hiring most here: Eli Lilly and Company, State of Indiana, Masco
Based on 215 openings.
- 24
Bellevue WA
196 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 14%
- Median posted pay
- $165k
- All openings in the city
- 1,395
Hiring most here: Amazon, TerraPower, Okta
Based on 196 openings.
- 25
Tampa FL
193 openings
- Share of the city's openings
- 11%
- Median posted pay
- $81k
- All openings in the city
- 1,717
Hiring most here: DTCC, University of South Florida, Tampa Electric
Based on 193 openings.
Full ranking
All 100 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | City | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York NY | 1,410 openings | 1,410 |
| 2 | Chicago IL | 665 openings | 665 |
| 3 | San Francisco CA | 624 openings | 624 |
| 4 | Houston TX | 623 openings | 623 |
| 5 | Austin TX | 609 openings | 609 |
| 6 | Atlanta GA | 531 openings | 531 |
| 7 | Dallas TX | 512 openings | 512 |
| 8 | Los Angeles CA | 483 openings | 483 |
| 9 | Phoenix AZ | 412 openings | 412 |
| 10 | Charlotte NC | 410 openings | 410 |
| 11 | Boston MA | 389 openings | 389 |
| 12 | Louisville KY | 367 openings | 367 |
| 13 | Seattle WA | 339 openings | 339 |
| 14 | Washington DC | 333 openings | 333 |
| 15 | Denver CO | 296 openings | 296 |
| 16 | San Diego CA | 296 openings | 296 |
| 17 | Columbus OH | 265 openings | 265 |
| 18 | Miami FL | 263 openings | 263 |
| 19 | Nashville TN | 252 openings | 252 |
| 20 | Fort Worth TX | 243 openings | 243 |
| 21 | San Jose CA | 230 openings | 230 |
| 22 | Philadelphia PA | 229 openings | 229 |
| 23 | Indianapolis IN | 215 openings | 215 |
| 24 | Bellevue WA | 196 openings | 196 |
| 25 | Tampa FL | 193 openings | 193 |
| 26 | Jacksonville FL | 187 openings | 187 |
| 27 | Sacramento CA | 185 openings | 185 |
| 28 | San Antonio TX | 177 openings | 177 |
| 29 | Cincinnati OH | 173 openings | 173 |
| 30 | Pittsburgh PA | 173 openings | 173 |
| 31 | Raleigh NC | 170 openings | 170 |
| 32 | Minneapolis MN | 163 openings | 163 |
| 33 | Orlando FL | 162 openings | 162 |
| 34 | Baltimore MD | 153 openings | 153 |
| 35 | Richmond VA | 151 openings | 151 |
| 36 | Milwaukee WI | 141 openings | 141 |
| 37 | Arlington VA | 139 openings | 139 |
| 38 | Las Vegas NV | 138 openings | 138 |
| 39 | Cleveland OH | 130 openings | 130 |
| 40 | Tempe AZ | 130 openings | 130 |
| 41 | Memphis TN | 128 openings | 128 |
| 42 | Plano TX | 128 openings | 128 |
| 43 | Irvine CA | 120 openings | 120 |
| 44 | Tallahassee FL | 118 openings | 118 |
| 45 | Portland OR | 114 openings | 114 |
| 46 | Omaha NE | 99 openings | 99 |
| 47 | Santa Clara CA | 98 openings | 98 |
| 48 | Detroit MI | 96 openings | 96 |
| 49 | Irving TX | 96 openings | 96 |
| 50 | Durham NC | 92 openings | 92 |
| 51 | Cambridge MA | 91 openings | 91 |
| 52 | Huntsville AL | 88 openings | 88 |
| 53 | Tulsa OK | 88 openings | 88 |
| 54 | Torrance CA | 86 openings | 86 |
| 55 | Sunnyvale CA | 84 openings | 84 |
| 56 | Brooklyn NY | 82 openings | 82 |
| 57 | Scottsdale AZ | 78 openings | 78 |
| 58 | Birmingham AL | 77 openings | 77 |
| 59 | Greensboro NC | 77 openings | 77 |
| 60 | El Segundo CA | 76 openings | 76 |
| 61 | Fremont CA | 76 openings | 76 |
| 62 | Long Beach CA | 76 openings | 76 |
| 63 | New York NY | 74 openings | 74 |
| 64 | Fort Lauderdale FL | 71 openings | 71 |
| 65 | Rochester NY | 71 openings | 71 |
| 66 | Alexandria VA | 70 openings | 70 |
| 67 | Redmond WA | 70 openings | 70 |
| 68 | Colorado Springs CO | 69 openings | 69 |
| 69 | Madison WI | 69 openings | 69 |
| 70 | Grand Rapids MI | 67 openings | 67 |
| 71 | Greenville SC | 67 openings | 67 |
| 72 | Dayton OH | 66 openings | 66 |
| 73 | El Paso TX | 66 openings | 66 |
| 74 | St. Louis MO | 66 openings | 66 |
| 75 | Buffalo NY | 63 openings | 63 |
| 76 | Honolulu HI | 63 openings | 63 |
| 77 | Mesa AZ | 63 openings | 63 |
| 78 | Knoxville TN | 62 openings | 62 |
| 79 | Wichita KS | 62 openings | 62 |
| 80 | Aurora CO | 61 openings | 61 |
| 81 | Palo Alto CA | 61 openings | 61 |
| 82 | Reston VA | 61 openings | 61 |
| 83 | Reno NV | 60 openings | 60 |
| 84 | Columbia SC | 59 openings | 59 |
| 85 | Newark NJ | 59 openings | 59 |
| 86 | Overland Park KS | 58 openings | 58 |
| 87 | St. Louis MO | 58 openings | 58 |
| 88 | Tucson AZ | 57 openings | 57 |
| 89 | Chandler AZ | 56 openings | 56 |
| 90 | Mountain View CA | 56 openings | 56 |
| 91 | Charlottesville VA | 55 openings | 55 |
| 92 | Akron OH | 53 openings | 53 |
| 93 | Manassas VA | 53 openings | 53 |
| 94 | Oakbrook Terrace IL | 52 openings | 52 |
| 95 | Oakland CA | 52 openings | 52 |
| 96 | Virginia Beach VA | 52 openings | 52 |
| 97 | Waltham MA | 52 openings | 52 |
| 98 | Abilene TX | 51 openings | 51 |
| 99 | Albany NY | 51 openings | 51 |
| 100 | McLean VA | 51 openings | 51 |
How this ranking works
A city is ranked on the number of its open professional roles in this job family, as classed from the posting title and text. Median pay uses only listings that post a salary, shown where at least 8 do.
Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted.
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 50 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 operations jobs?
- New York has the most openings in this job family in the United States: 1,410 openings.
- How many cities are ranked?
- 100 cities have at least 50 openings, so the list has 100 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A city is ranked on the number of its open professional roles in this job family, as classed from the posting title and text. Median pay uses only listings that post a salary, shown where at least 8 do. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. 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 operations jobs,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-operations-jobs
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-operations-jobs">Best cities for operations jobs (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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