Two New Jersey metro areas were picked for CoworkingCafe’s latest study, which ranks the best U.S. metros for People with AI-Enhanced Jobs.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City area ranks No. 2 among large U.S. metros, and Trenton-Princeton ranks second in small metros, as well.
The study analyzed more than 300 metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 50,000, ruling out metros with missing data or no coworking spaces.
Each metro was scored by employing six metrics: AI job postings (between Nov. 2024 and Nov. 2025); average salary for AI-related jobs; location quotients; regional price parity; fiber coverage; and coworking spaces.
In large U.S. metros (more than 1 million population), New York-Newark-Jersey City ranks No. 2 with the following:
- Over 15,000 new AI job postings, offering a range of jobs in multiple industries.
- Salaries average $150,778
- AI roles appear as much as the national average.
- 737 coworking spaces — the most of any metro.
- 49% metro-wide fiber coverage, which ranks 15th for high-speed connectivity.
- AI roles are 14% more concentrated than the national average.
Trenton-Princeton is ranked second in small metros (less than 500,000 residents) with:
- 685 new AI job postings.
- $125,652 average salary.
- A higher-than-average share of the local job market in AI hiring.
- Fiber access reaches 23% of serviceable locations.
- 20 coworking spaces that support collaboration.
These two regions offer AI industry growth as well as providing the best blend of opportunity, pay range and livability.
