NextChapter

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

New York has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Northeast: 1,666 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 New York, NY: 1,666 jobs
  • #2 Boston, MA: 390 jobs
  • #3 Philadelphia, PA: 208 jobs
  • 36 cities ranked in the Northeast
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1New York NY1,666 jobs
  2. 2Boston MA390 jobs
  3. 3Philadelphia PA208 jobs
  4. 4Pittsburgh PA154 jobs
  5. 5New York NY92 jobs
  6. 6Syracuse NY70 jobs
  7. 7Brooklyn NY64 jobs
  8. 8Cambridge MA59 jobs
  9. 9Rochester NY52 jobs
  10. 10Albany NY48 jobs

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: New York (1,666 jobs) is well clear of Albany at #10 (48 jobs).
  • Albany reaches #10 on a sample of 259 jobs matched to an occupation, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • 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 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

    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

    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

  3. 3

    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

  4. 4

    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

  5. 5

    New York NY

    92 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    92
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    762

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 762 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  6. 6

    Syracuse NY

    70 jobs

    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

  7. 7

    Brooklyn NY

    64 jobs

    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

  8. 8

    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

  9. 9

    Rochester NY

    52 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    52
    Share of the city's jobs
    13%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    389

    Hiring most here: L3HARRIS Technologies, Harris Health Strategic Fund, Rochester Institute of Technology

    Based on 389 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rochester

  10. 10

    Albany NY

    48 jobs

    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

  11. 11

    Harrisburg PA

    48 jobs

    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

  12. 12

    Mechanicsburg PA

    45 jobs

    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

  13. 13

    Buffalo NY

    44 jobs

    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

  14. 14

    Newark NJ

    36 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    36
    Share of the city's jobs
    12%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    299

    Hiring most here: Broadridge Financial Solutions, Amazon, Audible

    Based on 299 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Newark

  15. 15

    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

  16. 16

    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

  17. 17

    Princeton NJ

    26 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    26
    Share of the city's jobs
    11%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    247

    Hiring most here: Genmab A/S, Otsuka, ZS Associates

    Based on 247 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Princeton

  18. 18

    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

  19. 19

    Jersey City NJ

    25 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    25
    Share of the city's jobs
    7%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    362

    Hiring most here: DTCC, Verisk Analytics, JPMorgan Chase

    Based on 362 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jersey City

  20. 20

    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

  21. 21

    King of Prussia PA

    23 jobs

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    23
    Share of the city's jobs
    9%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    255

    Hiring most here: Sikorsky Aircraft, Lockheed Martin Services, Lockheed Martin

    Based on 255 openings.

    Jobs and employers in King of Prussia

  22. 22

    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

  23. 23

    Allentown PA

    23 jobs

    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

  24. 24

    Bronx NY

    23 jobs

    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

  25. 25

    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

Full ranking

All 36 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1New York NY1,666 jobs13,453
2Boston MA390 jobs3,204
3Philadelphia PA208 jobs1,143
4Pittsburgh PA154 jobs1,043
5New York NY92 jobs762
6Syracuse NY70 jobs285
7Brooklyn NY64 jobs467
8Cambridge MA59 jobs631
9Rochester NY52 jobs389
10Albany NY48 jobs259
11Harrisburg PA48 jobs167
12Mechanicsburg PA45 jobs96
13Buffalo NY44 jobs317
14Newark NJ36 jobs299
15Waltham MA35 jobs417
16Hartford CT29 jobs204
17Princeton NJ26 jobs247
18Portland ME26 jobs142
19Jersey City NJ25 jobs362
20New Haven CT24 jobs178
21King of Prussia PA23 jobs255
22Stamford CT23 jobs198
23Allentown PA23 jobs154
24Bronx NY23 jobs114
25Manchester NH23 jobs107
26Framingham MA22 jobs142
27Morristown NJ22 jobs116
28Worcester MA21 jobs100
29Burlington MA20 jobs151
30Lancaster PA20 jobs118
31Conshohocken PA19 jobs86
32Somerville MA18 jobs187
33Newton MA17 jobs65
34Reading PA16 jobs151
35White Plains NY15 jobs146
36Springfield 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 the northeast?
New York has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Northeast: 1,666 jobs in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
36 cities have at least 60 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 36 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 the Northeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-northeast

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

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