Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Great Lakes
Key facts
- #1 Chicago, IL: 1,140 openings
- #2 Indianapolis, IN: 327 openings
- #3 Columbus, OH: 316 openings
- 48 cities ranked in the Great Lakes
- Data as of November 2026
For comparison: 21% across all cities in our data.
- 1Chicago IL1,140 openings
- 2Indianapolis IN327 openings
- 3Columbus OH316 openings
- 4Cincinnati OH252 openings
- 5Minneapolis MN241 openings
- 6Milwaukee WI172 openings
- 7Cleveland OH164 openings
- 8Detroit MI127 openings
- 9Ann Arbor MI123 openings
- 10Fort Wayne IN113 openings
What stands out
- The lead is wide: Chicago (1,140 openings) is well clear of Fort Wayne at #10 (113 openings).
- Fort Wayne reaches #10 on a sample of 113 engineering openings, a smaller market than most of the top ten, so its rank can move more from month to month.
- Chicago is the largest market in the top ten, with 1,140 engineering openings behind its figure.
- Cities with fewer than 30 engineering openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.
Why this ranking matters
What it shows
Engineering hiring clusters in a handful of metros. Counting engineering openings shows where the demand for software and engineering skills is deepest.
How to use it
Use it to decide where to network and which employers to follow. A big market also means more competition, so compare it with the pay and entry-level lists.
The top 25
- 1
Chicago IL
1,140 openings
- Share of all openings
- 14%
- Median engineering pay
- $150k
- All openings
- 8,033
Hiring most here: Publicis Groupe, Confidential, Mars
Based on 1,140 engineering openings.
- 2
Indianapolis IN
327 openings
- Share of all openings
- 22%
- Median engineering pay
- $125k
- All openings
- 1,496
Hiring most here: Eli Lilly and Company, State of Indiana, Masco
Based on 327 engineering openings.
- 3
Columbus OH
316 openings
- Share of all openings
- 16%
- Median engineering pay
- $115k
- All openings
- 2,024
Hiring most here: State of Ohio, Nationwide, American Electric Power
Based on 316 engineering openings.
- 4
Cincinnati OH
252 openings
- Share of all openings
- 17%
- Median engineering pay
- $113k
- All openings
- 1,451
Hiring most here: Medpace Holdings, Procter & Gamble, Western & Southern Financial Group
Based on 252 engineering openings.
- 5
Minneapolis MN
241 openings
- Share of all openings
- 18%
- Median engineering pay
- $133k
- All openings
- 1,313
Hiring most here: Mortenson, Ameriprise Certificate, U.S. Bank
Based on 241 engineering openings.
- 6
Milwaukee WI
172 openings
- Share of all openings
- 19%
- Median engineering pay
- $115k
- All openings
- 909
Hiring most here: Michels, Rockwell Automation, Molson Coors Beverage
Based on 172 engineering openings.
- 7
Cleveland OH
164 openings
- Share of all openings
- 18%
- Median engineering pay
- $110k
- All openings
- 917
Hiring most here: Flexjet, Sherwin Williams, KeyBank
Based on 164 engineering openings.
- 8
Detroit MI
127 openings
- Share of all openings
- 16%
- Median engineering pay
- $144k
- All openings
- 786
Hiring most here: Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System, Accident Fund
Based on 127 engineering openings.
- 9
Ann Arbor MI
123 openings
- Share of all openings
- 34%
- Median engineering pay
- $147k
- All openings
- 362
Hiring most here: May Mobility, Torc Robotics, Thomson Reuters
Based on 123 engineering openings.
- 10
Fort Wayne IN
113 openings
- Share of all openings
- 39%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 293
Hiring most here: BAE Systems, RTX, L3HARRIS Technologies
Based on 113 engineering openings.
- 11
Dayton OH
111 openings
- Share of all openings
- 25%
- Median engineering pay
- $129k
- All openings
- 446
Hiring most here: University of Dayton, Modern Technology Solutions, Odyssey Systems Consulting
Based on 111 engineering openings.
- 12
Grand Rapids MI
99 openings
- Share of all openings
- 23%
- Median engineering pay
- $106k
- All openings
- 439
Hiring most here: Corewell Health, Acrisure, BDO USA
Based on 99 engineering openings.
- 13
Madison WI
87 openings
- Share of all openings
- 17%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 526
Hiring most here: Universities of Wisconsin [UW_Madison], Creative Financial Staffing, Catalent Pharma Solutions
Based on 87 engineering openings.
- 14
Eden Prairie MN
76 openings
- Share of all openings
- 21%
- Median engineering pay
- $140k
- All openings
- 363
Hiring most here: Unitedhealth Group, LHC Group, Illinois Tool Works
Based on 76 engineering openings.
- 15
Auburn Hills MI
71 openings
- Share of all openings
- 44%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 160
Hiring most here: Alten Technology USA, Stellantis, Nexteer
Based on 71 engineering openings.
- 16
Akron OH
62 openings
- Share of all openings
- 19%
- Median engineering pay
- $90k
- All openings
- 323
Hiring most here: FirstEnergy Akron, Babcock International Group PLC/ADR, Firstenergy
Based on 62 engineering openings.
- 17
Southfield MI
62 openings
- Share of all openings
- 26%
- Median engineering pay
- $138k
- All openings
- 242
Hiring most here: Lucid Motors, Sun Communities, Lear
Based on 62 engineering openings.
- 18
Lansing MI
59 openings
- Share of all openings
- 26%
- Median engineering pay
- $83k
- All openings
- 229
Hiring most here: University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, Auto-Owners Insurance, Sparrow Clinton Hospital
Based on 59 engineering openings.
- 19
Bloomington MN
56 openings
- Share of all openings
- 28%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 200
Hiring most here: General Dynamics Mission Systems, HealthPartners, Geronimo Power
Based on 56 engineering openings.
- 20
Novi MI
55 openings
- Share of all openings
- 36%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 152
Hiring most here: Scout Motors, Gentherm, Daifuku Co., Ltd./ADR
Based on 55 engineering openings.
- 21
Troy MI
54 openings
- Share of all openings
- 21%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 258
Hiring most here: Aptiv, Publicis Groupe, Flagstar Bank, National Association
Based on 54 engineering openings.
- 22
Waukesha WI
52 openings
- Share of all openings
- 43%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 122
Hiring most here: GE HealthCare Technologies, Eaton, GE HealthCare
Based on 52 engineering openings.
- 23
New Albany OH
51 openings
- Share of all openings
- 34%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 152
Hiring most here: Bechtel Energy, American Electric Power, Amazon
Based on 51 engineering openings.
- 24
Oakbrook Terrace IL
51 openings
- Share of all openings
- 33%
- Median engineering pay
- Not enough pay data
- All openings
- 153
Hiring most here: Baltimore Gas and Electric, Pepco Holdings, Exelon
Based on 51 engineering openings.
- 25
St. Paul MN
49 openings
- Share of all openings
- 21%
- Median engineering pay
- $138k
- All openings
- 232
Hiring most here: George Konik Associates, Thomson Reuters, Mortenson
Based on 49 engineering openings.
Full ranking
All 48 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.
| Rank | City | Score | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago IL | 1,140 openings | 1,140 |
| 2 | Indianapolis IN | 327 openings | 327 |
| 3 | Columbus OH | 316 openings | 316 |
| 4 | Cincinnati OH | 252 openings | 252 |
| 5 | Minneapolis MN | 241 openings | 241 |
| 6 | Milwaukee WI | 172 openings | 172 |
| 7 | Cleveland OH | 164 openings | 164 |
| 8 | Detroit MI | 127 openings | 127 |
| 9 | Ann Arbor MI | 123 openings | 123 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne IN | 113 openings | 113 |
| 11 | Dayton OH | 111 openings | 111 |
| 12 | Grand Rapids MI | 99 openings | 99 |
| 13 | Madison WI | 87 openings | 87 |
| 14 | Eden Prairie MN | 76 openings | 76 |
| 15 | Auburn Hills MI | 71 openings | 71 |
| 16 | Akron OH | 62 openings | 62 |
| 17 | Southfield MI | 62 openings | 62 |
| 18 | Lansing MI | 59 openings | 59 |
| 19 | Bloomington MN | 56 openings | 56 |
| 20 | Novi MI | 55 openings | 55 |
| 21 | Troy MI | 54 openings | 54 |
| 22 | Waukesha WI | 52 openings | 52 |
| 23 | New Albany OH | 51 openings | 51 |
| 24 | Oakbrook Terrace IL | 51 openings | 51 |
| 25 | St. Paul MN | 49 openings | 49 |
| 26 | Rockford IL | 47 openings | 47 |
| 27 | Mundelein IL | 46 openings | 46 |
| 28 | Beavercreek OH | 44 openings | 44 |
| 29 | Rolling Meadows IL | 44 openings | 44 |
| 30 | Springfield IL | 43 openings | 43 |
| 31 | Wright-Patterson AFB OH | 42 openings | 42 |
| 32 | Rochester MN | 41 openings | 41 |
| 33 | Mason OH | 40 openings | 40 |
| 34 | Naperville IL | 37 openings | 37 |
| 35 | Normal IL | 37 openings | 37 |
| 36 | Lisle IL | 36 openings | 36 |
| 37 | Maple Grove MN | 36 openings | 36 |
| 38 | Lafayette IN | 35 openings | 35 |
| 39 | Dublin OH | 34 openings | 34 |
| 40 | Marysville OH | 34 openings | 34 |
| 41 | Appleton WI | 33 openings | 33 |
| 42 | Zeeland MI | 33 openings | 33 |
| 43 | Crane IN | 32 openings | 32 |
| 44 | La Crosse WI | 32 openings | 32 |
| 45 | Plymouth MI | 31 openings | 31 |
| 46 | Plymouth MN | 31 openings | 31 |
| 47 | Warrenville IL | 31 openings | 31 |
| 48 | Schaumburg IL | 30 openings | 30 |
How this ranking works
A city is ranked on the number of its open professional roles classed in the engineering function, which includes software, hardware and data engineering.
Median engineering pay uses only listings that post a salary, and is shown only where at least 8 do. Cities need at least the minimum number of engineering openings to be ranked.
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 30 engineering 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 software and engineering jobs in the great lakes?
- Chicago has the most software and engineering openings in the Great Lakes: 1,140 openings, in a market where engineering is 21% of openings across all cities in our data.
- How many cities are ranked?
- 48 cities have at least 30 engineering openings, so the list has 48 entries.
- How is the ranking calculated?
- A city is ranked on the number of its open professional roles classed in the engineering function, which includes software, hardware and data engineering. Median engineering pay uses only listings that post a salary, and is shown only where at least 8 do. Cities need at least the minimum number of engineering openings to be ranked. 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
- Colleges with the highest earnings 10 years after enrolling in the Great Lakes
- Best college towns for junior jobs in the Great Lakes
- Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Great Lakes
- Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Great Lakes
- Cities with the most hybrid jobs in the Great Lakes
- Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs
- All rankings
Cite this ranking
NextChapter, “Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Great Lakes,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-software-engineering-jobs-in-the-great-lakes
Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-software-engineering-jobs-in-the-great-lakes">Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Great Lakes (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>
Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.
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