NextChapter

Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in New England

Somerville leads New England: 29% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 9% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Somerville, MA: 29%
  • #2 Lexington, MA: 19%
  • #3 Boston, MA: 18%
  • 20 cities ranked in New England
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 9% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Somerville MA29%
  2. 2Lexington MA19%
  3. 3Boston MA18%
  4. 4Greenwich CT18%
  5. 5Cambridge MA14%
  6. 6Stamford CT10%
  7. 7Springfield MA8%
  8. 8Worcester MA7%
  9. 9Waltham MA6%
  10. 10Framingham MA6%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Somerville (29%) is well clear of Framingham at #10 (6%).
  • Boston is the largest market in the top ten, with 952 entry-level openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 40 entry-level openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Entry-level roles used to ask for little technical background. When they ask for AI skills, the starting line has moved. This list shows where that has happened most.

How to use it

If you are applying for first roles, learn the tools named in the postings you want and show a small project that uses them.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Somerville MA

    29%

    Entry-level AI openings
    21
    Entry-level openings
    73
    All openings
    292

    Hiring most here: Formlabs, Tulip Interfaces, Generate Biomedicines

    Based on 73 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Somerville

  2. 2

    Lexington MA

    19%

    Entry-level AI openings
    11
    Entry-level openings
    58
    All openings
    253

    Hiring most here: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Lincoln Lab), Takeda Development Center Americas, Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals International

    Based on 58 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lexington

  3. 3

    Boston MA

    18%

    Entry-level AI openings
    172
    Entry-level openings
    952
    All openings
    4,876

    Hiring most here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Confidential, Veeva Systems

    Based on 952 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Boston

  4. 4

    Greenwich CT

    18%

    Entry-level AI openings
    8
    Entry-level openings
    45
    All openings
    128

    Hiring most here: iCapital, AQR Capital, Berkley W R

    Based on 45 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Greenwich

  5. 5

    Cambridge MA

    14%

    Entry-level AI openings
    21
    Entry-level openings
    151
    All openings
    1,134

    Hiring most here: Harvard University, Biogen, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

    Based on 151 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cambridge

  6. 6

    Stamford CT

    10%

    Entry-level AI openings
    8
    Entry-level openings
    82
    All openings
    307

    Hiring most here: Philip Morris International, Gartner, Charter Communications

    Based on 82 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Stamford

  7. 7

    Springfield MA

    8%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    40
    All openings
    102

    Hiring most here: MassMutual

    Based on 40 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

  8. 8

    Worcester MA

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    45
    All openings
    158

    Hiring most here: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Umass Memorial Health Care, Milford Regional Medical Center

    Based on 45 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Worcester

  9. 9

    Waltham MA

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    8
    Entry-level openings
    124
    All openings
    577

    Hiring most here: Boston Dynamics, Anduril Industries, Xometry

    Based on 124 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Waltham

  10. 10

    Framingham MA

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    47
    All openings
    202

    Hiring most here: Staples, Bose, TJX Companies

    Based on 47 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Framingham

  11. 11

    Andover MA

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    52
    All openings
    148

    Hiring most here: RTX, Vicor, Mercury Systems

    Based on 52 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Andover

  12. 12

    Providence RI

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    55
    All openings
    198

    Hiring most here: Gilbane, Women and Infants Hospital, Brown University

    Based on 55 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Providence

  13. 13

    Hartford CT

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    96
    All openings
    339

    Hiring most here: CVS HEALTH, Hartford HealthCare, Eversource Energy

    Based on 96 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Hartford

  14. 14

    Portland ME

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    64
    All openings
    180

    Hiring most here: Unum Group, BerryDunn, Springborn Staffing

    Based on 64 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Portland

  15. 15

    New Haven CT

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    90
    All openings
    282

    Hiring most here: Yale University, Yale New Haven Health, Knights of Columbus

    Based on 90 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New Haven

  16. 16

    Burlington MA

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    45
    All openings
    201

    Hiring most here: Veracode, Vericel, Tufts Medicine Care AT Home

    Based on 45 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Burlington

  17. 17

    Quincy MA

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    49
    All openings
    151

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, Anduril, J.Jill

    Based on 49 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Quincy

  18. 18

    Woburn MA

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    49
    All openings
    164

    Hiring most here: RTX, Spear Bio, VEIR

    Based on 49 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Woburn

  19. 19

    Marlborough MA

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    58
    All openings
    242

    Hiring most here: RTX, Hologic, Danaher

    Based on 58 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Marlborough

  20. 20

    Manchester NH

    0%

    Entry-level AI openings
    0
    Entry-level openings
    47
    All openings
    150

    Hiring most here: BAE Systems, Allegro Microsystems, Eversource Energy

    Based on 47 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Manchester

Full ranking

All 20 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Somerville MA29%73
2Lexington MA19%58
3Boston MA18%952
4Greenwich CT18%45
5Cambridge MA14%151
6Stamford CT10%82
7Springfield MA8%40
8Worcester MA7%45
9Waltham MA6%124
10Framingham MA6%47
11Andover MA6%52
12Providence RI4%55
13Hartford CT3%96
14Portland ME3%64
15New Haven CT2%90
16Burlington MA2%45
17Quincy MA2%49
18Woburn MA2%49
19Marlborough MA2%58
20Manchester NH0%47

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its entry-level and early-career roles whose posting names at least one AI skill or tool.

Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. A city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 40 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 entry-level jobs that want ai skills in new england?
Somerville leads New England: 29% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 9% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
20 cities have at least 40 entry-level openings, so the list has 20 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its entry-level and early-career roles whose posting names at least one AI skill or tool. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. A city where one employer posts at least half the 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 entry-level jobs that want AI skills in New England,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-new-england

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-new-england">Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in New England (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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