NextChapter

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

Boston has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in New England: 390 jobs in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 Boston, MA: 390 jobs
  • #2 Cambridge, MA: 59 jobs
  • #3 Waltham, MA: 35 jobs
  • 14 cities ranked in New England
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1Boston MA390 jobs
  2. 2Cambridge MA59 jobs
  3. 3Waltham MA35 jobs
  4. 4Hartford CT29 jobs
  5. 5Portland ME26 jobs
  6. 6New Haven CT24 jobs
  7. 7Stamford CT23 jobs
  8. 8Manchester NH23 jobs
  9. 9Framingham MA22 jobs
  10. 10Worcester MA21 jobs

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Boston (390 jobs) is well clear of Worcester at #10 (21 jobs).
  • Boston is the largest market in the top ten, with 3,204 jobs matched to an occupation behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 60 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

    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

  2. 2

    Cambridge MA

    59 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    59
    Share of the city's jobs
    9%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    631

    Hiring most here: Harvard University, Biogen, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

    Based on 631 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cambridge

  3. 3

    Waltham MA

    35 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    35
    Share of the city's jobs
    8%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    417

    Hiring most here: Boston Dynamics, Anduril Industries, Xometry

    Based on 417 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Waltham

  4. 4

    Hartford CT

    29 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    29
    Share of the city's jobs
    14%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    204

    Hiring most here: CVS HEALTH, Hartford HealthCare, Eversource Energy

    Based on 204 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Hartford

  5. 5

    Portland ME

    26 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    26
    Share of the city's jobs
    18%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    142

    Hiring most here: Unum Group, BerryDunn, Springborn Staffing

    Based on 142 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Portland

  6. 6

    New Haven CT

    24 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    24
    Share of the city's jobs
    13%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    178

    Hiring most here: Yale University, Yale New Haven Health, Knights of Columbus

    Based on 178 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New Haven

  7. 7

    Stamford CT

    23 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    23
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    198

    Hiring most here: Philip Morris International, Gartner, Charter Communications

    Based on 198 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Stamford

  8. 8

    Manchester NH

    23 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    23
    Share of the city's jobs
    21%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    107

    Hiring most here: BAE Systems, Allegro Microsystems, Eversource Energy

    Based on 107 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Manchester

  9. 9

    Framingham MA

    22 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    22
    Share of the city's jobs
    15%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    142

    Hiring most here: Staples, Bose, TJX Companies

    Based on 142 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Framingham

  10. 10

    Worcester MA

    21 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    21
    Share of the city's jobs
    21%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    100

    Hiring most here: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Umass Memorial Health Care, Milford Regional Medical Center

    Based on 100 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Worcester

  11. 11

    Burlington MA

    20 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    20
    Share of the city's jobs
    13%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    151

    Hiring most here: Veracode, Vericel, Tufts Medicine Care AT Home

    Based on 151 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Burlington

  12. 12

    Somerville MA

    18 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    18
    Share of the city's jobs
    10%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    187

    Hiring most here: Formlabs, Tulip Interfaces, Generate Biomedicines

    Based on 187 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Somerville

  13. 13

    Newton MA

    17 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    17
    Share of the city's jobs
    26%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    65

    Hiring most here: Panera Brands, Siemens Healthineers, The RMR Group

    Based on 65 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Newton

  14. 14

    Springfield MA

    15 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    15
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    79

    Hiring most here: MassMutual

    Based on 79 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

Full ranking

All 14 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Boston MA390 jobs3,204
2Cambridge MA59 jobs631
3Waltham MA35 jobs417
4Hartford CT29 jobs204
5Portland ME26 jobs142
6New Haven CT24 jobs178
7Stamford CT23 jobs198
8Manchester NH23 jobs107
9Framingham MA22 jobs142
10Worcester MA21 jobs100
11Burlington MA20 jobs151
12Somerville MA18 jobs187
13Newton MA17 jobs65
14Springfield MA15 jobs79

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 15 such jobs and 60 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 60 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 in new england?
Boston has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in New England: 390 jobs in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
14 cities have at least 60 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 14 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 15 such jobs and 60 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 in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-new-england

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

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