NextChapter

Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree

New York has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the United States: 1,666 jobs in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 New York, NY: 1,666 jobs
  • #2 San Francisco, CA: 902 jobs
  • #3 Chicago, IL: 684 jobs
  • 63 cities ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1New York NY1,666 jobs
  2. 2San Francisco CA902 jobs
  3. 3Chicago IL684 jobs
  4. 4Atlanta GA528 jobs
  5. 5Austin TX493 jobs
  6. 6Houston TX481 jobs
  7. 7Los Angeles CA428 jobs
  8. 8Dallas TX401 jobs
  9. 9Boston MA390 jobs
  10. 10Washington DC349 jobs

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: New York (1,666 jobs) is well clear of Washington at #10 (349 jobs).
  • New York is the largest market in the top ten, with 13,453 jobs matched to an occupation behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 jobs matched to an occupation are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

A four-year degree is not the only way into a professional job. Counting the openings in occupations that typically need less shows which cities have the most of them.

How to use it

If you do not have a four-year degree, the top cities show where the most such roles are. Big markets lead in the count, so read it with the share list.

The top 25

  1. 1

    New York NY

    1,666 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    1,666
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    13,453

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 13,453 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  2. 2

    San Francisco CA

    902 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    902
    Share of the city's jobs
    10%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    8,984

    Hiring most here: OpenAI, Anthropic, University Of California San Francisco Foundation

    Based on 8,984 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Francisco

  3. 3

    Chicago IL

    684 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    684
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    4,922

    Hiring most here: Publicis Groupe, Confidential, Mars

    Based on 4,922 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chicago

  4. 4

    Atlanta GA

    528 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    528
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    3,586

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

    Based on 3,586 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Atlanta

  5. 5

    Austin TX

    493 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    493
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    4,222

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices, Cloudflare

    Based on 4,222 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Austin

  6. 6

    Houston TX

    481 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    481
    Share of the city's jobs
    16%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    3,033

    Hiring most here: Axiom Space, Trinzic, Fervo Energy

    Based on 3,033 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Houston

  7. 7

    Los Angeles CA

    428 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    428
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    3,573

    Hiring most here: K2 Space, Cedars-sinai Medical Center, Apex Space

    Based on 3,573 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Los Angeles

  8. 8

    Dallas TX

    401 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    401
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    2,850

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Shield AI, Texas Instruments

    Based on 2,850 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Dallas

  9. 9

    Boston MA

    390 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    390
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    3,204

    Hiring most here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Confidential, Veeva Systems

    Based on 3,204 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boston

  10. 10

    Washington DC

    349 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    349
    Share of the city's jobs
    13%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    2,764

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, CACI International, Shield AI

    Based on 2,764 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Washington

  11. 11

    Seattle WA

    316 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    316
    Share of the city's jobs
    8%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    4,071

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Blue Origin, Shield AI

    Based on 4,071 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Seattle

  12. 12

    Charlotte NC

    298 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    298
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    2,175

    Hiring most here: Truist Financial, Scout Motors, SMBC Americas

    Based on 2,175 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Charlotte

  13. 13

    Phoenix AZ

    265 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    265
    Share of the city's jobs
    13%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,996

    Hiring most here: Honeywell Aerospace, State of Arizona, American Society for Microbiology

    Based on 1,996 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Phoenix

  14. 14

    Denver CO

    260 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    260
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    2,106

    Hiring most here: True Anomaly, Blue Origin, Amazon

    Based on 2,106 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Denver

  15. 15

    Miami FL

    257 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    257
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,526

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

    Based on 1,526 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Miami

  16. 16

    Louisville KY

    251 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    251
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,319

    Hiring most here: BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare, GE Appliances

    Based on 1,319 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Louisville

  17. 17

    Philadelphia PA

    208 jobs

    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

  18. 18

    San Diego CA

    196 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    196
    Share of the city's jobs
    9%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    2,132

    Hiring most here: Qualcomm Inc/De, Qualcomm Technologies, General Atomics

    Based on 2,132 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Diego

  19. 19

    Tampa FL

    194 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    194
    Share of the city's jobs
    16%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,179

    Hiring most here: DTCC, University of South Florida, Tampa Electric

    Based on 1,179 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tampa

  20. 20

    Columbus OH

    187 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    187
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,265

    Hiring most here: State of Ohio, Nationwide, Ohio State University-Newark Campus

    Based on 1,265 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Columbus

  21. 21

    Nashville TN

    170 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    170
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,214

    Hiring most here: Oracle, Amazon, Vanderbilt University

    Based on 1,214 openings.

  22. 22

    San Jose CA

    162 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    162
    Share of the city's jobs
    9%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,804

    Hiring most here: Super Micro Computer, Advanced Micro Devices, Cisco Systems

    Based on 1,804 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Jose

  23. 23

    Pittsburgh PA

    154 jobs

    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

  24. 24

    Cincinnati OH

    153 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    153
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    1,002

    Hiring most here: Medpace Holdings, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Procter & Gamble

    Based on 1,002 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cincinnati

  25. 25

    Indianapolis IN

    148 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    148
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    997

    Hiring most here: Eli Lilly and Company, State of Indiana, Masco

    Based on 997 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Indianapolis

Full ranking

All 63 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1New York NY1,666 jobs13,453
2San Francisco CA902 jobs8,984
3Chicago IL684 jobs4,922
4Atlanta GA528 jobs3,586
5Austin TX493 jobs4,222
6Houston TX481 jobs3,033
7Los Angeles CA428 jobs3,573
8Dallas TX401 jobs2,850
9Boston MA390 jobs3,204
10Washington DC349 jobs2,764
11Seattle WA316 jobs4,071
12Charlotte NC298 jobs2,175
13Phoenix AZ265 jobs1,996
14Denver CO260 jobs2,106
15Miami FL257 jobs1,526
16Louisville KY251 jobs1,319
17Philadelphia PA208 jobs1,143
18San Diego CA196 jobs2,132
19Tampa FL194 jobs1,179
20Columbus OH187 jobs1,265
21Nashville TN170 jobs1,214
22San Jose CA162 jobs1,804
23Pittsburgh PA154 jobs1,043
24Cincinnati OH153 jobs1,002
25Indianapolis IN148 jobs997
26Orlando FL143 jobs924
27Raleigh NC142 jobs1,019
28Salt Lake City UT142 jobs747
29San Antonio TX136 jobs904
30Richmond VA136 jobs819
31Arlington VA125 jobs1,270
32Irvine CA124 jobs1,102
33Sacramento CA124 jobs925
34Minneapolis MN120 jobs887
35Bellevue WA117 jobs1,079
36Cleveland OH115 jobs663
37Fort Worth TX111 jobs830
38Jacksonville FL105 jobs704
39Las Vegas NV104 jobs647
40Baltimore MD103 jobs764
41Portland OR102 jobs546
42New York NY92 jobs762
43Fort Lauderdale FL91 jobs427
44Milwaukee WI90 jobs644
45Irving TX82 jobs648
46Kansas City MO81 jobs640
47Scottsdale AZ81 jobs550
48Knoxville TN79 jobs315
49Tallahassee FL77 jobs482
50Plano TX74 jobs680
51Syracuse NY70 jobs285
52McLean VA69 jobs750
53Tempe AZ67 jobs481
54Torrance CA65 jobs571
55Memphis TN64 jobs479
56Brooklyn NY64 jobs467
57Omaha NE64 jobs400
58Huntsville AL63 jobs877
59Detroit MI63 jobs489
60Oakland CA63 jobs410
61Birmingham AL60 jobs427
62Tulsa OK60 jobs365
63Greensboro NC60 jobs303

How this ranking works

A city's score is the number 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 60 such jobs and 100 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 100 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 with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree?
New York has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the United States: 1,666 jobs in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
63 cities have at least 100 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 63 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the number 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 60 such jobs and 100 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 with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree">Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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