2021’s Best & Worst Entry-Level Jobs

John S Kiernan, Managing EditorApr 26, 2021

John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
Apr 26, 2021

Graduation season is a time of big dreams and high pressure for soon-to-be job seekers across the country. But finding employment is no small task, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, where recent graduates face a far higher unemployment rate than the overall population.

In addition, many job-market entrants ultimately seek a career, not just a job. They want the attractive combination of a high starting salary and high growth for compensation and responsibility. They also want stability while doing what they love. The question is how to go about obtaining such things in this über-competitive job market.

In search of answers and actionable information for the Class of 2021, WalletHub took stock of the first-timer job market by comparing 108 entry-level positions based on 12 key metrics. Our data set ranges from average starting salary to projected job growth by 2029 to median tenure with an employer.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

Best First Jobs

Overall Rank	Job Type	Total Score	Immediate Opportunity	Growth Potential	Job Hazards
1	Systems Engineer I	75.08	2	16	35
2	Engineer I	75.04	4	15	35
3	Web Applications Developer I	74.46	7	25	7
4	Env., Health, and Safety Engineer I	73.46	10	13	35
5	Hardware Engineer I	72.77	6	33	35
6	Certified Nursing Assistant - Nursing Home Salaries	72.46	11	32	26
7	Electronics Engineer I	70.70	14	12	33
8	Electrical Engineer I	68.42	20	26	33
9	Operations Research Analyst I	68.07	37	5	14
10	Programmer I	67.85	5	60	7
11	Systems Engineering Technician I	66.39	22	40	42
12	Industrial Engineer I	66.03	30	16	35
13	Software Engineer I	66.02	3	18	66
14	Designer I - Web	65.51	33	34	10
15	Benefits Analyst I	64.91	9	65	19
16	Systems Administrator I	64.14	43	29	10
17	Database Administrator I	63.93	60	7	10
18	Attorney I	63.03	16	1	92
19	Safety Representative I	62.34	29	46	48
20	Chemist I	60.99	61	28	40
21	Materials Engineer I	60.58	15	11	82
22	Tax Attorney I	60.49	25	1	92
23	Chemical Technician I	59.48	17	70	29
24	Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant	59.25	82	27	27
25	Industrial Designer I	59.15	69	37	46
26	Patent Attorney I	58.85	32	1	92
27	Employment Law Attorney I	58.71	34	1	92
28	Microbiologist I	58.69	93	6	50
29	Market Research Analyst I	58.46	46	57	19
30	Industrial Engineering Technician I	58.33	72	40	42
31	Architect I	57.12	77	20	55
32	Network Service Representative I	56.90	31	69	10
33	Safety Technician I	56.46	57	51	49
34	Mechanical Engineering Technician I	56.40	52	59	29
35	Records Clerk	56.35	21	90	15
36	Interior Designer I	56.27	92	43	46
37	Installation & Maintenance Technician I	56.15	8	64	59
38	Civil Engineer I	56.05	28	21	91
39	Financial Analyst I	55.92	27	36	73
40	Environmental Engineering Technician I	55.78	81	50	29
41	Budget Analyst I	55.67	19	91	22
42	Teaching Assistant (College)	55.59	48	62	18
43	General Maintenance Worker I	55.50	13	73	58
44	Mechanical Engineer I	55.21	35	19	89
45	Writer I - Web	55.13	87	49	32
46	Network Engineer I	55.02	24	48	67
47	Employee Relations Specialist I	54.84	83	52	19
48	Accountant I	54.72	1	84	73
49	Aerospace Engineer I	54.66	45	8	82
50	Chemical Engineer I	54.60	44	9	82
51	Geophysicist I	54.60	55	55	52
52	Training Specialist I	54.47	36	38	69
53	Credit Analyst I	54.27	26	88	22
54	Landscape Architect I	54.24	94	35	55
55	Biologist I	54.12	90	47	50
56	Logistics Analyst I	51.16	76	22	69
57	New Accounts Representative I	50.76	18	107	15
58	Underwriter (Life) I	50.71	40	94	22
59	Geotechnical Engineer I	50.57	66	30	82
60	Consumer Credit Analyst I	50.55	49	88	22
61	Mine Engineer I	50.38	67	30	82
62	Geologist I	50.23	99	55	52
63	Electrical Engineering Technician I	50.15	50	82	42
64	Logistics Clerk	49.96	85	22	69
65	Biomedical Engineer I	49.82	79	24	82
66	Secretary I	48.74	42	102	6
67	Environmental Engineer I	48.72	58	14	100
68	Information Security Analyst I	48.63	64	42	97
69	Accounting Clerk I	48.25	41	104	9
70	Public Relations Specialist I	48.03	73	44	88
71	Claims Adjuster I	47.64	47	99	41
72	Civil Engineering Technician I	47.58	80	81	42
73	Network Planning Analyst I	47.39	53	58	67
74	Benefits Administrator I	47.18	12	96	80
75	Technical Librarian I	47.15	84	68	54
76	Telecommunications Technician I	45.49	59	61	61
77	Environmental Planner I	44.85	70	39	100
78	Drilling Engineer I	44.72	97	10	100
79	Plumber I	44.08	98	54	60
80	Electric/Electronics Technician I	43.71	68	63	61
81	Financial Reporting Accountant I	42.64	38	84	73
82	Policy Processing Clerk	42.28	95	105	2
83	Payroll Clerk	42.01	100	103	4
84	Consumer Loan Officer I	42.00	51	78	73
85	Buyer I	41.99	65	72	69
86	Consumer Loan Servicing Clerk I	41.24	105	97	15
87	Electronics Assembler I	40.26	103	101	28
88	Technical Writer I	40.23	74	98	1
89	Tax Accountant I	40.13	54	84	73
90	Teller I	39.99	88	108	4
91	Claims Processing Clerk	39.92	104	105	2
92	Computer Numeric Control Machine Programmer I	39.70	89	53	99
93	Automotive Mechanic I	39.45	23	71	100
94	Cost Accountant I	39.42	62	84	73
95	Architectural Drafter I	38.33	101	67	81
96	Electrician I	37.29	96	45	100
97	Tool and Die Maker I	37.20	56	93	96
98	Machinist I	36.79	78	75	98
99	Mechanical Drafter I	36.69	91	77	90
100	Aircraft Painter I	36.64	71	92	79
101	Emergency Dispatcher	34.63	86	66	100
102	Sheetmetal Mechanic I	34.45	106	83	57
103	Carpenter I	34.29	39	79	100
104	Building Inspector	33.00	102	95	61
105	Refinery Operator I	31.82	107	76	61
106	Floor Assembler I	30.93	108	80	61
107	Boilermaker I	30.55	75	74	100
108	Welder I	27.18	63	100	100

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that job, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
artwork 2021s best worst entry level jobs

Ask the Experts

The job market can be a very confusing place for new entrants. For tips that will help young people make the best possible career decisions, we asked the following questions to a panel of career counselors and human-resource experts. You can check out their bios and responses below.

How can job seekers tell from a job description whether that entry-level job is likely to result in a career versus a dead end?
How long should a new graduate stay in an entry-level job before looking for new opportunities?
What advice do you have for young people choosing between an unpaid or low-paying opportunity in their preferred industry versus a job with a higher starting salary?
What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years?
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and current work from home recommendations, what are the best entry-level jobs for long-term job security?

Ask the Experts

: Saba Rasheed Ali
Ph.D. – Associate Dean for Research, Professor and Program Director, Counseling Psychology; Licensed Psychologist; Associate Editor, Journal of Career Assessment, College of Education – University of Iowa
Read More

: Tammy Manko
Director, Career and Professional Development Center, Academic Affairs – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Read More

: Jason Huang
Ph.D. – Associate Professor and Associate Director for Graduate Programs, School of Human Resources and Labor Relations – Michigan State University
Read More

Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst first-timer jobs, WalletHub compared 109 entry-level occupations across three key dimensions: 1) Immediate Opportunity, 2) Growth Potential and 3) Job Hazards.

We evaluated those dimensions using 12 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for entry-level workers.

We then determined each entry-level position’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Immediate Opportunity - Total Points: 40

Average Starting Salary: Full Weight (~13.33 Points)
Number of Job Openings: Full Weight (~13.33 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~13.33 Points)

Growth Potential - Total Points: 40

Occupation Viability Score: Triple Weight (~14.12 Points)
Note: This metric measures the probability of a certain occupation being replaced with a computer.
Projected Job Growth by 2029: Full Weight (~4.71 Points)
Income Growth Potential: Full Weight (~4.71 Points)
Typicality of On-the-Job Training: Full Weight (~4.71 Points)
Median Annual Salary: Full Weight (~4.71 Points)
Work Experience in Related Occupation Needed: Full Weight (~4.71 Points)
Median Tenure with Employer: Half Weight (~2.35 Points)

Job Hazards - Total Points: 20

Fatal Occupational Injuries per 100,000 Employees in Past Three Years: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
Typicality of Working More than 40 Hours per Week: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, Indeed.com and Salary.com.

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