NextChapter

Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Great Lakes

New Albany leads the Great Lakes for mid-career professionals: 76% of its professional openings are mid-level, senior or manager roles, against 51% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 New Albany, OH: 76%
  • #2 Lisle, IL: 69%
  • #3 Novi, MI: 67%
  • 53 cities ranked in the Great Lakes
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 51% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1New Albany OH76%
  2. 2Lisle IL69%
  3. 3Novi MI67%
  4. 4Southfield MI64%
  5. 5Jeffersonville IN62%
  6. 6Rolling Meadows IL61%
  7. 7Maple Grove MN61%
  8. 8Waukesha WI61%
  9. 9Ann Arbor MI60%
  10. 10Oakbrook Terrace IL60%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: New Albany leads on 76%, and #10 Oakbrook Terrace is at 60%.
  • Ann Arbor is the largest market in the top ten, with 362 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

Mid-career roles (mid-level, senior and manager) are spread differently from entry-level roles. This list shows where employers are hiring people with several years of experience.

How to use it

If you have five or more years behind you, start with the places at the top, then narrow by job family on the cities and employers pages.

The top 25

  1. 1

    New Albany OH

    76%

    Mid-career openings
    115
    All openings
    152
    Median posted pay
    $125k

    Hiring most here: Bechtel Energy, American Electric Power, Amazon

    Based on 152 openings.

    Jobs and employers in New Albany

  2. 2

    Lisle IL

    69%

    Mid-career openings
    90
    All openings
    131
    Median posted pay
    $147k

    Hiring most here: Navistar, International Institute For Sustainable Development, International Motors

    Based on 131 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lisle

  3. 3

    Novi MI

    67%

    Mid-career openings
    102
    All openings
    152
    Median posted pay
    $111k

    Hiring most here: Scout Motors, Gentherm, Daifuku Co., Ltd./ADR

    Based on 152 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Novi

  4. 4

    Southfield MI

    64%

    Mid-career openings
    155
    All openings
    242
    Median posted pay
    $136k

    Hiring most here: Lucid Motors, Sun Communities, Lear

    Based on 242 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Southfield

  5. 5

    Jeffersonville IN

    62%

    Mid-career openings
    78
    All openings
    126
    Median posted pay
    $95k

    Hiring most here: Canadian Solar

    Based on 126 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jeffersonville

  6. 6

    Rolling Meadows IL

    61%

    Mid-career openings
    173
    All openings
    283
    Median posted pay
    $95k

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

    Based on 283 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rolling Meadows

  7. 7

    Maple Grove MN

    61%

    Mid-career openings
    61
    All openings
    100
    Median posted pay
    $146k

    Hiring most here: Boston Scientific, BAE Systems, Celestica

    Based on 100 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Maple Grove

  8. 8

    Waukesha WI

    61%

    Mid-career openings
    74
    All openings
    122
    Median posted pay
    $120k

    Hiring most here: GE HealthCare Technologies, Eaton, GE HealthCare

    Based on 122 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Waukesha

  9. 9

    Ann Arbor MI

    60%

    Mid-career openings
    219
    All openings
    362
    Median posted pay
    $153k

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

    Based on 362 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Ann Arbor

  10. 10

    Oakbrook Terrace IL

    60%

    Mid-career openings
    92
    All openings
    153
    Median posted pay
    $94k

    Hiring most here: Baltimore Gas and Electric, Pepco Holdings, Exelon

    Based on 153 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oakbrook Terrace

  11. 11

    Evansville IN

    60%

    Mid-career openings
    74
    All openings
    124
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data

    Hiring most here: Deaconess Womens Hospital Of Southern Indiana, Old National Bank, Deaconess Homecare

    Based on 124 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Evansville

  12. 12

    Rosemont IL

    58%

    Mid-career openings
    59
    All openings
    102
    Median posted pay
    $99k

    Hiring most here: Reyes Holdings, Regal Rexnord, US Foods

    Based on 102 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rosemont

  13. 13

    Carmel IN

    57%

    Mid-career openings
    85
    All openings
    148
    Median posted pay
    $86k

    Hiring most here: Allegion, Belden, CNO Financial Group

    Based on 148 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Carmel

  14. 14

    Downers Grove IL

    57%

    Mid-career openings
    84
    All openings
    147
    Median posted pay
    $110k

    Hiring most here: Zachry, Regal Rexnord, Glanbia

    Based on 147 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Downers Grove

  15. 15

    St. Paul MN

    55%

    Mid-career openings
    128
    All openings
    232
    Median posted pay
    $121k

    Hiring most here: George Konik Associates, Thomson Reuters, Mortenson

    Based on 232 openings.

    Jobs and employers in St. Paul

  16. 16

    Mason OH

    54%

    Mid-career openings
    82
    All openings
    151
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data

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

    Based on 151 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mason

  17. 17

    Minneapolis MN

    54%

    Mid-career openings
    708
    All openings
    1,313
    Median posted pay
    $130k

    Hiring most here: Mortenson, Ameriprise Certificate, U.S. Bank

    Based on 1,313 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Minneapolis

  18. 18

    Dayton OH

    54%

    Mid-career openings
    240
    All openings
    446
    Median posted pay
    $121k

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

    Based on 446 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Dayton

  19. 19

    Rochester MN

    53%

    Mid-career openings
    97
    All openings
    182
    Median posted pay
    $93k

    Hiring most here: Mayo Clinic, Gilbane, Via

    Based on 182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rochester

  20. 20

    Grand Rapids MI

    52%

    Mid-career openings
    230
    All openings
    439
    Median posted pay
    $100k

    Hiring most here: Corewell Health, Acrisure, BDO USA

    Based on 439 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Grand Rapids

  21. 21

    Fort Wayne IN

    52%

    Mid-career openings
    153
    All openings
    293
    Median posted pay
    $107k

    Hiring most here: BAE Systems, RTX, L3HARRIS Technologies

    Based on 293 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fort Wayne

  22. 22

    Bloomington MN

    52%

    Mid-career openings
    103
    All openings
    200
    Median posted pay
    $122k

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

    Based on 200 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bloomington

  23. 23

    Milwaukee WI

    51%

    Mid-career openings
    468
    All openings
    909
    Median posted pay
    $115k

    Hiring most here: Michels, Rockwell Automation, Molson Coors Beverage

    Based on 909 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Milwaukee

  24. 24

    Oak Brook IL

    51%

    Mid-career openings
    76
    All openings
    148
    Median posted pay
    $147k

    Hiring most here: Hub Group, Sotera Health

    Based on 148 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oak Brook

  25. 25

    Appleton WI

    51%

    Mid-career openings
    80
    All openings
    156
    Median posted pay
    $112k

    Hiring most here: Illinois Tool Works, Ducommun, Oshkosh

    Based on 156 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Appleton

Full ranking

All 53 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1New Albany OH76%152
2Lisle IL69%131
3Novi MI67%152
4Southfield MI64%242
5Jeffersonville IN62%126
6Rolling Meadows IL61%283
7Maple Grove MN61%100
8Waukesha WI61%122
9Ann Arbor MI60%362
10Oakbrook Terrace IL60%153
11Evansville IN60%124
12Rosemont IL58%102
13Carmel IN57%148
14Downers Grove IL57%147
15St. Paul MN55%232
16Mason OH54%151
17Minneapolis MN54%1,313
18Dayton OH54%446
19Rochester MN53%182
20Grand Rapids MI52%439
21Fort Wayne IN52%293
22Bloomington MN52%200
23Milwaukee WI51%909
24Oak Brook IL51%148
25Appleton WI51%156
26Minnetonka MN51%121
27Chicago IL50%8,033
28Lake Forest IL50%111
29Troy MI50%258
30Cleveland OH50%917
31Columbus OH50%2,024
32Akron OH50%323
33Peoria IL50%167
34Indianapolis IN49%1,496
35Detroit MI48%786
36Rockford IL48%145
37Schaumburg IL48%242
38Auburn Hills MI48%160
39Cincinnati OH47%1,451
40Eden Prairie MN47%363
41Northbrook IL46%192
42Madison WI46%526
43Springfield IL46%323
44Toledo OH46%184
45Aurora IL45%133
46Dublin OH44%134
47Lansing MI43%229
48Naperville IL42%196
49Evanston IL42%109
50Green Bay WI40%143
51Neenah WI40%101
52La Crosse WI37%118
53Mundelein IL37%255

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles at mid-level, senior individual-contributor or manager level, 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.

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 mid-career professionals in the great lakes?
New Albany leads the Great Lakes for mid-career professionals: 76% of its professional openings are mid-level, senior or manager roles, against 51% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
53 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 53 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles at mid-level, senior individual-contributor or manager level, 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.
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 mid-career professionals in the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-mid-career-jobs-in-the-great-lakes

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-mid-career-jobs-in-the-great-lakes">Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Great Lakes (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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

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