The Trenton–Princeton area was ranked second among small U.S. metropolitan areas for the share of people working in AI enhanced jobs, according to a CoworkingCafe study released on Mar. 26.
The ranking highlights the region’s role as a growing hub for artificial intelligence employment and related industries. The study measured more than 300 metropolitan areas across factors such as job opportunities, pay, cost of living, broadband access, and coworking spaces to determine which locations offer strong prospects for technical professionals.
According to the report, Trenton–Princeton had the highest volume of new AI job postings among small metros with 685 openings between November 2024 and November 2025. The area also features the second largest coworking network with 20 locations and has an AI occupation concentration that is 53% higher than the national average. Average salaries for AI-related roles reached $125,652 per year—the eighteenth highest nationally—while cost of living is only slightly above national parity at just over two percent higher. High-speed fiber coverage reaches about one-quarter of households in the metro.
Boulder, Colorado took first place among smaller markets (those with fewer than half a million residents). For larger metropolitan regions, New York City finished second behind San Jose, California as an established center for artificial intelligence careers.
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association serves as the nation’s largest statewide employer association representing employers across various sectors according to its official website. The association advances competitive excellence and financial success for its members while delivering essential information and services according to its official website. Michele Siekerka serves as president and chief executive officer according to its official website.
The association supports private-sector employers throughout New Jersey according to its official website, facilitates partnerships among businesses, government entities, and academic institutions according to its official website, and offers advocacy along with practical information and cost-saving benefits designed to support business prosperity according to its official website.
