NextChapter

Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Southeast

Tysons leads the Southeast for AI skills: 20% of its professional openings ask for them, against 7% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Tysons, VA: 20%
  • #2 McLean, VA: 17%
  • #3 Reston, VA: 17%
  • 87 cities ranked in the Southeast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 7% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Tysons VA20%
  2. 2McLean VA17%
  3. 3Reston VA17%
  4. 4Arlington VA14%
  5. 5Herndon VA13%
  6. 6Atlanta GA12%
  7. 7Oak Ridge TN12%
  8. 8Cary NC12%
  9. 9Alpharetta GA12%
  10. 10Lake Mary FL11%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Tysons (20%) is well clear of Lake Mary at #10 (11%).
  • Lake Mary reaches #10 on a sample of 146 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Atlanta is the largest market in the top ten, with 5,877 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

Some labor markets ask for AI skills in a large share of postings, others in very few. The share tells you how far AI has moved from a specialist skill into ordinary job requirements in that place.

How to use it

Compare your own city to the top of the list. A gap is a reason to build one AI skill and show it on your résumé before you apply, not a reason to move.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Tysons VA

    20%

    AI-skill openings
    39
    All openings
    191
    Median posted pay
    $127k

    Hiring most here: M.C. Dean, Alarm.com Holdings, LMI

    Based on 191 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tysons

  2. 2

    McLean VA

    17%

    AI-skill openings
    198
    All openings
    1,182
    Median posted pay
    $160k

    Hiring most here: Capital One, The MITRE, Steampunk

    Based on 1,182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in McLean

  3. 3

    Reston VA

    17%

    AI-skill openings
    137
    All openings
    828
    Median posted pay
    $160k

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

    Based on 828 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Reston

  4. 4

    Arlington VA

    14%

    AI-skill openings
    287
    All openings
    2,079
    Median posted pay
    $148k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Bloomberg Industry Group

    Based on 2,079 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  5. 5

    Herndon VA

    13%

    AI-skill openings
    112
    All openings
    849
    Median posted pay
    $163k

    Hiring most here: Amazon, AWS, Peraton

    Based on 849 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Herndon

  6. 6

    Atlanta GA

    12%

    AI-skill openings
    725
    All openings
    5,877
    Median posted pay
    $138k

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

    Based on 5,877 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Atlanta

  7. 7

    Oak Ridge TN

    12%

    AI-skill openings
    25
    All openings
    205
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data

    Hiring most here: UT-Battelle (ORNL), Centrus Energy, BWX Technologies

    Based on 205 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oak Ridge

  8. 8

    Cary NC

    12%

    AI-skill openings
    29
    All openings
    242
    Median posted pay
    $213k

    Hiring most here: Epic Games, Wake County Public School System, Garmin

    Based on 242 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cary

  9. 9

    Alpharetta GA

    12%

    AI-skill openings
    73
    All openings
    614
    Median posted pay
    $131k

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

    Based on 614 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Alpharetta

  10. 10

    Lake Mary FL

    11%

    AI-skill openings
    16
    All openings
    146
    Median posted pay
    $134k

    Hiring most here: BNY, The Institute of Internal Auditors, The Bank of New York Mellon

    Based on 146 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lake Mary

  11. 11

    Vienna VA

    11%

    AI-skill openings
    18
    All openings
    171
    Median posted pay
    $133k

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

    Based on 171 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Vienna

  12. 12

    Franklin TN

    10%

    AI-skill openings
    14
    All openings
    139
    Median posted pay
    $113k

    Hiring most here: Enablecomp, Community Health Systems, Mars

    Based on 139 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Franklin

  13. 13

    Durham NC

    10%

    AI-skill openings
    79
    All openings
    804
    Median posted pay
    $122k

    Hiring most here: Duke University, Duke Health, GSK

    Based on 804 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Durham

  14. 14

    Chantilly VA

    10%

    AI-skill openings
    54
    All openings
    553
    Median posted pay
    $194k

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Trinzic, Peraton

    Based on 553 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chantilly

  15. 15

    Boca Raton FL

    9%

    AI-skill openings
    35
    All openings
    369
    Median posted pay
    $95k

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

    Based on 369 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boca Raton

  16. 16

    Charlotte NC

    9%

    AI-skill openings
    319
    All openings
    3,402
    Median posted pay
    $128k

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

    Based on 3,402 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Charlotte

  17. 17

    Nashville TN

    8%

    AI-skill openings
    144
    All openings
    1,737
    Median posted pay
    $139k

    Hiring most here: Oracle, Amazon, Vanderbilt University

    Based on 1,737 openings.

  18. 18

    Miami FL

    8%

    AI-skill openings
    198
    All openings
    2,485
    Median posted pay
    $138k

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

    Based on 2,485 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Miami

  19. 19

    Morrisville NC

    8%

    AI-skill openings
    13
    All openings
    164
    Median posted pay
    $130k

    Hiring most here: Teleflex, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alcami Home

    Based on 164 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Morrisville

  20. 20

    Raleigh NC

    8%

    AI-skill openings
    116
    All openings
    1,515
    Median posted pay
    $125k

    Hiring most here: First Citizens Bank, Dewberry, MaintainX

    Based on 1,515 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Raleigh

  21. 21

    Jacksonville FL

    8%

    AI-skill openings
    85
    All openings
    1,131
    Median posted pay
    $105k

    Hiring most here: Confidential, Intercontinental Exchange, UF Health

    Based on 1,131 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jacksonville

  22. 22

    Mc Lean VA

    7%

    AI-skill openings
    18
    All openings
    242
    Median posted pay
    $163k

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

    Based on 242 openings.

  23. 23

    Norcross GA

    7%

    AI-skill openings
    11
    All openings
    150
    Median posted pay
    $73k

    Hiring most here: ACI Worldwide, Pruitthealth Home Health, Slip Robotics

    Based on 150 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Norcross

  24. 24

    Springfield VA

    7%

    AI-skill openings
    20
    All openings
    277
    Median posted pay
    $131k

    Hiring most here: CACI International, Caci Technologies, HII Mission Technologies

    Based on 277 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

  25. 25

    Falls Church VA

    6%

    AI-skill openings
    11
    All openings
    172
    Median posted pay
    $138k

    Hiring most here: BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Inova Health

    Based on 172 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Falls Church

Full ranking

All 87 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Tysons VA20%191
2McLean VA17%1,182
3Reston VA17%828
4Arlington VA14%2,079
5Herndon VA13%849
6Atlanta GA12%5,877
7Oak Ridge TN12%205
8Cary NC12%242
9Alpharetta GA12%614
10Lake Mary FL11%146
11Vienna VA11%171
12Franklin TN10%139
13Durham NC10%804
14Chantilly VA10%553
15Boca Raton FL9%369
16Charlotte NC9%3,402
17Nashville TN8%1,737
18Miami FL8%2,485
19Morrisville NC8%164
20Raleigh NC8%1,515
21Jacksonville FL8%1,131
22Mc Lean VA7%242
23Norcross GA7%150
24Springfield VA7%277
25Falls Church VA6%172
26Birmingham AL6%617
27Alexandria VA6%618
28Fort Belvoir VA6%197
29Fairfax VA6%421
30Huntsville AL6%1,196
31Ashburn VA6%259
32Sterling VA6%312
33Tampa FL6%1,845
34Lexington KY5%230
35Memphis TN5%708
36Sarasota FL5%202
37Palm Beach Gardens FL5%171
38Brentwood TN5%194
39Richmond VA4%1,209
40Tallahassee FL4%840
41Fort Lauderdale FL4%624
42Columbia SC4%331
43Coral Gables FL4%264
44Daytona Beach FL4%108
45Norfolk VA4%342
46Greenville SC3%350
47Lynchburg VA3%117
48Cape Canaveral FL3%176
49Charleston SC3%323
50Orlando FL3%1,343
51Charlottesville VA3%517
52Chattanooga TN3%216
53Greensboro NC3%446
54Mobile AL3%131
55Rock Hill SC3%100
56Naples FL3%205
57Melbourne FL3%317
58Montgomery AL3%193
59Knoxville TN3%466
60Louisville KY3%2,319
61Augusta GA2%208
62Dulles VA2%127
63Virginia Beach VA2%275
64Marietta GA2%280
65Chesapeake VA2%140
66Manassas VA2%236
67Doral FL2%145
68Wilmington NC2%204
69Winston Salem NC2%104
70Clearwater FL2%167
71Hampton VA2%120
72Frankfort KY2%187
73Asheville NC1%139
74St. Petersburg FL1%144
75Fort Myers FL1%158
76Duluth GA1%166
77Roanoke VA1%184
78Pensacola FL1%193
79Savannah GA1%193
80Macon GA1%105
81Columbus GA1%114
82Jackson MS1%117
83Fayetteville NC1%121
84Greenville NC1%122
85Newport News VA1%130
86Gainesville FL1%149
87Kennesaw GA1%175

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose posting names at least one AI skill or tool, found by our AI-skill tagger on the posting text.

The tagger looks for named skills (for example prompt engineering, machine learning, or a named AI tool), not the words "AI-powered" in a company blurb.

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 on employer career sites, verified in the last week. 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 cities for ai-skill jobs in the southeast?
Tysons leads the Southeast for AI skills: 20% of its professional openings ask for them, against 7% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
87 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 87 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose posting names at least one AI skill or tool, found by our AI-skill tagger on the posting text. The tagger looks for named skills (for example prompt engineering, machine learning, or a named AI tool), not the words "AI-powered" in a company blurb. 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 cities for AI-skill jobs in the Southeast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-ai-jobs-in-the-southeast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-ai-jobs-in-the-southeast">Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Southeast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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