{"h1":"Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Midwest","faq":[{"a":"Chicago is the best all-round city for mid-career professionals in the Midwest, with a score of 80 / 100.","q":"Which city ranks first: best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the midwest?"},{"a":"20 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 20 entries.","q":"How many cities are ranked?"},{"a":"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): mid-career share of openings 35%, pay after cost of living 30%, mid-career openings 20%, director-and-above share 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.","q":"How is the ranking calculated?"},{"a":"Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.","q":"How often is it updated?"}],"lead":"Chicago is the best all-round city for mid-career professionals in the Midwest, with a score of 80 / 100.","minN":100,"rows":[{"n":8033,"bar":1,"key":"IL|chicago","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/chicago","name":"Chicago","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"50%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$135k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"4,056"}],"value":79.73684210526316,"change":null,"employers":["Publicis Groupe","Confidential","Mars"],"valueLabel":"80 / 100"},{"n":394,"bar":0.9801980198019802,"key":"IA|des moines","sub":"IA","href":"/places/iowa/city/des-moines","name":"Des Moines","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"59%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$147k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"233"}],"value":78.15789473684211,"change":null,"employers":["Principal Financial Group","OpenLoop","Olsson"],"valueLabel":"78 / 100"},{"n":362,"bar":0.9009900990099009,"key":"MI|ann arbor","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/ann-arbor","name":"Ann Arbor","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"60%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$159k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"219"}],"value":71.84210526315789,"change":null,"employers":["May Mobility","Torc Robotics","Thomson Reuters"],"valueLabel":"72 / 100"},{"n":1313,"bar":0.8745874587458746,"key":"MN|minneapolis","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/minneapolis","name":"Minneapolis","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"54%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$124k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"708"}],"value":69.73684210526316,"change":null,"employers":["Mortenson","Ameriprise Certificate","U.S. Bank"],"valueLabel":"70 / 100"},{"n":1496,"bar":0.8448844884488448,"key":"IN|indianapolis","sub":"IN","href":"/places/indiana/city/indianapolis","name":"Indianapolis","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"49%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$132k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"728"}],"value":67.36842105263158,"change":null,"employers":["Eli Lilly and Company","State of Indiana","Masco"],"valueLabel":"67 / 100"},{"n":916,"bar":0.7491749174917491,"key":"MO|kansas city","sub":"MO","href":"/places/missouri/city/kansas-city","name":"Kansas City","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"51%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$125k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"469"}],"value":59.73684210526316,"change":null,"employers":["JE Dunn Construction","Catalent Pharma Solutions","Commerce Bank"],"valueLabel":"60 / 100"},{"n":909,"bar":0.7095709570957095,"key":"WI|milwaukee","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/milwaukee","name":"Milwaukee","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"51%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$122k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"468"}],"value":56.57894736842105,"change":null,"employers":["Michels","Rockwell Automation","Molson Coors Beverage"],"valueLabel":"57 / 100"},{"n":786,"bar":0.6930693069306929,"key":"MI|detroit","sub":"MI","href":"/places/michigan/city/detroit","name":"Detroit","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"48%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$126k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"378"}],"value":55.26315789473684,"change":null,"employers":["Wayne State University","Henry Ford Health System","Accident Fund"],"valueLabel":"55 / 100"},{"n":577,"bar":0.6897689768976897,"key":"NE|omaha","sub":"NE","href":"/places/nebraska/city/omaha","name":"Omaha","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"55%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$122k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"318"}],"value":55,"change":null,"employers":["Conagra Brands","Valmont","First National Bank of Omaha"],"valueLabel":"55 / 100"},{"n":446,"bar":0.6732673267326733,"key":"OH|dayton","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/dayton","name":"Dayton","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"54%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$131k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"240"}],"value":53.68421052631579,"change":null,"employers":["University of Dayton","Modern Technology Solutions","Odyssey Systems Consulting"],"valueLabel":"54 / 100"},{"n":363,"bar":0.6468646864686468,"key":"MN|eden prairie","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/eden-prairie","name":"Eden Prairie","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"47%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$141k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"171"}],"value":51.57894736842105,"change":null,"employers":["Unitedhealth Group","LHC Group","Illinois Tool Works"],"valueLabel":"52 / 100"},{"n":232,"bar":0.5874587458745875,"key":"MN|st paul","sub":"MN","href":"/places/minnesota/city/st-paul","name":"St. Paul","rank":12,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"55%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$123k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"128"}],"value":46.8421052631579,"change":null,"employers":["George Konik Associates","Thomson Reuters","Mortenson"],"valueLabel":"47 / 100"},{"n":2024,"bar":0.5742574257425743,"key":"OH|columbus","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/columbus","name":"Columbus","rank":13,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"50%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$120k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"1,010"}],"value":45.78947368421053,"change":null,"employers":["State of Ohio","Nationwide","American Electric Power"],"valueLabel":"46 / 100"},{"n":255,"bar":0.4653465346534654,"key":"IL|mundelein","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/mundelein","name":"Mundelein","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"37%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$134k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"94"}],"value":37.10526315789474,"change":null,"employers":["Coda Search│Staffing"],"valueLabel":"37 / 100"},{"n":917,"bar":0.4488448844884487,"key":"OH|cleveland","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/cleveland","name":"Cleveland","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"50%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$108k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"458"}],"value":35.78947368421052,"change":null,"employers":["Flexjet","Sherwin Williams","KeyBank"],"valueLabel":"36 / 100"},{"n":1451,"bar":0.4092409240924091,"key":"OH|cincinnati","sub":"OH","href":"/places/ohio/city/cincinnati","name":"Cincinnati","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"47%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$115k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"685"}],"value":32.63157894736842,"change":null,"employers":["Medpace Holdings","Procter & Gamble","Western & Southern Financial Group"],"valueLabel":"33 / 100"},{"n":596,"bar":0.3762376237623762,"key":"MO|st louis","sub":"MO","href":"/places/missouri/city/st-louis","name":"St. Louis","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"48%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$109k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"286"}],"value":30,"change":null,"employers":["Stifel Charitable","BJC HealthCare","Kforce"],"valueLabel":"30 / 100"},{"n":323,"bar":0.3498349834983498,"key":"IL|springfield","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/springfield","name":"Springfield","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"46%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$125k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"148"}],"value":27.89473684210526,"change":null,"employers":["State of Illinois","Army National Guard Units","Hshs Medical Group"],"valueLabel":"28 / 100"},{"n":526,"bar":0.3201320132013201,"key":"WI|madison","sub":"WI","href":"/places/wisconsin/city/madison","name":"Madison","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"46%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$112k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"242"}],"value":25.52631578947368,"change":null,"employers":["Universities of Wisconsin [UW_Madison]","Creative Financial Staffing","Catalent Pharma Solutions"],"valueLabel":"26 / 100"},{"n":242,"bar":0.2475247524752475,"key":"IL|schaumburg","sub":"IL","href":"/places/illinois/city/schaumburg","name":"Schaumburg","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Mid-career share of openings","value":"48%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$110k"},{"label":"Mid-career openings","value":"115"}],"value":19.73684210526316,"change":null,"employers":["Motorola Solutions","Fictiv","Zurich"],"valueLabel":"20 / 100"}],"slug":"best-all-round-cities-for-mid-career-professionals-in-the-midwest","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"midwest","kind":"region","name":"Midwest"},"title":"Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Midwest","family":"Best overall","method":["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): mid-career share of openings 35%, pay after cost of living 30%, mid-career openings 20%, director-and-above share 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."],"builtAt":"2026-11-04T03:37:37.436Z","edition":"2026-11","measure":"cmid","sources":["NextChapter job data: open professional roles and posted pay","Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024"],"baseline":null,"keyFacts":["#1 Chicago, IL: 80 / 100","#2 Des Moines, IA: 78 / 100","#3 Ann Arbor, MI: 72 / 100","20 cities ranked in the Midwest","Data as of November 2026"],"placeNoun":"cities","commentary":["The top ten is tightly packed: Chicago leads on 80 / 100, and #10 Dayton is at 54 / 100.","Ann Arbor reaches #3 on a sample of 362 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.","Chicago is the largest market in the top ten, with 8,033 openings behind its figure.","Cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful."],"license":"Free to use and share with a link to https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-mid-career-professionals-in-the-midwest"}