A new year has just begun. If you’re feeling restless in your job or just want some situational job market awareness, it’s a good time to check out something new, including a new city for your cleared career. Finding the right city to work in is a tricky decision, but one thing to look for is job opportunities. You might like a location, but if you can’t find a job, the perks of the place may not be enough.
Top 5 U.S. Cities for your Next Cleared Job in 2024
It may seem like the DC Metro area is the place to be for cleared careers, and that’s not wrong. If you want to go where there are plenty of cleared jobs, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. have a lot to offer. That doesn’t mean you can’t find cleared work elsewhere, but if you’re on the job prowl, looking for work around the nation’s capitol gets you access to the largest single pool of talent openings.
1. Washington, D.C.
Without the smaller hubs like Maryland and Northern VA, Washington D.C. tops the list with the most opportunities for cleared candidates. Live in the suburbs or city and find yourself in the land of plenty of opportunities. Add in some history and culture, and you have the whole package. Well, you don’t have a backyard or a lot of parking. But the jobs are plentiful and the city has a unique feel.
2. Chantilly, VA
Just outside of all the bustle, towards Dulles International Airport, you’ll find over 2,000 cleared job openings – just in Chantilly, VA alone. If life inside D.C. feels cramped, head farther out. You may be able to live even farther west and commute into Chantilly for office days. The Starbucks’ are spacious, and the cul-de-sacs sprawling.
3. Annapolis Junction, MD
If you want to be closer to the water, find over 2,000 job openings, and have a slightly cheaper cost of living, check out Annapolis Junction, MD. You’ll still be close to major airports, history (hello, Annapolis!), and constant cleared job openings. Only downside is that you’ll be in Maryland. I’m kidding. I wouldn’t be a Virginian for 20+ years without tossing a little shade to the Marylanders out there. So many people LOVE Maryland. Bless their hearts.
4. Arlington, VA
If D.C. is too much for you, just hop over the Potomac and settle down in Arlington. Live in Alexandria or Arlington with a little more space than D.C. With easy access to D.C., you’re still close to all the sites. Costs are still high, so make sure you negotiate your salary and don’t overlook all the costs of living in Arlington when making your job decision – especially if you’re just starting out.
5. Ft. George Meade, MD
Back in Maryland, with over 1,800 opportunities is Fort Meade. The base is large and offers numerous opportunities – especially for the cyber and technical candidates. Whether you want to work for DISA or NSA, there are many government and contractor opportunities.
Bonus Round
If the D.C. metro isn’t your jam, check out Huntsville, AL; Tampa, FL; San Diego, CA; and Colorado Springs, CO. Go South or go West, and there are almost 1,000 open requisitions right now in each of those cities. And don’t sleep on Texas either. The state is big and the cleared opportunities keep growing.
Happy job hunting in 2024!
