NextChapter

Best all-round cities for new graduates in the Southeast

Raleigh is the best all-round city for new graduates in the Southeast, with a score of 68 / 100.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Raleigh, NC: 68 / 100
  • #2 Manassas, VA: 67 / 100
  • #3 Tallahassee, FL: 64 / 100
  • 33 cities ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026
  1. 1Raleigh NC68 / 100
  2. 2Manassas VA67 / 100
  3. 3Tallahassee FL64 / 100
  4. 4Arlington VA64 / 100
  5. 5Louisville KY62 / 100
  6. 6Alexandria VA62 / 100
  7. 7Richmond VA59 / 100
  8. 8Mc Lean VA58 / 100
  9. 9Charlotte NC58 / 100
  10. 10Vienna VA56 / 100

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Raleigh leads on 68 / 100, and #10 Vienna is at 56 / 100.
  • Vienna reaches #10 on a sample of 171 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Charlotte is the largest market in the top ten, with 3,402 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

New graduates need a place with many entry-level roles, pay that covers the cost of living and employers that state their pay. This list weighs those together and shows the weights, so it ranks the all-round picture rather than one number.

How to use it

Start with the top ten and read each city's numbers against what you value most. If one thing matters most to you, such as pay, switch to the single-measure list for it.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Raleigh NC

    68 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    33%
    Pay after cost of living
    $133k
    Entry-level openings
    506

    Hiring most here: First Citizens Bank, Dewberry, MaintainX

    Based on 1,515 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Raleigh

  2. 2

    Manassas VA

    67 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    36%
    Pay after cost of living
    $137k
    Entry-level openings
    86

    Hiring most here: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Electra.Aero, Holder Construction

    Based on 236 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Manassas

  3. 3

    Tallahassee FL

    64 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    41%
    Pay after cost of living
    $121k
    Entry-level openings
    343

    Hiring most here: State of Florida, L3HARRIS Technologies, NextEra Energy

    Based on 840 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tallahassee

  4. 4

    Arlington VA

    64 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $146k
    Entry-level openings
    558

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Bloomberg Industry Group

    Based on 2,079 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  5. 5

    Louisville KY

    62 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    31%
    Pay after cost of living
    $126k
    Entry-level openings
    710

    Hiring most here: Deloitte, BrightSpring Health Services, Norton Healthcare

    Based on 2,319 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Louisville

  6. 6

    Alexandria VA

    62 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    32%
    Pay after cost of living
    $139k
    Entry-level openings
    196

    Hiring most here: Kearney, Patent and Trademark Office, Analytic Services (ANSER)

    Based on 618 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alexandria

  7. 7

    Richmond VA

    59 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    35%
    Pay after cost of living
    $103k
    Entry-level openings
    418

    Hiring most here: Mckesson, Capital One, Genworth Financial

    Based on 1,209 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Richmond

  8. 8

    Mc Lean VA

    58 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    30%
    Pay after cost of living
    $161k
    Entry-level openings
    72

    Hiring most here: Capital One, Booz Allen Hamilton, Sunrise Senior Living

    Based on 242 openings.

  9. 9

    Charlotte NC

    58 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    30%
    Pay after cost of living
    $131k
    Entry-level openings
    1,027

    Hiring most here: Truist Financial, Scout Motors, SMBC Americas

    Based on 3,402 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Charlotte

  10. 10

    Vienna VA

    56 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    33%
    Pay after cost of living
    $131k
    Entry-level openings
    56

    Hiring most here: Esri, Navy Federal Credit Union, Antithesis

    Based on 171 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Vienna

  11. 11

    Norfolk VA

    56 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    39%
    Pay after cost of living
    $103k
    Entry-level openings
    133

    Hiring most here: Commonwealth of Virginia, Seacorp, United States Fleet Forces Command

    Based on 342 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Norfolk

  12. 12

    Virginia Beach VA

    55 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    44%
    Pay after cost of living
    $93k
    Entry-level openings
    122

    Hiring most here: HII Mission Technologies, Amazon, Commander, Navy Installations Command

    Based on 275 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Virginia Beach

  13. 13

    Tampa FL

    55 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    33%
    Pay after cost of living
    $108k
    Entry-level openings
    604

    Hiring most here: DTCC, Citigroup, University of South Florida

    Based on 1,845 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tampa

  14. 14

    Atlanta GA

    54 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    26%
    Pay after cost of living
    $138k
    Entry-level openings
    1,514

    Hiring most here: Emory University, Oxford College of Emory University, Capgemini Invent

    Based on 5,877 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Atlanta

  15. 15

    Birmingham AL

    54 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    33%
    Pay after cost of living
    $139k
    Entry-level openings
    201

    Hiring most here: Genuine Parts Company, Uab Medicine Enterprise, Brasfield & Gorrie

    Based on 617 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Birmingham

  16. 16

    Herndon VA

    54 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    26%
    Pay after cost of living
    $161k
    Entry-level openings
    218

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 849 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

  17. 17

    Greensboro NC

    50 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    35%
    Pay after cost of living
    $111k
    Entry-level openings
    155

    Hiring most here: Cone Health, Kaiser Permanente, Guilford County Schools

    Based on 446 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Greensboro

  18. 18

    Fort Belvoir VA

    48 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    29%
    Pay after cost of living
    $134k
    Entry-level openings
    58

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Peraton, Teksynap

    Based on 197 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Belvoir

  19. 19

    Fort Lauderdale FL

    48 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    33%
    Pay after cost of living
    $102k
    Entry-level openings
    208

    Hiring most here: North Broward Hospital District (Broward Health), Autonation, Town & Country Credit Union

    Based on 624 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Lauderdale

  20. 20

    Boca Raton FL

    46 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    36%
    Pay after cost of living
    $92k
    Entry-level openings
    131

    Hiring most here: Compass, Baptist Health South Florida, SBA Communications

    Based on 369 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boca Raton

  21. 21

    Chantilly VA

    46 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $192k
    Entry-level openings
    147

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Trinzic, Peraton

    Based on 553 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chantilly

  22. 22

    Alpharetta GA

    45 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    27%
    Pay after cost of living
    $136k
    Entry-level openings
    166

    Hiring most here: Morgan Stanley, Fiserv, Landis+Gyr

    Based on 614 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alpharetta

  23. 23

    McLean VA

    45 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    19%
    Pay after cost of living
    $158k
    Entry-level openings
    228

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 1,182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  24. 24

    Miami FL

    45 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    28%
    Pay after cost of living
    $120k
    Entry-level openings
    684

    Hiring most here: University Of Miami, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises / Holland America Line

    Based on 2,485 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Miami

  25. 25

    Huntsville AL

    45 / 100

    Entry-level share of openings
    24%
    Pay after cost of living
    $164k
    Entry-level openings
    293

    Hiring most here: Northrop Grumman, L3HARRIS Technologies, Blue Origin

    Based on 1,196 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Huntsville

Full ranking

All 33 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Raleigh NC68 / 1001,515
2Manassas VA67 / 100236
3Tallahassee FL64 / 100840
4Arlington VA64 / 1002,079
5Louisville KY62 / 1002,319
6Alexandria VA62 / 100618
7Richmond VA59 / 1001,209
8Mc Lean VA58 / 100242
9Charlotte NC58 / 1003,402
10Vienna VA56 / 100171
11Norfolk VA56 / 100342
12Virginia Beach VA55 / 100275
13Tampa FL55 / 1001,845
14Atlanta GA54 / 1005,877
15Birmingham AL54 / 100617
16Herndon VA54 / 100849
17Greensboro NC50 / 100446
18Fort Belvoir VA48 / 100197
19Fort Lauderdale FL48 / 100624
20Boca Raton FL46 / 100369
21Chantilly VA46 / 100553
22Alpharetta GA45 / 100614
23McLean VA45 / 1001,182
24Miami FL45 / 1002,485
25Huntsville AL45 / 1001,196
26Jacksonville FL45 / 1001,131
27Nashville TN44 / 1001,737
28Reston VA42 / 100828
29Orlando FL40 / 1001,343
30Frankfort KY38 / 100187
31Tysons VA32 / 100191
32Durham NC26 / 100804
33Springfield VA21 / 100277

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): entry-level share of openings 40%, pay after cost of living 25%, entry-level openings 20%, openings with pay posted 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 100 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 new graduates in the southeast?
Raleigh is the best all-round city for new graduates in the Southeast, with a score of 68 / 100.
How many cities are ranked?
33 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 33 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): entry-level share of openings 40%, pay after cost of living 25%, entry-level openings 20%, openings with pay posted 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 new graduates in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-new-graduates-in-the-southeast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-new-graduates-in-the-southeast">Best all-round cities for new graduates in the Southeast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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