Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Southwest
Question 1
Where are you right now?
Why we ask: a laid-off week and a thinking-about-a-move week look nothing alike. No résumé, no account.
Key facts
- #1 Austin, TX: 493 jobs
- #2 Houston, TX: 481 jobs
- #3 Dallas, TX: 401 jobs
- 38 cities ranked in the Southwest
- Data as of November 2026
- 1Austin TX493 jobs
- 2Houston TX481 jobs
- 3Dallas TX401 jobs
- 4Phoenix AZ265 jobs
- 5San Antonio TX136 jobs
- 6Fort Worth TX111 jobs
- 7Las Vegas NV104 jobs
- 8Irving TX82 jobs
- 9Scottsdale AZ81 jobs
- 10Plano TX74 jobs
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Austin (493 jobs) is well clear of Plano at #10 (74 jobs).
- Austin is the largest market in the top ten, with 4,222 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
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
San Antonio TX
136 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 136
- Share of the city's jobs
- 15%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 904
Hiring most here: H-E-B, University Health San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio
Based on 904 openings.
- 6
Fort Worth TX
111 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 111
- Share of the city's jobs
- 13%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 830
Hiring most here: Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, MP Materials
Based on 830 openings.
- 7
Las Vegas NV
104 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 104
- Share of the city's jobs
- 16%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 647
Hiring most here: Caesars Entertainment, Allegiant Travel Company, Jt4
Based on 647 openings.
- 8
Irving TX
82 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 82
- Share of the city's jobs
- 13%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 648
Hiring most here: CHRISTUS Health, 7-Eleven, Mckesson
Based on 648 openings.
- 9
Scottsdale AZ
81 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 81
- Share of the city's jobs
- 15%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 550
Hiring most here: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Axon Enterprise, AMI Semiconductor
Based on 550 openings.
- 10
Plano TX
74 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 74
- Share of the city's jobs
- 11%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 680
Hiring most here: NTT Data, Pepsico, JPMorgan Chase
Based on 680 openings.
- 12
Tulsa OK
60 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 60
- Share of the city's jobs
- 16%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 365
Hiring most here: BOK Financial, Aaon, Helmerich & Payne
Based on 365 openings.
- 13
Tucson AZ
56 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 56
- Share of the city's jobs
- 11%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 496
Hiring most here: RTX, University of Arizona, Rocket Lab
Based on 496 openings.
- 14
Oklahoma City OK
55 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 55
- Share of the city's jobs
- 14%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 402
Hiring most here: Love's Travel Stops, CACI International, Northrop Grumman
Based on 402 openings.
- 15
Albuquerque NM
43 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 43
- Share of the city's jobs
- 18%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 240
Hiring most here: University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Rocket Lab, Kairos Power
Based on 240 openings.
- 16
Chandler AZ
38 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 38
- Share of the city's jobs
- 11%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 332
Hiring most here: Northrop Grumman, Ralliant, Bechtel Energy
Based on 332 openings.
- 17
El Paso TX
35 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 35
- Share of the city's jobs
- 16%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 214
Hiring most here: Confidential, Tenet Healthcare, Faith Technologies
Based on 214 openings.
- 18
Richardson TX
32 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 32
- Share of the city's jobs
- 11%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 284
Hiring most here: Celestica, Qorvo, OSI Systems
Based on 284 openings.
- 19
Reno NV
31 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 31
- Share of the city's jobs
- 13%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 231
Hiring most here: IGT, Amperesand, Caesars Entertainment
Based on 231 openings.
- 20
Midland TX
31 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 31
- Share of the city's jobs
- 25%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 124
Hiring most here: Patterson UTI Energy, SM Energy, AST SpaceMobile
Based on 124 openings.
- 21
Mesa AZ
28 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 28
- Share of the city's jobs
- 18%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 154
Hiring most here: Emcor, Legends / ASM Global, Amazon
Based on 154 openings.
- 22
Corpus Christi TX
28 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 28
- Share of the city's jobs
- 33%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 86
Hiring most here: American Electric Power, CHRISTUS Health, Veterans Health Administration
Based on 86 openings.
- 23
Lubbock TX
25 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 25
- Share of the city's jobs
- 26%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 96
Hiring most here: Prosperity Bancshares, Johnson Controls International, Terracon Consultants
Based on 96 openings.
- 24
Carrollton TX
24 jobs
- Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- 24
- Share of the city's jobs
- 25%
- Jobs matched to an occupation
- 96
Hiring most here: MB2 Dental, Trane U.s., PennyMac Financial Services
Based on 96 openings.
Full ranking
All 38 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | City | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin TX | 493 jobs | 4,222 |
| 2 | Houston TX | 481 jobs | 3,033 |
| 3 | Dallas TX | 401 jobs | 2,850 |
| 4 | Phoenix AZ | 265 jobs | 1,996 |
| 5 | San Antonio TX | 136 jobs | 904 |
| 6 | Fort Worth TX | 111 jobs | 830 |
| 7 | Las Vegas NV | 104 jobs | 647 |
| 8 | Irving TX | 82 jobs | 648 |
| 9 | Scottsdale AZ | 81 jobs | 550 |
| 10 | Plano TX | 74 jobs | 680 |
| 11 | Tempe AZ | 67 jobs | 481 |
| 12 | Tulsa OK | 60 jobs | 365 |
| 13 | Tucson AZ | 56 jobs | 496 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City OK | 55 jobs | 402 |
| 15 | Albuquerque NM | 43 jobs | 240 |
| 16 | Chandler AZ | 38 jobs | 332 |
| 17 | El Paso TX | 35 jobs | 214 |
| 18 | Richardson TX | 32 jobs | 284 |
| 19 | Reno NV | 31 jobs | 231 |
| 20 | Midland TX | 31 jobs | 124 |
| 21 | Mesa AZ | 28 jobs | 154 |
| 22 | Corpus Christi TX | 28 jobs | 86 |
| 23 | Lubbock TX | 25 jobs | 96 |
| 24 | Carrollton TX | 24 jobs | 96 |
| 25 | Denton TX | 23 jobs | 115 |
| 26 | Odessa TX | 21 jobs | 60 |
| 27 | Spring TX | 20 jobs | 211 |
| 28 | Waco TX | 19 jobs | 102 |
| 29 | Frisco TX | 18 jobs | 119 |
| 30 | Addison TX | 17 jobs | 122 |
| 31 | Lewisville TX | 17 jobs | 87 |
| 32 | Tyler TX | 17 jobs | 84 |
| 33 | The Woodlands TX | 16 jobs | 119 |
| 34 | Amarillo TX | 16 jobs | 87 |
| 35 | Arlington TX | 15 jobs | 129 |
| 36 | Sparks NV | 15 jobs | 103 |
| 37 | Abilene TX | 15 jobs | 88 |
| 38 | Sugar Land TX | 15 jobs | 75 |
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 southwest?
- Austin has the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Southwest: 493 jobs in our data.
- How many cities are ranked?
- 38 cities have at least 60 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 38 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
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Southwest
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Southwest
- Counties with the lowest unemployment in the Southwest
- Counties where unemployment fell the most in the Southwest
- Counties with the highest share of white-collar workers in the Southwest
- Counties with the most jobs in AI-exposed sectors in the Southwest
- Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Southwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-southwest
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-with-the-most-jobs-that-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-southwest">Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Southwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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