{"h1":"Best all-round cities for new graduates in the Southeast","faq":[{"a":"Raleigh is the best all-round city for new graduates in the Southeast, with a score of 68 / 100.","q":"Which city ranks first: best all-round cities for new graduates in the southeast?"},{"a":"33 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 33 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): 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.","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":"Raleigh is the best all-round city for new graduates in the Southeast, with a score of 68 / 100.","minN":100,"rows":[{"n":1515,"bar":1,"key":"NC|raleigh","sub":"NC","href":"/places/north-carolina/city/raleigh","name":"Raleigh","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"33%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$133k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"506"}],"value":67.8125,"change":null,"employers":["First Citizens Bank","Dewberry","MaintainX"],"valueLabel":"68 / 100"},{"n":236,"bar":0.9930875576036866,"key":"VA|manassas","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/manassas","name":"Manassas","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"36%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$137k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"86"}],"value":67.34375,"change":null,"employers":["General Dynamics Mission Systems","Electra.Aero","Holder Construction"],"valueLabel":"67 / 100"},{"n":840,"bar":0.9423963133640553,"key":"FL|tallahassee","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/tallahassee","name":"Tallahassee","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"41%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$121k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"343"}],"value":63.90625,"change":null,"employers":["State of Florida","L3HARRIS Technologies","NextEra Energy"],"valueLabel":"64 / 100"},{"n":2079,"bar":0.9377880184331797,"key":"VA|arlington","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/arlington","name":"Arlington","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"27%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$146k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"558"}],"value":63.59375,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","AWS","Bloomberg Industry Group"],"valueLabel":"64 / 100"},{"n":2319,"bar":0.9124423963133641,"key":"KY|louisville","sub":"KY","href":"/places/kentucky/city/louisville","name":"Louisville","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"31%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$126k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"710"}],"value":61.875,"change":null,"employers":["Deloitte","BrightSpring Health Services","Norton Healthcare"],"valueLabel":"62 / 100"},{"n":618,"bar":0.9124423963133641,"key":"VA|alexandria","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/alexandria","name":"Alexandria","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"32%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$139k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"196"}],"value":61.875,"change":null,"employers":["Kearney","Patent and Trademark Office","Analytic Services (ANSER)"],"valueLabel":"62 / 100"},{"n":1209,"bar":0.8755760368663594,"key":"VA|richmond","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/richmond","name":"Richmond","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"35%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$103k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"418"}],"value":59.375,"change":null,"employers":["Mckesson","Capital One","Genworth Financial"],"valueLabel":"59 / 100"},{"n":242,"bar":0.8502304147465438,"key":"VA|mc lean","sub":"VA","href":null,"name":"Mc Lean","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"30%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$161k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"72"}],"value":57.65625,"change":null,"employers":["Capital One","Booz Allen Hamilton","Sunrise Senior Living"],"valueLabel":"58 / 100"},{"n":3402,"bar":0.847926267281106,"key":"NC|charlotte","sub":"NC","href":"/places/north-carolina/city/charlotte","name":"Charlotte","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"30%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$131k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"1,027"}],"value":57.5,"change":null,"employers":["Truist Financial","Scout Motors","SMBC Americas"],"valueLabel":"58 / 100"},{"n":171,"bar":0.8317972350230415,"key":"VA|vienna","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/vienna","name":"Vienna","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"33%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$131k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"56"}],"value":56.40625,"change":null,"employers":["Esri","Navy Federal Credit Union","Antithesis"],"valueLabel":"56 / 100"},{"n":342,"bar":0.8202764976958525,"key":"VA|norfolk","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/norfolk","name":"Norfolk","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"39%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$103k"},{"label":"Entry-level 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Florida"],"valueLabel":"55 / 100"},{"n":5877,"bar":0.7995391705069125,"key":"GA|atlanta","sub":"GA","href":"/places/georgia/city/atlanta","name":"Atlanta","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"26%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$138k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"1,514"}],"value":54.21875,"change":null,"employers":["Emory University","Oxford College of Emory University","Capgemini Invent"],"valueLabel":"54 / 100"},{"n":617,"bar":0.7949308755760369,"key":"AL|birmingham","sub":"AL","href":"/places/alabama/city/birmingham","name":"Birmingham","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"33%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$139k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"201"}],"value":53.90625,"change":null,"employers":["Genuine Parts Company","Uab Medicine Enterprise","Brasfield & Gorrie"],"valueLabel":"54 / 100"},{"n":849,"bar":0.7903225806451613,"key":"VA|herndon","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/herndon","name":"Herndon","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"26%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$161k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"218"}],"value":53.59375,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","AWS","Peraton"],"valueLabel":"54 / 100"},{"n":446,"bar":0.7327188940092166,"key":"NC|greensboro","sub":"NC","href":"/places/north-carolina/city/greensboro","name":"Greensboro","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"35%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$111k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"155"}],"value":49.6875,"change":null,"employers":["Cone Health","Kaiser Permanente","Guilford County Schools"],"valueLabel":"50 / 100"},{"n":197,"bar":0.7096774193548387,"key":"VA|fort belvoir","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/fort-belvoir","name":"Fort Belvoir","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"29%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$134k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"58"}],"value":48.125,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Peraton","Teksynap"],"valueLabel":"48 / 100"},{"n":624,"bar":0.7027649769585254,"key":"FL|fort lauderdale","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/fort-lauderdale","name":"Fort Lauderdale","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"33%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$102k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"208"}],"value":47.65625,"change":null,"employers":["North Broward Hospital District (Broward Health)","Autonation","Town & Country Credit Union"],"valueLabel":"48 / 100"},{"n":369,"bar":0.6797235023041475,"key":"FL|boca raton","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/boca-raton","name":"Boca Raton","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"36%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$92k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"131"}],"value":46.09375,"change":null,"employers":["Compass","Baptist Health South Florida","SBA Communications"],"valueLabel":"46 / 100"},{"n":553,"bar":0.6728110599078341,"key":"VA|chantilly","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/chantilly","name":"Chantilly","rank":21,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"27%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$192k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"147"}],"value":45.625,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Trinzic","Peraton"],"valueLabel":"46 / 100"},{"n":614,"bar":0.6705069124423964,"key":"GA|alpharetta","sub":"GA","href":"/places/georgia/city/alpharetta","name":"Alpharetta","rank":22,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"27%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$136k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"166"}],"value":45.46875,"change":null,"employers":["Morgan Stanley","Fiserv","Landis+Gyr"],"valueLabel":"45 / 100"},{"n":1182,"bar":0.6693548387096774,"key":"VA|mclean","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/mclean","name":"McLean","rank":23,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"19%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$158k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"228"}],"value":45.390625,"change":null,"employers":["Capital One","The MITRE","Steampunk"],"valueLabel":"45 / 100"},{"n":2485,"bar":0.6658986175115207,"key":"FL|miami","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/miami","name":"Miami","rank":24,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"28%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$120k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"684"}],"value":45.15625,"change":null,"employers":["University Of Miami","Royal Caribbean Cruises","Princess Cruises / Holland America Line"],"valueLabel":"45 / 100"},{"n":1196,"bar":0.663594470046083,"key":"AL|huntsville","sub":"AL","href":"/places/alabama/city/huntsville","name":"Huntsville","rank":25,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"24%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$164k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"293"}],"value":45,"change":null,"employers":["Northrop Grumman","L3HARRIS Technologies","Blue Origin"],"valueLabel":"45 / 100"},{"n":1131,"bar":0.6566820276497696,"key":"FL|jacksonville","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/jacksonville","name":"Jacksonville","rank":26,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"33%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$102k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"373"}],"value":44.53125,"change":null,"employers":["Confidential","Intercontinental Exchange","UF Health"],"valueLabel":"45 / 100"},{"n":1737,"bar":0.652073732718894,"key":"TN|nashville","sub":"TN","href":null,"name":"Nashville","rank":27,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"26%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$145k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"443"}],"value":44.21875,"change":null,"employers":["Oracle","Amazon","Vanderbilt University"],"valueLabel":"44 / 100"},{"n":828,"bar":0.6163594470046083,"key":"VA|reston","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/reston","name":"Reston","rank":28,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"20%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$158k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"163"}],"value":41.796875,"change":null,"employers":["ICF International","CACI International","Anduril Industries"],"valueLabel":"42 / 100"},{"n":1343,"bar":0.5967741935483871,"key":"FL|orlando","sub":"FL","href":"/places/florida/city/orlando","name":"Orlando","rank":29,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of 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openings","value":"49"}],"value":31.5625,"change":null,"employers":["M.C. Dean","Alarm.com Holdings","LMI"],"valueLabel":"32 / 100"},{"n":804,"bar":0.380184331797235,"key":"NC|durham","sub":"NC","href":"/places/north-carolina/city/durham","name":"Durham","rank":32,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"25%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$129k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"198"}],"value":25.78125,"change":null,"employers":["Duke University","Duke Health","GSK"],"valueLabel":"26 / 100"},{"n":277,"bar":0.304147465437788,"key":"VA|springfield","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/springfield","name":"Springfield","rank":33,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level share of openings","value":"19%"},{"label":"Pay after cost of living","value":"$129k"},{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"53"}],"value":20.625,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Caci Technologies","HII Mission Technologies"],"valueLabel":"21 / 100"}],"slug":"best-all-round-cities-for-new-graduates-in-the-southeast","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"southeast","kind":"region","name":"Southeast"},"title":"Best all-round cities for new graduates in the Southeast","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): 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."],"builtAt":"2026-11-04T03:37:37.436Z","edition":"2026-11","measure":"cgrad","sources":["NextChapter job data: open professional roles and posted pay","Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities 2024"],"baseline":null,"keyFacts":["#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"],"placeNoun":"cities","commentary":["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."],"license":"Free to use and share with a link to https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-all-round-cities-for-new-graduates-in-the-southeast"}