NextChapter

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

Addison leads the Southwest: 16% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 5% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Addison, TX: 16%
  • #2 Austin, TX: 14%
  • #3 Arlington, TX: 11%
  • 39 cities ranked in the Southwest
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 5% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Addison TX16%
  2. 2Austin TX14%
  3. 3Arlington TX11%
  4. 4Irving TX9%
  5. 5Spring TX8%
  6. 6Oklahoma City OK8%
  7. 7Tempe AZ8%
  8. 8Scottsdale AZ7%
  9. 9Coppell TX7%
  10. 10The Woodlands TX7%

What stands out

  • The lead is wide: Addison (16%) is well clear of The Woodlands at #10 (7%).
  • The Woodlands reaches #10 on a sample of 46 entry-level openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
  • Austin is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,552 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

    Addison TX

    16%

    Entry-level AI openings
    9
    Entry-level openings
    57
    All openings
    197

    Hiring most here: National Life Group, National Life Insurance Company, Bank of America

    Based on 57 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Addison

  2. 2

    Austin TX

    14%

    Entry-level AI openings
    214
    Entry-level openings
    1,552
    All openings
    5,817

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices, Cloudflare

    Based on 1,552 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Austin

  3. 3

    Arlington TX

    11%

    Entry-level AI openings
    8
    Entry-level openings
    72
    All openings
    192

    Hiring most here: GM Financial, Lockheed Martin, Regal Rexnord

    Based on 72 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Arlington

  4. 4

    Irving TX

    9%

    Entry-level AI openings
    20
    Entry-level openings
    232
    All openings
    873

    Hiring most here: CHRISTUS Health, 7-Eleven, Mckesson

    Based on 232 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Irving

  5. 5

    Spring TX

    8%

    Entry-level AI openings
    6
    Entry-level openings
    72
    All openings
    337

    Hiring most here: Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HP, Juniper Networks

    Based on 72 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Spring

  6. 6

    Oklahoma City OK

    8%

    Entry-level AI openings
    15
    Entry-level openings
    182
    All openings
    557

    Hiring most here: Love's Travel Stops, CACI International, Northrop Grumman

    Based on 182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oklahoma City

  7. 7

    Tempe AZ

    8%

    Entry-level AI openings
    18
    Entry-level openings
    227
    All openings
    647

    Hiring most here: Carvana, Amazon, Viasat

    Based on 227 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tempe

  8. 8

    Scottsdale AZ

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    18
    Entry-level openings
    242
    All openings
    737

    Hiring most here: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Axon Enterprise, AMI Semiconductor

    Based on 242 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Scottsdale

  9. 9

    Coppell TX

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    59
    All openings
    150

    Hiring most here: Blue Yonder, At Home, Charter Communications

    Based on 59 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Coppell

  10. 10

    The Woodlands TX

    7%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    46
    All openings
    167

    Hiring most here: Entergy, Crane, Waste Connections

    Based on 46 openings.

    Jobs and employers in The Woodlands

  11. 11

    Fort Worth TX

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    24
    Entry-level openings
    402
    All openings
    1,261

    Hiring most here: Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky Aircraft, MP Materials

    Based on 402 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Worth

  12. 12

    Dallas TX

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    70
    Entry-level openings
    1,182
    All openings
    4,407

    Hiring most here: Amazon, Shield AI, Texas Instruments

    Based on 1,182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Dallas

  13. 13

    Las Vegas NV

    6%

    Entry-level AI openings
    18
    Entry-level openings
    308
    All openings
    915

    Hiring most here: Caesars Entertainment, Allegiant Travel Company, Jt4

    Based on 308 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Las Vegas

  14. 14

    Plano TX

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    13
    Entry-level openings
    312
    All openings
    1,030

    Hiring most here: NTT Data, Pepsico, JPMorgan Chase

    Based on 312 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Plano

  15. 15

    Carrollton TX

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    49
    All openings
    129

    Hiring most here: MB2 Dental, Trane U.s., PennyMac Financial Services

    Based on 49 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Carrollton

  16. 16

    Lewisville TX

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    50
    All openings
    128

    Hiring most here: Moonshot, Paccar, Quest Diagnostics

    Based on 50 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lewisville

  17. 17

    Houston TX

    4%

    Entry-level AI openings
    49
    Entry-level openings
    1,251
    All openings
    4,295

    Hiring most here: Axiom Space, Trinzic, Fervo Energy

    Based on 1,251 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Houston

  18. 18

    Midland TX

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    2
    Entry-level openings
    58
    All openings
    154

    Hiring most here: Patterson UTI Energy, SM Energy, AST SpaceMobile

    Based on 58 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Midland

  19. 19

    Richardson TX

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    3
    Entry-level openings
    95
    All openings
    398

    Hiring most here: Celestica, Qorvo, OSI Systems

    Based on 95 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Richardson

  20. 20

    Albuquerque NM

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    142
    All openings
    352

    Hiring most here: University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Rocket Lab, Kairos Power

    Based on 142 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Albuquerque

  21. 21

    Chandler AZ

    3%

    Entry-level AI openings
    4
    Entry-level openings
    153
    All openings
    457

    Hiring most here: Northrop Grumman, Ralliant, Bechtel Energy

    Based on 153 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Chandler

  22. 22

    Phoenix AZ

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    21
    Entry-level openings
    841
    All openings
    2,729

    Hiring most here: Honeywell Aerospace, State of Arizona, American Society for Microbiology

    Based on 841 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Phoenix

  23. 23

    Tyler TX

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    45
    All openings
    126

    Hiring most here: CHRISTUS Health, Trane U.s., Delek US

    Based on 45 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tyler

  24. 24

    San Antonio TX

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    10
    Entry-level openings
    467
    All openings
    1,273

    Hiring most here: H-E-B, University Health San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio

    Based on 467 openings.

    Jobs and employers in San Antonio

  25. 25

    Corpus Christi TX

    2%

    Entry-level AI openings
    1
    Entry-level openings
    49
    All openings
    118

    Hiring most here: American Electric Power, CHRISTUS Health, Veterans Health Administration

    Based on 49 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Corpus Christi

Full ranking

All 39 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Addison TX16%57
2Austin TX14%1,552
3Arlington TX11%72
4Irving TX9%232
5Spring TX8%72
6Oklahoma City OK8%182
7Tempe AZ8%227
8Scottsdale AZ7%242
9Coppell TX7%59
10The Woodlands TX7%46
11Fort Worth TX6%402
12Dallas TX6%1,182
13Las Vegas NV6%308
14Plano TX4%312
15Carrollton TX4%49
16Lewisville TX4%50
17Houston TX4%1,251
18Midland TX3%58
19Richardson TX3%95
20Albuquerque NM3%142
21Chandler AZ3%153
22Phoenix AZ2%841
23Tyler TX2%45
24San Antonio TX2%467
25Corpus Christi TX2%49
26Tulsa OK2%156
27Tucson AZ2%192
28Frisco TX1%68
29Reno NV1%95
30El Paso TX1%99
31Grand Prairie TX0%61
32Lubbock TX0%56
33Mesa AZ0%54
34Waco TX0%53
35Denton TX0%50
36Amarillo TX0%49
37Sparks NV0%42
38Gilbert AZ0%40
39Sugar Land TX0%40

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 southwest?
Addison leads the Southwest: 16% of its entry-level openings ask for AI skills, against 5% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
39 cities have at least 40 entry-level openings, so the list has 39 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 Southwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-entry-level-ai-jobs-in-the-southwest

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

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

The job market, once a week

One email every Tuesday with the week's most useful read on the job market and the search, plus occasional news from NextChapter. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.

Applying and hearing nothing back?

Find out where you stand: your odds, the jobs that fit you and a plan for the week ahead. Free. No résumé needed.

Already a member? Log in

Get my Market Reality Assessment

Run a workforce board, job center or economic development office, or hire in the places and industries on this list?

Leave your work email. We'll send how organizations use NextChapter to reach job seekers.

See how organizations use it