NextChapter

Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Midwest

New Albany leads the Midwest 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%
  • 69 cities ranked in the Midwest
  • 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

    Lenexa KS

    60%

    Mid-career openings
    134
    All openings
    223
    Median posted pay
    Not enough pay data

    Hiring most here: Weeks Marine, Kiewit, Kiewit Corporation (Peter Kiewit Sons')

    Based on 223 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Lenexa

  12. 12

    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

  13. 13

    Des Moines IA

    59%

    Mid-career openings
    233
    All openings
    394
    Median posted pay
    $129k

    Hiring most here: Principal Financial Group, OpenLoop, Olsson

    Based on 394 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Des Moines

  14. 14

    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

  15. 15

    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

  16. 16

    Overland Park KS

    57%

    Mid-career openings
    260
    All openings
    454
    Median posted pay
    $105k

    Hiring most here: Black & Veatch, Steadily, QTS Data Centers

    Based on 454 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Overland Park

  17. 17

    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

  18. 18

    Columbia MO

    56%

    Mid-career openings
    75
    All openings
    133
    Median posted pay
    $90k

    Hiring most here: EquipmentShare, EquipmentShare.com

    Based on 133 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Columbia

  19. 19

    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

  20. 20

    Omaha NE

    55%

    Mid-career openings
    318
    All openings
    577
    Median posted pay
    $110k

    Hiring most here: Conagra Brands, Valmont, First National Bank of Omaha

    Based on 577 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Omaha

  21. 21

    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

  22. 22

    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

  23. 23

    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

  24. 24

    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

  25. 25

    Wichita KS

    53%

    Mid-career openings
    126
    All openings
    237
    Median posted pay
    $109k

    Hiring most here: Spirit AeroSystems, Shield AI, Cargill

    Based on 237 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Wichita

Full ranking

All 69 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
11Lenexa KS60%223
12Evansville IN60%124
13Des Moines IA59%394
14Rosemont IL58%102
15Carmel IN57%148
16Overland Park KS57%454
17Downers Grove IL57%147
18Columbia MO56%133
19St. Paul MN55%232
20Omaha NE55%577
21Mason OH54%151
22Minneapolis MN54%1,313
23Dayton OH54%446
24Rochester MN53%182
25Wichita KS53%237
26Cedar Rapids IA52%370
27Grand Rapids MI52%439
28Fort Wayne IN52%293
29Fargo ND52%165
30Bloomington MN52%200
31Milwaukee WI51%909
32Oak Brook IL51%148
33Appleton WI51%156
34Minnetonka MN51%121
35Kansas City MO51%916
36Kansas City KS51%148
37Chicago IL50%8,033
38Lake Forest IL50%111
39Troy MI50%258
40Cleveland OH50%917
41Columbus OH50%2,024
42Akron OH50%323
43Peoria IL50%167
44Indianapolis IN49%1,496
45Topeka KS48%112
46Detroit MI48%786
47St. Louis MO48%596
48Rockford IL48%145
49Schaumburg IL48%242
50Auburn Hills MI48%160
51Cincinnati OH47%1,451
52Eden Prairie MN47%363
53Northbrook IL46%192
54Madison WI46%526
55Springfield IL46%323
56Toledo OH46%184
57Aurora IL45%133
58Jefferson City MO45%125
59Dublin OH44%134
60Sioux Falls SD44%212
61Lansing MI43%229
62Springfield MO42%205
63Lincoln NE42%210
64Naperville IL42%196
65Evanston IL42%109
66Green Bay WI40%143
67Neenah WI40%101
68La Crosse WI37%118
69Mundelein 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 midwest?
New Albany leads the Midwest 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?
69 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 69 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 Midwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-mid-career-jobs-in-the-midwest

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

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

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