NextChapter

Best all-round cities for AI careers

San Francisco is the best all-round city for AI careers in the United States, with a score of 98 / 100.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 San Francisco, CA: 98 / 100
  • #2 Mountain View, CA: 98 / 100
  • #3 San Mateo, CA: 95 / 100
  • 100 cities ranked in the United States
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1San Francisco CA98 / 100
  2. 2Mountain View CA98 / 100
  3. 3San Mateo CA95 / 100
  4. 4Sunnyvale CA95 / 100
  5. 5Palo Alto CA95 / 100
  6. 6Santa Clara CA94 / 100
  7. 7San Jose CA92 / 100
  8. 8Seattle WA92 / 100
  9. 9Bellevue WA91 / 100
  10. 10Foster City CA89 / 100

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: San Francisco leads on 98 / 100, and #10 Foster City is at 89 / 100.
  • Foster City reaches #10 on a sample of 517 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • San Francisco is the largest market in the top ten, with 12,335 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 200 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Careers that use AI cluster in a few places. This list weighs the share and number of openings that ask for AI skills and the pay they offer, to show where AI work is concentrated.

How to use it

If you are building AI skills, the top cities show where the employers and the roles are. The gap between your city and the top is a guide to what to add to your résumé.

The top 25

  1. 1

    San Francisco CA

    98 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    41%
    AI-skill openings
    5,026
    Median posted pay
    $215k

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

    Based on 12,335 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Francisco

  2. 2

    Mountain View CA

    98 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    45%
    AI-skill openings
    736
    Median posted pay
    $213k

    Hiring most here: Intuit, Google, Waymo

    Based on 1,637 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mountain View

  3. 3

    San Mateo CA

    95 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    34%
    AI-skill openings
    324
    Median posted pay
    $232k

    Hiring most here: Roblox, Verkada, Skydio

    Based on 960 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Mateo

  4. 4

    Sunnyvale CA

    95 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    29%
    AI-skill openings
    475
    Median posted pay
    $212k

    Hiring most here: Applied Intuition, Amazon, Wayve

    Based on 1,655 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sunnyvale

  5. 5

    Palo Alto CA

    95 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    37%
    AI-skill openings
    472
    Median posted pay
    $206k

    Hiring most here: SpaceX, Rivian Automotive, Stanford Health Care

    Based on 1,263 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Palo Alto

  6. 6

    Santa Clara CA

    94 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    28%
    AI-skill openings
    472
    Median posted pay
    $212k

    Hiring most here: Nvidia, Pure Storage, Advanced Micro Devices

    Based on 1,689 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Clara

  7. 7

    San Jose CA

    92 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    22%
    AI-skill openings
    568
    Median posted pay
    $200k

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

    Based on 2,552 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Jose

  8. 8

    Seattle WA

    92 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    26%
    AI-skill openings
    1,448
    Median posted pay
    $180k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Blue Origin, Shield AI

    Based on 5,635 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Seattle

  9. 9

    Bellevue WA

    91 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    28%
    AI-skill openings
    403
    Median posted pay
    $197k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, TerraPower, Okta

    Based on 1,455 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bellevue

  10. 10

    Foster City CA

    89 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    24%
    AI-skill openings
    126
    Median posted pay
    $232k

    Hiring most here: Gilead Sciences, Zoox, Replit

    Based on 517 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Foster City

  11. 11

    Boston MA

    89 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    21%
    AI-skill openings
    1,143
    Median posted pay
    $170k

    Hiring most here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Confidential, Takeda Development Center Americas

    Based on 5,338 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boston

  12. 12

    Redmond WA

    89 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    18%
    AI-skill openings
    213
    Median posted pay
    $209k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, SpaceX, Microsoft

    Based on 1,166 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Redmond

  13. 13

    Menlo Park CA

    89 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    32%
    AI-skill openings
    144
    Median posted pay
    $195k

    Hiring most here: Snowflake, Hippocratic AI, Exponent

    Based on 449 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Menlo Park

  14. 14

    New York NY

    88 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    20%
    AI-skill openings
    4,428
    Median posted pay
    $169k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Publicis Groupe, Morgan Stanley

    Based on 22,145 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New York

  15. 15

    Austin TX

    88 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    18%
    AI-skill openings
    1,135
    Median posted pay
    $165k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices, Cloudflare

    Based on 6,257 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Austin

  16. 16

    Redwood City CA

    85 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    25%
    AI-skill openings
    131
    Median posted pay
    $193k

    Hiring most here: Corcept Therapeutics, SB Energy, C3 AI

    Based on 514 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Redwood City

  17. 17

    Cambridge MA

    84 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    15%
    AI-skill openings
    176
    Median posted pay
    $198k

    Hiring most here: Harvard University, Biogen, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

    Based on 1,204 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cambridge

  18. 18

    McLean VA

    80 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    17%
    AI-skill openings
    198
    Median posted pay
    $160k

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 1,182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  19. 19

    Oakland CA

    80 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    17%
    AI-skill openings
    101
    Median posted pay
    $181k

    Hiring most here: Pacific Gas & Electric, Blue Shield of California, Fivetran

    Based on 609 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oakland

  20. 20

    Waltham MA

    80 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    15%
    AI-skill openings
    97
    Median posted pay
    $193k

    Hiring most here: Boston Dynamics, Anduril Industries, Xometry

    Based on 634 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Waltham

  21. 21

    Reston VA

    78 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    17%
    AI-skill openings
    137
    Median posted pay
    $160k

    Hiring most here: ICF International, CACI International, Anduril Industries

    Based on 828 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Reston

  22. 22

    Washington DC

    76 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    10%
    AI-skill openings
    489
    Median posted pay
    $163k

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, Confidential, Shield AI

    Based on 4,748 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Washington

  23. 23

    Addison TX

    76 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    33%
    AI-skill openings
    71
    Median posted pay
    $150k

    Hiring most here: National Life Group, National Life Insurance Company, Bank of America

    Based on 215 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Addison

  24. 24

    Herndon VA

    76 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    13%
    AI-skill openings
    112
    Median posted pay
    $163k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 849 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

  25. 25

    Jersey City NJ

    75 / 100

    AI-skill share of openings
    16%
    AI-skill openings
    108
    Median posted pay
    $162k

    Hiring most here: DTCC, JPMorgan Chase, Verisk Analytics

    Based on 679 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jersey City

Full ranking

All 100 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1San Francisco CA98 / 10012,335
2Mountain View CA98 / 1001,637
3San Mateo CA95 / 100960
4Sunnyvale CA95 / 1001,655
5Palo Alto CA95 / 1001,263
6Santa Clara CA94 / 1001,689
7San Jose CA92 / 1002,552
8Seattle WA92 / 1005,635
9Bellevue WA91 / 1001,455
10Foster City CA89 / 100517
11Boston MA89 / 1005,338
12Redmond WA89 / 1001,166
13Menlo Park CA89 / 100449
14New York NY88 / 10022,145
15Austin TX88 / 1006,257
16Redwood City CA85 / 100514
17Cambridge MA84 / 1001,204
18McLean VA80 / 1001,182
19Oakland CA80 / 100609
20Waltham MA80 / 100634
21Reston VA78 / 100828
22Washington DC76 / 1004,748
23Addison TX76 / 100215
24Herndon VA76 / 100849
25Jersey City NJ75 / 100679
26Arlington VA75 / 1002,079
27Santa Monica CA75 / 100327
28Somerville MA74 / 100354
29San Diego CA74 / 1003,240
30Chicago IL73 / 1008,033
31Irvine CA73 / 1001,587
32Denver CO72 / 1002,996
33Atlanta GA72 / 1005,877
34Dallas TX72 / 1004,778
35Ann Arbor MI71 / 100362
36Eden Prairie MN71 / 100363
37Princeton NJ70 / 100439
38Los Angeles CA70 / 1005,439
39Fremont CA69 / 100510
40Chantilly VA69 / 100553
41San Carlos CA68 / 100211
42Irving TX67 / 100948
43Milpitas CA64 / 100271
44Wilmington DE64 / 100507
45Plano TX63 / 1001,109
46El Segundo CA63 / 100959
47Lexington MA63 / 100253
48Culver City CA62 / 100252
49Nashville TN62 / 1001,737
50Charlotte NC58 / 1003,402
51Alpharetta GA58 / 100614
52Brooklyn NY58 / 100693
53Alameda CA56 / 100215
54Bethesda MD55 / 100470
55Santa Ana CA55 / 100277
56Miami FL55 / 1002,485
57Philadelphia PA53 / 1001,960
58Huntsville AL53 / 1001,196
59Stamford CT52 / 100336
60Tempe AZ52 / 100688
61Detroit MI52 / 100786
62Broomfield CO51 / 100294
63Boulder CO51 / 100454
64Salt Lake City UT51 / 1001,102
65Raleigh NC51 / 1001,515
66Durham NC51 / 100804
67Rockville MD51 / 100383
68Berkeley CA50 / 100249
69Newark NJ49 / 100455
70Pittsburgh PA49 / 1001,592
71Mc Lean VA48 / 100242
72Houston TX47 / 1004,621
73Burlington MA46 / 100227
74Torrance CA45 / 100745
75Minneapolis MN44 / 1001,313
76Long Beach CA44 / 100876
77Fort Meade MD44 / 100275
78Alexandria VA43 / 100618
79Des Moines IA43 / 100394
80Columbus OH42 / 1002,024
81Aurora CO41 / 100347
82Phoenix AZ40 / 1002,922
83Indianapolis IN40 / 1001,496
84Hartford CT39 / 100366
85Birmingham AL39 / 100617
86Scottsdale AZ38 / 100772
87Jacksonville FL38 / 1001,131
88Newport Beach CA37 / 100310
89Baltimore MD37 / 1001,158
90Westminster CO37 / 100264
91Fort Worth TX35 / 1001,339
92Springfield VA35 / 100277
93Tampa FL34 / 1001,845
94Boca Raton FL31 / 100369
95White Plains NY31 / 100229
96Omaha NE31 / 100577
97Schaumburg IL31 / 100242
98Englewood CO30 / 100266
99Sacramento CA29 / 1001,431
100Milwaukee WI29 / 100909

How this ranking works

A city's score is the weighted average of its percentile rank on each measure among the ranked cities (100 is first, 0 is last): ai-skill share of openings 35%, ai-skill openings 30%, median posted pay 20%, pay after cost of living 15%.

A score of 100 would mean first on every measure and 50 is the middle of the pack. The measures and weights are fixed in advance and shown here; they are a judgment about what matters to this reader, so use the single-measure rankings when one thing matters most.

Only cities with enough openings and pay data are ranked.

A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 200 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles and posted pay; Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024. 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: best all-round cities for ai careers?
San Francisco is the best all-round city for AI careers in the United States, with a score of 98 / 100.
How many cities are ranked?
100 cities have at least 200 openings, so the list has 100 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the weighted average of its percentile rank on each measure among the ranked cities (100 is first, 0 is last): ai-skill share of openings 35%, ai-skill openings 30%, median posted pay 20%, pay after cost of living 15%. A score of 100 would mean first on every measure and 50 is the middle of the pack. The measures and weights are fixed in advance and shown here; they are a judgment about what matters to this reader, so use the single-measure rankings when one thing matters most. Only cities with enough openings and pay data are ranked. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
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, “Best all-round cities for AI careers,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-ai-careers

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-ai-careers">Best all-round cities for AI careers (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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