Entry-Level Job Market in the US: Week of October 25, 2026 - Openings Surge by 25%

The entry-level job market saw a significant rebound this week, with new openings surging by nearly 25% after a slower period. FirstHire tracked 61,819 new roles for candidates with 0-2 years of experience, a positive sign for fall job seekers. Of these, over 37,000 listings required no prior work experience.

Openings this week

FirstHire tracked 61,819 new entry-level job openings (0-2 years of experience) in the US for the week ending October 25, 2026. This represents a sharp 24.5% increase from the 49,636 openings posted in the previous week.

• No-Experience Roles: A bright spot for new graduates, 37,170 of this week's openings—about 60% of the total—were for roles requiring no previous experience.
• Remote and Hybrid: The number of flexible work options grew. FirstHire found 3,483 fully remote positions and 2,964 hybrid roles. Together, these make up over 10% of all new entry-level jobs.
• Internships: The number of new internships in the US dipped slightly, with 1,850 new listings this week compared to 2,050 the week before. This is a typical seasonal fluctuation as fall recruiting for summer programs winds down.

Who is hiring

A total of 19,029 companies posted entry-level jobs this week. Hiring was led by large retail, technology, and consulting firms.

Top Companies: Walmart was the most active single hirer, posting 404 new entry-level roles. It was followed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) with 289 postings and its parent company Amazon with 287. Other top hirers included SpaceX (271), tech recruiting firm CyberCoders (244), Deloitte (202), and TikTok (195).

Top Cities: Job opportunities remain concentrated in major metropolitan areas. New York continues to lead with 2,329 new openings. Other major hubs for new jobs were: - Chicago: 928 openings - Houston: 831 openings - San Francisco Bay Area: 789 openings - Austin: 773 openings

Top Roles: Demand was strongest for sales and business development roles, with 4,862 new openings. This was followed by finance and accounting (4,009) and customer support (3,839). Tech hiring remained robust, with 3,204 new software engineering jobs and 1,813 new roles in data and analytics.

What it pays

FirstHire's analysis is based on salary ranges included in job postings. This week, 5,382 entry-level job postings included an annual salary range.

• The median midpoint for annual salaries was $84,000.
• For hourly roles, the median midpoint was $23.14 per hour, based on a sample of 4,421 postings.

These figures are national medians and can be influenced by a high number of postings in well-compensated fields like tech and finance. Actual pay will vary significantly based on your role, industry, and location.

Hiring news this week

The broader hiring landscape presents a mixed picture. While overall layoffs in the U.S. have fallen to a four-year low through September, according to data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the tech and financial services sectors continue to see cuts. A report from TechRepublic noted that nearly 200,000 tech workers have been affected by layoffs in 2026. Some analysts suggest that the rise of AI is contributing to a slowdown in hiring for entry-level white-collar roles, particularly in fields like software development and data analysis. A Stanford University study found that employment for young workers in AI-exposed occupations is 19% lower than it would be otherwise.

Despite this, many companies are actively recruiting new graduates. Consulting firm Deloitte, one of this week's top hirers, continues to run its campus hiring programs for internships and full-time roles. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), another major recruiter, uses its National Qualifier Test (NQT) to assess candidates for entry-level roles like Assistant Systems Engineer. The company's "Ignite" program is specifically designed to hire and train science graduates from the class of 2026 for IT careers. Additionally, a global survey by Korn Ferry found that 81% of employers plan to increase their early-career hiring over the next two years, suggesting a long-term commitment to bringing in new talent.

What to do this week

1. Apply with urgency. With a 25% jump in new openings, now is a great time to increase your application volume. Start with the main entry-level jobs feed to see the full range of new roles.

1. Target top hirers. Refresh your resume with keywords relevant to roles at this week's top hiring companies, such as Walmart, Amazon, and Deloitte. Focus on skills related to sales, business, and technology.

1. Consider location. If you are flexible on where you live, look at markets beyond the top coastal cities. Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta all had hundreds of new jobs this week and may offer a lower cost of living. You can filter by location on the FirstHire US jobs page.

1. Don't forget remote. Over 3,400 new remote jobs were posted this week. Use the entry-level remote jobs filter to find opportunities that offer more flexibility.

FAQ

How is the "no experience" category defined?

This category includes jobs that state they require zero years of professional experience. These roles are specifically designed for recent graduates, career changers, or anyone entering the workforce for the first time. They are a great starting point for your job search.

Why did internship numbers go down when overall jobs went up?

Internship hiring often follows a strong seasonal cycle that is different from full-time hiring. Many companies recruit for their large summer internship programs during the fall. The slight dip this week is normal as some of those application windows close. We expect to see postings for spring and winter internships pick up in the coming weeks.

Is a median salary of $84,000 realistic for an entry-level job?

The $84,000 figure is a national median, not a starting salary for every role. It is heavily influenced by high-paying jobs in sectors like software engineering and finance, which were both in high demand this week. You should use this number as a benchmark for research, but your actual salary will depend on your specific field, skills, and the cost of living in your location.