New Hampshire gets overlooked sometimes. People think “small state, cold winters, taxes on everything,” but in 2025 it’s one of the better places to land a solid career if you’ve got a college degree. But there are a now of great New Hampshire jobs out there. Unemployment is around 2.6 %—among the lowest in the country—housing is still reasonable outside the Seacoast, and employers are paying competitive wages because the talent pool isn’t huge. Manchester and Nashua are tech corridors, Portsmouth has finance and defense, Concord is government and insurance, and even the Lakes Region and Dartmouth area have real opportunities. Here are six great New Hampshire jobs that keep showing up when I talk to people who actually live and work here.
1. Software Engineer / Developer
Average pay: $105k–$145k
Nashua and Manchester are the heart of the Granite State’s tech scene—BAE Systems, Oracle (formerly Cerner), and a bunch of defense contractors plus smaller SaaS companies are always hiring. CS, computer engineering, or even a strong self-taught portfolio with a related degree works.
Why it’s strong: Many roles are hybrid or fully remote, so you can live in Portsmouth or the Lakes Region and still pull Boston-area money without the Boston commute or cost.
Hot spots: Nashua (the old Digital Equipment corridor), Manchester, Portsmouth.
Names hiring: BAE Systems, Oracle Health, Bottomline Technologies, Eversource IT team.
Mark P. in Derry: “I make the same as my old Boston job, but my mortgage is half and I’m 20 minutes from skiing. I’ll never go back.”
2. Registered Nurse (BSN)
Average pay: $80k–$110k + $15k–$30k sign-on bonuses
Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, and the VA in Manchester are in a constant nurse shortage. Rural hospitals in Berlin, Claremont, and the Upper Valley are offering even bigger incentives.
Why it’s great money: New Hampshire has one of the highest RN wages in the Northeast because of shortages and cost of living. Many places offer relocation help and housing stipends.
3. Electrical / Systems Engineer (Defense & Manufacturing)
Average pay: $95k–$135k
Southern New Hampshire is defense country—BAE Systems, Raytheon (RTX) facilities, and smaller contractors near Pease Tradeport need engineers who can work on radar, avionics, or manufacturing systems.
Why it’s hot: Clearances aren’t as scary as people think if you’re clean, and the work is interesting—real hardware, not just software tickets.
Hot spots: Nashua, Hudson, Merrimack.
4. Financial Analyst / Accountant
Average pay: $75k–$105k
Portsmouth and Manchester have a surprising finance cluster—Liberty Mutual’s big presence, the Fidelity outposts, and smaller insurance and investment firms need analysts who can model risk or handle compliance.
Why it provides great New Hampshire jobs: Starting pay is strong for the region, and the CPA or CFA actually accelerates raises.
5. Civil / Environmental Engineer
Average pay: $80k–$115k
Infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, water systems) is steady, and firms like McFarland-Johnson, CHA, and the state DOT need engineers who can design and manage projects in a state with tough winters and terrain.
Why it’s provides great New Hampshire jobs: Federal infrastructure dollars keep flowing, and the state’s own transportation bond adds more work.
6. High School Teacher – Math, Science, SpEd
Average pay: $55k–$85k + loan forgiveness & rural housing help
Manchester, Nashua, and districts in the Lakes Region and Monadnock are offering $10k–$20k bonuses and will help with housing if you teach high-need subjects.
Why people stay: Smaller class sizes than most states, kids who still show respect, and you’re off by 3:30 with summers to hike the Whites or sail on Winnipesaukee. That’s what makes teaching one of the great New Hampshire jobs.
How to Actually Land One of These Great New Hampshire Jobs
- Put “open to New Hampshire” or “willing to relocate to Manchester/Nashua/Portsmouth” in your LinkedIn headline—recruiters search that phrase daily.
- Hit the New Hampshire Employment Security job fairs (they’re surprisingly effective).
- Use NHWorks.org, but the real action is the local “Tech & Brews” meetups in Manchester and the Portsmouth Chamber events.
- Tailor your resume to show money saved or projects completed—New Hampshire bosses love tangible impact over buzzwords.
I’ve watched friends trade coastal stress for this quieter pace, and not one regrets it. Great New Hampshire jobs deliver the pay, the space, and the kind of life where you’re not just surviving—you’re actually living. Plenty of room left for more.
If any of this sounds like the change you’re ready for, quit scrolling and get your degree!