NextChapter

Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Mid-Atlantic

Mechanicsburg leads the Mid-Atlantic: 47% of its jobs are in occupations that do not typically need a four-year degree, against 12% 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 Mechanicsburg, PA: 47%
  • #2 Harrisburg, PA: 29%
  • #3 Roanoke, VA: 26%
  • 53 cities ranked in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 12% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Mechanicsburg PA47%
  2. 2Harrisburg PA29%
  3. 3Roanoke VA26%
  4. 4Chesapeake VA26%
  5. 5Syracuse NY25%
  6. 6Virginia Beach VA23%
  7. 7Conshohocken PA22%
  8. 8Frederick MD20%
  9. 9Bronx NY20%
  10. 10Morristown NJ19%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Mechanicsburg (47%) is well clear of Morristown at #10 (19%).
  • Syracuse is the largest market in the top ten, with 285 jobs matched to an occupation behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 80 jobs matched to an occupation are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Some cities hire for a bigger share of occupations that need no four-year degree. The share shows where a job seeker without a bachelor's has the largest part of the market to aim at.

How to use it

Use it to compare cities for a search without a four-year degree, and read it beside the count so you do not chase a small market with a high share.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Mechanicsburg PA

    47%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    45
    Share of the city's jobs
    47%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    96

    Hiring most here: Gallagher Bassett, Gallagher, Arthur J. Gallagher

    Based on 96 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mechanicsburg

  2. 2

    Harrisburg PA

    29%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    48
    Share of the city's jobs
    29%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    167

    Hiring most here: Michels, Parsons, Capital Blue Cross

    Based on 167 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Harrisburg

  3. 3

    Roanoke VA

    26%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    34
    Share of the city's jobs
    26%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    129

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

    Based on 129 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Roanoke

  4. 4

    Chesapeake VA

    26%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    24
    Share of the city's jobs
    26%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    92

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

    Based on 92 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chesapeake

  5. 5

    Syracuse NY

    25%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    70
    Share of the city's jobs
    25%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    285

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

    Based on 285 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Syracuse

  6. 6

    Virginia Beach VA

    23%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    42
    Share of the city's jobs
    23%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    180

    Hiring most here: HII Mission Technologies, Amazon, Commander, Navy Installations Command

    Based on 180 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Virginia Beach

  7. 7

    Conshohocken PA

    22%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    19
    Share of the city's jobs
    22%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    86

    Hiring most here: Hamilton Lane, Skanska USA, Marsh McLennan

    Based on 86 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Conshohocken

  8. 8

    Frederick MD

    20%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    22
    Share of the city's jobs
    20%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    109

    Hiring most here: Leidos Biomedical Research, Oshkosh, M.C. Dean

    Based on 109 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Frederick

  9. 9

    Bronx NY

    20%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    23
    Share of the city's jobs
    20%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    114

    Hiring most here: Bronxworks, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Argus Community

    Based on 114 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bronx

  10. 10

    Morristown NJ

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    22
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    116

    Hiring most here: Atlantic Health System, Crum & Forster, Sanofi-aventis Patient Assistance Foundation

    Based on 116 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Morristown

  11. 11

    Albany NY

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    48
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    259

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

    Based on 259 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Albany

  12. 12

    Philadelphia PA

    18%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    208
    Share of the city's jobs
    18%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,143

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

    Based on 1,143 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Philadelphia

  13. 13

    Charlottesville VA

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    55
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    322

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

    Based on 322 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Charlottesville

  14. 14

    Lancaster PA

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    20
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    118

    Hiring most here: Turner Construction, PNC Financial Services Group, Hearst

    Based on 118 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lancaster

  15. 15

    Hampton VA

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    14
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    83

    Hiring most here: Howmet Aerospace, Veterans Health Administration, Govcio

    Based on 83 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Hampton

  16. 16

    Richmond VA

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    136
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    819

    Hiring most here: Mckesson, Capital One, Genworth Financial

    Based on 819 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Richmond

  17. 17

    Manassas VA

    15%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    27
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    178

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

    Based on 178 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Manassas

  18. 18

    Allentown PA

    15%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    23
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    154

    Hiring most here: PPL, Apci Credit Union, Thermo Fisher Scientific

    Based on 154 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Allentown

  19. 19

    Pittsburgh PA

    15%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    154
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,043

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

    Based on 1,043 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Pittsburgh

  20. 20

    Buffalo NY

    14%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    44
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    317

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

    Based on 317 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Buffalo

  21. 21

    Fairfax VA

    14%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    36
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    260

    Hiring most here: George Mason University, Dewberry, Inova Health

    Based on 260 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fairfax

  22. 22

    Newark DE

    14%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    17
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    124

    Hiring most here: University of Delaware, Qnity Electronics, Hologic

    Based on 124 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Newark

  23. 23

    Brooklyn NY

    14%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    64
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    467

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

    Based on 467 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Brooklyn

  24. 24

    Norfolk VA

    14%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    30
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    219

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

    Based on 219 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Norfolk

  25. 25

    Baltimore MD

    13%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    103
    Share of the city's jobs
    13%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    764

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

    Based on 764 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Baltimore

Full ranking

All 53 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Mechanicsburg PA47%96
2Harrisburg PA29%167
3Roanoke VA26%129
4Chesapeake VA26%92
5Syracuse NY25%285
6Virginia Beach VA23%180
7Conshohocken PA22%86
8Frederick MD20%109
9Bronx NY20%114
10Morristown NJ19%116
11Albany NY19%259
12Philadelphia PA18%1,143
13Charlottesville VA17%322
14Lancaster PA17%118
15Hampton VA17%83
16Richmond VA17%819
17Manassas VA15%178
18Allentown PA15%154
19Pittsburgh PA15%1,043
20Buffalo NY14%317
21Fairfax VA14%260
22Newark DE14%124
23Brooklyn NY14%467
24Norfolk VA14%219
25Baltimore MD13%764
26Alexandria VA13%357
27Rochester NY13%389
28Newport News VA13%91
29Washington DC13%2,764
30New York NY12%13,453
31Wilmington DE12%301
32New York NY12%762
33Newark NJ12%299
34Vienna VA11%119
35Reading PA11%151
36Princeton NJ11%247
37Annapolis MD10%240
38Springfield VA10%175
39White Plains NY10%146
40Tysons VA10%138
41Arlington VA10%1,270
42McLean VA9%750
43Bethesda MD9%320
44King of Prussia PA9%255
45Sterling VA9%240
46Rockville MD9%233
47Fort Meade MD8%197
48Parsippany NJ7%164
49Jersey City NJ7%362
50Reston VA7%540
51Columbia MD6%207
52Herndon VA6%597
53Chantilly VA4%417

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose occupation typically needs less than a bachelor's degree: an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, some college, a high school diploma or no formal credential (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only cities with at least 12 such jobs and 80 matched jobs are ranked, and a city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score. Our board is professional roles, so these are a small share everywhere.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 80 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation. 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: cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the mid-atlantic?
Mechanicsburg leads the Mid-Atlantic: 47% of its jobs are in occupations that do not typically need a four-year degree, against 12% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
53 cities have at least 80 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 53 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose occupation typically needs less than a bachelor's degree: an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, some college, a high school diploma or no formal credential (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only cities with at least 12 such jobs and 80 matched jobs are ranked, and a city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score. Our board is professional roles, so these are a small share everywhere.
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, “Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Mid-Atlantic,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-where-the-most-jobs-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-mid-atlantic

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-where-the-most-jobs-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-mid-atlantic">Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Mid-Atlantic (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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