{"h1":"Best cities for junior jobs in Virginia","faq":[{"a":"Lynchburg leads Virginia for junior jobs: 47% of its professional openings are entry-level or early-career, against 30% across all cities in our data.","q":"Which city ranks first: best cities for junior jobs in virginia?"},{"a":"26 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 26 entries.","q":"How many cities are ranked?"},{"a":"A city's score is the share of its open professional roles tagged entry-level or early-career, read from the full posting text. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. Internships are left out. 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":"Lynchburg leads Virginia for junior jobs: 47% of its professional openings are entry-level or early-career, against 30% across all cities in our data.","minN":100,"rows":[{"n":117,"bar":1,"key":"VA|lynchburg","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/lynchburg","name":"Lynchburg","rank":1,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"55"},{"label":"All openings","value":"117"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"30%"}],"value":0.4700854700854701,"change":null,"employers":["BWX Technologies","BWXT","Sinclair"],"valueLabel":"47%"},{"n":275,"bar":0.9437355371900827,"key":"VA|virginia beach","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/virginia-beach","name":"Virginia Beach","rank":2,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"122"},{"label":"All openings","value":"275"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"21%"}],"value":0.4436363636363637,"change":null,"employers":["HII Mission Technologies","Amazon","Commander, Navy Installations Command"],"valueLabel":"44%"},{"n":140,"bar":0.9116883116883117,"key":"VA|chesapeake","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/chesapeake","name":"Chesapeake","rank":3,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"60"},{"label":"All openings","value":"140"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"16%"}],"value":0.4285714285714285,"change":null,"employers":["Family Dollar","Oceaneering International","Trane U.s."],"valueLabel":"43%"},{"n":184,"bar":0.8902173913043478,"key":"VA|roanoke","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/roanoke","name":"Roanoke","rank":4,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"77"},{"label":"All openings","value":"184"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"13%"}],"value":0.4184782608695652,"change":null,"employers":["Carilion Clinic","Carilion Medical Center","HII Mission Technologies"],"valueLabel":"42%"},{"n":517,"bar":0.843502725514331,"key":"VA|charlottesville","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/charlottesville","name":"Charlottesville","rank":5,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"205"},{"label":"All openings","value":"517"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"6%"}],"value":0.3965183752417795,"change":null,"employers":["UVA Health","University of Virginia","University of Virginia-Main Campus"],"valueLabel":"40%"},{"n":342,"bar":0.8272727272727273,"key":"VA|norfolk","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/norfolk","name":"Norfolk","rank":6,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"133"},{"label":"All openings","value":"342"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"21%"}],"value":0.3888888888888889,"change":null,"employers":["Commonwealth of Virginia","Seacorp","United States Fleet Forces Command"],"valueLabel":"39%"},{"n":236,"bar":0.7751926040061633,"key":"VA|manassas","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/manassas","name":"Manassas","rank":7,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"86"},{"label":"All openings","value":"236"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"25%"}],"value":0.3644067796610169,"change":null,"employers":["General Dynamics Mission Systems","Electra.Aero","Holder Construction"],"valueLabel":"36%"},{"n":421,"bar":0.7629885553876052,"key":"VA|fairfax","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/fairfax","name":"Fairfax","rank":8,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"151"},{"label":"All openings","value":"421"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"9%"}],"value":0.3586698337292161,"change":null,"employers":["George Mason University","Dewberry","Inova Health"],"valueLabel":"36%"},{"n":1209,"bar":0.7354838709677419,"key":"VA|richmond","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/richmond","name":"Richmond","rank":9,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"418"},{"label":"All openings","value":"1,209"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"20%"}],"value":0.3457402812241522,"change":null,"employers":["Mckesson","Capital One","Genworth Financial"],"valueLabel":"35%"},{"n":171,"bar":0.6966507177033493,"key":"VA|vienna","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/vienna","name":"Vienna","rank":10,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"56"},{"label":"All openings","value":"171"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"54%"}],"value":0.327485380116959,"change":null,"employers":["Esri","Navy Federal Credit Union","Antithesis"],"valueLabel":"33%"},{"n":172,"bar":0.6802325581395349,"key":"VA|falls church","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/falls-church","name":"Falls Church","rank":11,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"55"},{"label":"All openings","value":"172"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"20%"}],"value":0.3197674418604651,"change":null,"employers":["BAE Systems","Northrop Grumman","Inova Health"],"valueLabel":"32%"},{"n":618,"bar":0.6746690203000882,"key":"VA|alexandria","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/alexandria","name":"Alexandria","rank":12,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"196"},{"label":"All openings","value":"618"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"26%"}],"value":0.3171521035598706,"change":null,"employers":["Kearney","Patent and Trademark Office","Analytic Services (ANSER)"],"valueLabel":"32%"},{"n":120,"bar":0.6736363636363636,"key":"VA|hampton","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/hampton","name":"Hampton","rank":13,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"38"},{"label":"All openings","value":"120"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"19%"}],"value":0.3166666666666667,"change":null,"employers":["Howmet Aerospace","Veterans Health Administration","Govcio"],"valueLabel":"32%"},{"n":130,"bar":0.6381818181818182,"key":"VA|newport news","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/newport-news","name":"Newport News","rank":14,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"39"},{"label":"All openings","value":"130"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"17%"}],"value":0.3,"change":null,"employers":["Newport News Shipbuilding","HII Mission Technologies","Liebherr"],"valueLabel":"30%"},{"n":242,"bar":0.6329075882794891,"key":"VA|mc lean","sub":"VA","href":null,"name":"Mc Lean","rank":15,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"72"},{"label":"All openings","value":"242"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"29%"}],"value":0.2975206611570248,"change":null,"employers":["Capital One","Booz Allen Hamilton","Sunrise Senior Living"],"valueLabel":"30%"},{"n":197,"bar":0.6263036455929857,"key":"VA|fort belvoir","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/fort-belvoir","name":"Fort Belvoir","rank":16,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"58"},{"label":"All openings","value":"197"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"34%"}],"value":0.2944162436548223,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Peraton","Teksynap"],"valueLabel":"29%"},{"n":2079,"bar":0.5709563164108619,"key":"VA|arlington","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/arlington","name":"Arlington","rank":17,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"558"},{"label":"All openings","value":"2,079"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"26%"}],"value":0.2683982683982684,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","AWS","Bloomberg Industry Group"],"valueLabel":"27%"},{"n":553,"bar":0.5654775604142692,"key":"VA|chantilly","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/chantilly","name":"Chantilly","rank":18,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"147"},{"label":"All openings","value":"553"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"10%"}],"value":0.2658227848101266,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Trinzic","Peraton"],"valueLabel":"27%"},{"n":849,"bar":0.5462255059428204,"key":"VA|herndon","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/herndon","name":"Herndon","rank":19,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"218"},{"label":"All openings","value":"849"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"21%"}],"value":0.2567726737338045,"change":null,"employers":["Amazon","AWS","Peraton"],"valueLabel":"26%"},{"n":191,"bar":0.545740123750595,"key":"VA|tysons","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/tysons","name":"Tysons","rank":20,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"49"},{"label":"All openings","value":"191"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"33%"}],"value":0.256544502617801,"change":null,"employers":["M.C. Dean","Alarm.com Holdings","LMI"],"valueLabel":"26%"},{"n":312,"bar":0.5318181818181819,"key":"VA|sterling","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/sterling","name":"Sterling","rank":21,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"78"},{"label":"All openings","value":"312"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"15%"}],"value":0.25,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","BAE Systems","Caci Technologies"],"valueLabel":"25%"},{"n":259,"bar":0.4435240435240435,"key":"VA|ashburn","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/ashburn","name":"Ashburn","rank":22,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"54"},{"label":"All openings","value":"259"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"19%"}],"value":0.2084942084942085,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Caci Technologies","Pkaza"],"valueLabel":"21%"},{"n":828,"bar":0.4187747035573123,"key":"VA|reston","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/reston","name":"Reston","rank":23,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"163"},{"label":"All openings","value":"828"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"23%"}],"value":0.1968599033816425,"change":null,"employers":["ICF International","CACI International","Anduril Industries"],"valueLabel":"20%"},{"n":1182,"bar":0.4103368712505768,"key":"VA|mclean","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/mclean","name":"McLean","rank":24,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"228"},{"label":"All openings","value":"1,182"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"23%"}],"value":0.1928934010152284,"change":null,"employers":["Capital One","The MITRE","Steampunk"],"valueLabel":"19%"},{"n":277,"bar":0.4070233016081392,"key":"VA|springfield","sub":"VA","href":"/places/virginia/city/springfield","name":"Springfield","rank":25,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"53"},{"label":"All openings","value":"277"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"20%"}],"value":0.1913357400722022,"change":null,"employers":["CACI International","Caci Technologies","HII Mission Technologies"],"valueLabel":"19%"},{"n":127,"bar":0.3517537580529707,"key":"VA|dulles","sub":"VA","href":null,"name":"Dulles","rank":26,"stats":[{"label":"Entry-level openings","value":"21"},{"label":"All openings","value":"127"},{"label":"Openings with pay posted","value":"8%"}],"value":0.1653543307086614,"change":null,"employers":["Northrop Grumman","Northrop Grumman Systems","Swissport"],"valueLabel":"17%"}],"slug":"best-cities-for-junior-jobs-in-virginia","unit":"openings","scope":{"id":"virginia","kind":"state","name":"Virginia"},"title":"Best cities for junior jobs in Virginia","family":"Entry-level","method":["A city's score is the share of its open professional roles tagged entry-level or early-career, read from the full posting text.","Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. Internships are left out.","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":"junior","sources":["NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week"],"baseline":{"label":"all cities in our data","valueLabel":"30%"},"keyFacts":["#1 Lynchburg, VA: 47%","#2 Virginia Beach, VA: 44%","#3 Chesapeake, VA: 43%","26 cities ranked in Virginia","Data as of November 2026"],"placeNoun":"cities","commentary":["The top ten is tightly packed: Lynchburg leads on 47%, and #10 Vienna is at 33%.","Lynchburg reaches #1 on a sample of 117 openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.","Richmond is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,209 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-cities-for-junior-jobs-in-virginia"}