NextChapter

Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Great Lakes

Ann Arbor leads the Great Lakes: 12% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 4% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Ann Arbor, MI: 12%
  • #2 Eden Prairie, MN: 11%
  • #3 Dublin, OH: 9%
  • 38 cities ranked in the Great Lakes
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 4% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Ann Arbor MI12%
  2. 2Eden Prairie MN11%
  3. 3Dublin OH9%
  4. 4Chicago IL8%
  5. 5Detroit MI6%
  6. 6Rolling Meadows IL6%
  7. 7Milwaukee WI5%
  8. 8Bloomington MN5%
  9. 9Indianapolis IN5%
  10. 10Rochester MN4%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Ann Arbor (12%) is well clear of Rochester at #10 (4%).
  • Chicago is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,760 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

    Ann Arbor MI

    12%

    Entry-level AI openings
    11
    Entry-level openings
    92
    All openings
    349

    Hiring most here: May Mobility, Torc Robotics, Thomson Reuters

    Based on 92 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Ann Arbor

  2. 2

    Eden Prairie MN

    11%

    Entry-level AI openings
    7
    Entry-level openings
    66
    All openings
    321

    Hiring most here: Unitedhealth Group, LHC Group, Illinois Tool Works

    Based on 66 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Eden Prairie

  3. 3

    Dublin OH

    9%

    Entry-level AI openings
    5
    Entry-level openings
    57
    All openings
    126

    Hiring most here: Oclc, Univar Solutions, Quantum Health

    Based on 57 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Dublin

  4. 4

    Chicago IL

    8%

    Entry-level AI openings
    147
    Entry-level openings
    1,760
    All openings
    7,350

    Hiring most here: Publicis Groupe, Confidential, Mars

    Based on 1,760 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chicago

  5. 5

    Detroit MI

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    15
    Entry-level openings
    231
    All openings
    728

    Hiring most here: Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System, Accident Fund

    Based on 231 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Detroit

  6. 6

    Rolling Meadows IL

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    54
    All openings
    281

    Hiring most here: Arthur J. Gallagher, Gallagher Bassett, Gallagher

    Based on 54 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rolling Meadows

  7. 7

    Milwaukee WI

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    14
    Entry-level openings
    270
    All openings
    821

    Hiring most here: Michels, Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls International

    Based on 270 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Milwaukee

  8. 8

    Bloomington MN

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    60
    All openings
    194

    Hiring most here: HealthPartners, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Geronimo Power

    Based on 60 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bloomington

  9. 9

    Indianapolis IN

    5%

    Entry-level AI openings
    20
    Entry-level openings
    430
    All openings
    1,386

    Hiring most here: Eli Lilly and Company, State of Indiana, Masco

    Based on 430 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Indianapolis

  10. 10

    Rochester MN

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    46
    All openings
    180

    Hiring most here: Mayo Clinic, Gilbane, Via

    Based on 46 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rochester

  11. 11

    Madison WI

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    8
    Entry-level openings
    193
    All openings
    497

    Hiring most here: Universities of Wisconsin [UW_Madison], Creative Financial Staffing, Catalent Pharma Solutions

    Based on 193 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Madison

  12. 12

    Mason OH

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    50
    All openings
    147

    Hiring most here: Cintas, L3HARRIS Technologies, Procter & Gamble

    Based on 50 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mason

  13. 13

    Minneapolis MN

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    13
    Entry-level openings
    326
    All openings
    1,200

    Hiring most here: Mortenson, Ameriprise Certificate, George Konik Associates

    Based on 326 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Minneapolis

  14. 14

    Fort Wayne IN

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    87
    All openings
    273

    Hiring most here: BAE Systems, RTX, L3HARRIS Technologies

    Based on 87 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Wayne

  15. 15

    La Crosse WI

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    58
    All openings
    116

    Hiring most here: Trane U.s., Gundersen Health, Kwik Trip

    Based on 58 openings.

    Jobs and employers in La Crosse

  16. 16

    Southfield MI

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    59
    All openings
    229

    Hiring most here: Lucid Motors, Sun Communities, Lear

    Based on 59 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Southfield

  17. 17

    Grand Rapids MI

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    5
    Entry-level openings
    154
    All openings
    417

    Hiring most here: Corewell Health, Acrisure, BDO USA

    Based on 154 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Grand Rapids

  18. 18

    Akron OH

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    126
    All openings
    309

    Hiring most here: FirstEnergy Akron, Babcock International Group PLC/ADR, Akron Childrens Hospital

    Based on 126 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Akron

  19. 19

    Cincinnati OH

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    16
    Entry-level openings
    551
    All openings
    1,374

    Hiring most here: Medpace Holdings, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Procter & Gamble

    Based on 551 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cincinnati

  20. 20

    St. Paul MN

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    73
    All openings
    192

    Hiring most here: George Konik Associates, Mortenson, Old National Bank

    Based on 73 openings.

    Jobs and employers in St. Paul

  21. 21

    Columbus OH

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    19
    Entry-level openings
    694
    All openings
    1,895

    Hiring most here: State of Ohio, Nationwide, Ohio State University-Newark Campus

    Based on 694 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Columbus

  22. 22

    Dayton OH

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    147
    All openings
    430

    Hiring most here: University of Dayton, Modern Technology Solutions, Odyssey Systems Consulting

    Based on 147 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Dayton

  23. 23

    Schaumburg IL

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    87
    All openings
    216

    Hiring most here: Motorola Solutions, Fictiv, Zurich

    Based on 87 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Schaumburg

  24. 24

    Northbrook IL

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    54
    All openings
    171

    Hiring most here: UL Solutions, Astellas (ADP), Medline Industries

    Based on 54 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Northbrook

  25. 25

    Cleveland OH

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    6
    Entry-level openings
    329
    All openings
    885

    Hiring most here: Flexjet, Sherwin Williams, KeyBank

    Based on 329 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cleveland

Full ranking

All 38 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Ann Arbor MI12%92
2Eden Prairie MN11%66
3Dublin OH9%57
4Chicago IL8%1,760
5Detroit MI6%231
6Rolling Meadows IL6%54
7Milwaukee WI5%270
8Bloomington MN5%60
9Indianapolis IN5%430
10Rochester MN4%46
11Madison WI4%193
12Mason OH4%50
13Minneapolis MN4%326
14Fort Wayne IN3%87
15La Crosse WI3%58
16Southfield MI3%59
17Grand Rapids MI3%154
18Akron OH3%126
19Cincinnati OH3%551
20St. Paul MN3%73
21Columbus OH3%694
22Dayton OH3%147
23Schaumburg IL2%87
24Northbrook IL2%54
25Cleveland OH2%329
26Springfield IL2%121
27Peoria IL2%63
28Auburn Hills MI1%68
29Toledo OH1%71
30Troy MI1%91
31Lansing MI0%102
32Mundelein IL0%88
33Naperville IL0%72
34Appleton WI0%64
35Green Bay WI0%64
36Rockford IL0%57
37Oak Brook IL0%45
38Evansville IN0%42

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 the great lakes?
Ann Arbor leads the Great Lakes: 12% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 4% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
38 cities have at least 40 entry-level openings, so the list has 38 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 the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-the-great-lakes

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

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

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