Check Out These 16 Smaller U.S. Cities for Top Creative and Technical Jobs

If you’re looking for job opportunities in a smaller city, the US offers plenty of options worth considering. While the proverbial ‘big cities’ may come to mind when job searching, medium-sized cities have much to offer and are job-friendly with many creative and technical positions available. This list of small to medium-sized cities is ordered from smallest to largest and will give you a snapshot of why small cities are making a comeback for workers of all ages.

Charlottesville, Virginia (Population 45,672)

Not to be outdone by its neighbors in North Carolina, Charlottesville is also home to job opportunities for job seekers. This job-friendly city boasts a rapidly growing tech and creative scene, with plenty of job opportunities available. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, such as hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking.

Charlottesville Fun Fact: It was the home of Thomas Jefferson and one of the nation’s most iconic universities, The University of Virginia.

Asheville, North Carolina (Population 94,067)

Ashville, N.C. is a great example of a job-friendly medium-sized city with plenty of opportunities. With its booming craft beer industry, thriving music scene, and culture of creativity, Asheville offers job seekers the chance to explore outside their comfort zones. In addition to the job opportunities available in Asheville, there are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy, such as hiking, fishing, and camping.

Asheville Fun Fact: Asheville has been recognized as one of the top creative cities in the US and is also home to a wide variety of creative professionals.

Hartford, Connecticut (Population 120,576)

Hartford is a job-friendly city for job seekers looking for creative and technical job opportunities. Home to many of the largest insurance companies in the US, Hartford has also seen a boom in tech startups over the past few years. Plus, with its dynamic culture and excellent restaurants, job seekers can find plenty of things to do during their job search.

Hartford Fun Fact: Hartford is home to the oldest continuously published newspaper in the US – The Hartford Courant has been published since 1764!

Savannah, Georgia (Population 147,088)

Savannah is a job-friendly city and offers job seekers job opportunities in many industries. With its rich cultural heritage and vibrant art scene, job seekers can also explore the city’s offerings during their job search. Plus, Savannah also boasts plenty of recreational activities such as kayaking, fishing, and exploring the local trails. While smaller than other cities, job seekers can still find job opportunities in Savannah.

Savannah Fun Fact: Savannah is home to the world-famous Savannah College of Art and Design. With campuses located in both Atlanta and Hong Kong, SCAD offers creative professionals the chance to explore creative and technical opportunities. Plus, Savannah is also home to the creative-minded Savannah Film Festival, one of the best film festivals in the US.

Charleston, South Carolina (Population 151,612)

The job market in Charleston has been growing steadily over the past few years. This job-friendly city is home to many tech startups and creative job opportunities, making it a great choice for those looking to get their foot in the door of their chosen industry. Plus, with its charming Southern hospitality, there’s never a shortage of things to do and see in Charleston.

Charleston Fun Fact: Charleston is home to the world-famous Spoleto Festival USA, which brings creative professionals from around the world to enjoy its performances.

Tallahassee, Florida (Population 188,287)

If job seekers are looking for job opportunities in a job-friendly city, Tallahassee is the perfect place to start. Home to two major universities and many tech startups, job seekers can find job opportunities in many industries. Plus, with its subtropical climate and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, job seekers can also explore all that Florida has to offer.

Tallahassee Fun Fact: Tallahassee is home to the world-famous Florida State University, one of the top universities in the US for creative and technical programs.

Rochester, New York (Population 210,606)

Rochester is job-friendly city for job seekers looking for creative and technical job opportunities. With its proximity to New York City and Canada, job seekers can take advantage of job openings in many industries. Plus, Rochester also offers plenty of recreational activities such as hiking and exploring the local trails during downtime.

Rochester Fun Fact: Rochester was the birthplace of Kodak, Xerox and Bausch & Lomb.

Richmond, Virginia (Population 226,604)

Richmond is job-friendly city with job opportunities in many industries. This job-friendly city has an ever-growing job market, especially in tech and finance, making it a great choice for job seekers looking to get their foot in the door of their chosen industry. Plus, Richmond also boasts plenty of recreational activities such as kayaking, fishing and cycling, making job seekers’ job search more enjoyable.

Richmond Fun Fact: Richmond is home to the oldest public farmers market in the US! The 17th Street Farmers Market has been around since 1737 and is still open to this day!

Wichita, Kansas (Population 395,699)

Wichita is job-friendly city with job openings in many industries, including tech and finance. This job-friendly city also offers job seekers the opportunity to explore its vibrant culture and exciting nightlife during their job search. Wichita also boasts plenty of recreational activities such as kayaking and exploring the local trails. Plus, nearby cities such as Kansas City and Topeka are only an hour away, making job seekers’ job search more convenient.

Wichita Fun Fact: Wichita is home to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturing plant, which produces more than 600 types of commercial and military aircraft.

Raleigh, North Carolina (Population 469,124)

Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing job markets in the United States. With job opportunities in tech, finance, and other industries, job seekers have plenty to choose from when job hunting in Raleigh. Plus, this job-friendly city also offers excellent recreational activities such as hiking and exploring the local trails.

Raleigh Fun Fact: Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and home to several major universities, making it a great place for recent grads looking for job opportunities.

Omaha, Nebraska (Population 487,300)

Omaha is a job-friendly city with plenty of job opportunities and an ever-growing job market. Tech startups are thriving in Omaha, as well as creative job openings in the music, art and film industries. Plus, this job-friendly city also offers excellent recreational activities to explore during downtime.

Omaha Fun Fact: Omaha was the birthplace of Warren Buffett and is home to the world-famous Berkshire Hathaway.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Population 687,725)

Oklahoma City is an often overlooked job-friendly city, with plenty of job opportunities. The job market here is growing rapidly and the city has many job openings in tech, finance and other industries. Oklahoma City also offers a unique and vibrant culture with opportunities to meet other professionals in the job market. Plus, with its low cost of living and plenty of recreational activities to explore during downtime, job seekers have many reasons to check this city out.

Oklahoma City Fun Fact: Oklahoma City is home to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of artifacts and art related to the westward expansion of America.

Washington, D.C. (Population 712,816)

Washington D.C. is a job-friendly city with job openings in many industries, especially tech and finance. This job-friendly city also offers plenty of job seekers the opportunity to explore its exciting culture and vibrant nightlife during their job search. Plus, Washington D.C has a variety of recreational activities such as kayaking and exploring the local trails, making job seekers’ job search more enjoyable.

D.C. Fun Fact: Washington D.C. is one of the only cities in the United States that has its own ZIP code!

Charlotte, North Carolina (Population 879,709)

Charlotte is also a great job-friendly city, offering job seekers plenty of creative and technical job opportunities. Plus, its proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains means job seekers can enjoy nature while they’re job hunting. Charlotte also has a thriving arts scene and great restaurants to explore.

Charlotte Fun Fact: The city is home to the largest NASCAR speedway in the world, Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Population 1,576,000)

Philadelphia is a medium-sized city with job opportunities in many industries. Its close proximity to New York City means job seekers can take advantage of the job opportunities available in the ‘big apple’, while still enjoying Philadelphia’s diverse cultural offerings and vibrant nightlife.

Philadelphia Fun Fact: Philadelphia is home to the nation’s oldest zoo, which opened in 1874.

Phoenix, Arizona (Population 1,625,000)

Phoenix is a medium-sized city with job opportunities in tech, finance, and other industries. With its mild desert climate, job seekers can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities while job hunting, such as hiking and exploring the local trails. Plus, Phoenix also boasts plenty of restaurants and entertainment options to explore during downtime.

Phoenix Fun Fact: Phoenix is the home of America’s largest urban park – South Mountain Park.

In conclusion, there are plenty of great job opportunities in small-sized cities, especially creative and technical ones. From Omaha to Phoenix, these U.S. cities offer plenty of recreational activities during job searches and a variety of cultural offerings to explore after hours. And with their low costs of living and unique attractions, creative and technical job seekers should definitely consider exploring these small cities for job opportunities. Happy job hunting!