Austin has already proven to be a major hub for business, and now three of its neighbors – Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Round Rock — are rising among the ranks of best small U.S. cities for big career opportunities.

A new nationwide survey from CoworkingCafe ranked the three Austin-area cities among its top-100 career hotspots with populations under 250,000 residents.

According to the study, these standout U.S. suburbs "combine economic acceleration with day-to-day livability, offering residents both upward mobility and stable community fundamentals."

The top three small cities leading the nation for their high salaries and strong job markets are Alpharetta, Georgia (No. 1); South Jordan, Utah (No. 2); and Mountain View, California (No. 3).

Pflugerville ranked the highest in the Austin area, climbing up into No. 17, and CoworkingCafe said the suburb is an "appealing option for young, mobile professionals." Pflugerville households make a median income of $121,964 a year, the report added, a figure that has ballooned 37 percent since 2019.

"Pflugerville, [Texas] continues to ride the strong wave of the Austin tech corridor," the report's author wrote. "Employment has grown steadily (3.6 percent), and the city benefits from solid safety metrics and solid infrastructure."

This booming Austin suburb was named the second-best place to live in Texas in 2025 by Travel + Leisure, and its growth has led to the development of a new city hall expected by fall 2026. Popular chains like Hopdoddy Burger Bar and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar are also expanding into the city, and the local business landscape is also seeing some wins.

Cedar Park, which was named one of the best small cities in America last year, followed after Pflugerville in the No. 22 spot. Cedar Park is also consistently ranked one of the safest American cities, and its career-focused residents aren't shy about being big spenders.

"Across the U.S., a new wave of cities with a more concentrated urban footprint is quietly turning into career powerhouses, even though we tend to associate that success with the big, bustling cities," the report's author wrote. "Some of the best opportunities are popping up in tight-knit communities where innovation, affordability and a great quality of life all come together."

If Austinites are seeking affordability over all other factors, then No. 31-ranking Round Rock is the place to be, according to the report. Round Rock has seen high population growth because of its affordability, and it's an especially desirable place to live for high earners.

"The findings reveal two clear paths to success: fast-growing suburban hubs buzzing with innovation and more established tech-driven economies that already have a global reach," the report said. "Together, they show that even smaller places can give you big advantages professionally, sometimes even more than the big metros."

Elsewhere in Central Texas, other career hotspots with populations under 250,000 residents that made it into the top 100 include Temple (No. 89) and Georgetown (No. 90).

Here's how other Texas suburbs fared among CoworkingCafe's top 100 best career hotspots in 2026:

• No. 11 – Frisco
• No. 15 – Flower Mound
• No. 20 – McKinney
• No. 37 – Mansfield
• No. 43 – Allen
• No. 58 – Richardson
• No. 59 – Pearland
• No. 73 – League City
• No. 76 – Sugar Land
• No. 80 – Lewisville
• No. 97 – Amarillo