Best & Worst Entry-Level Jobs

John S Kiernan, Managing EditorApr 29, 2019

John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
Apr 29, 2019

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. And what many job-market entrants ultimately seek is 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 2019, WalletHub took stock of the first-timer job market by comparing 109 entry-level positions based on 13 key metrics. Our data set ranges from median starting salary to projected job growth by 2026 to median tenure with employer. Check out the complete breakdown of our findings, expert job-hunting advice and a full description of our methodology below.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

Best First Jobs

Overall Rank (1=Best)	Job Type	Total Score	‘Immediate Opportunity’ Rank	‘Growth Potential’ Rank	‘Job Hazards’ Rank
1	Electrical Engineer I	80.07	2	26	23
2	Systems Engineer I	79.96	1	23	35
3	Engineer I	79.82	7	17	35
4	Env., Health, and Safety Engineer I	78.28	12	15	35
5	Hardware Engineer I	77.79	8	37	35
6	Web Applications Developer I	76.92	14	27	17
7	Electronics Engineer I	76.64	17	19	23
8	Industrial Engineer I	74.52	23	23	35
9	Architect I	72.86	13	7	59
10	Operations Research Analyst I	72.64	44	5	13
11	Certified Nursing Assistant - Nursing Home Salaries	72.31	21	49	22
12	Aerospace Engineer I	72.28	33	13	35
13	Database Administrator I	71.82	42	8	14
14	Software Engineer I	71.40	6	12	73
15	Systems Administrator I	70.75	9	11	70
16	Materials Engineer I	69.47	4	22	85
17	Systems Engineering Technician I	69.36	32	41	45
18	Designer I - Web	69.33	45	27	14
19	Mechanical Engineer I	69.03	5	21	92
20	Attorney I	68.20	15	1	94
21	Network Engineer I	67.92	3	47	70
22	Benefits Analyst I	67.60	16	71	19
23	Training Specialist I	67.54	10	44	74
24	Financial Analyst I	67.39	11	40	78
25	Programmer I	65.18	43	62	17
26	Industrial Designer I	65.07	65	39	32
27	Writer I - Web	64.63	84	33	26
28	Interior Designer I	64.61	72	35	32
29	Tax Attorney I	64.20	30	1	94
30	Chemical Technician I	63.59	41	59	41
31	Chemist I	63.53	58	25	55
32	Employment Law Attorney I	63.31	36	1	94
33	Market Research Analyst I	63.07	50	58	19
34	Computer Operator I	62.97	28	80	4
35	Patent Attorney I	62.81	39	1	94
36	Microbiologist I	62.72	101	10	50
37	Chemical Engineer I	62.55	34	9	85
38	Civil Engineer I	62.53	27	14	98
39	Industrial Engineering Technician I	62.38	83	41	45
40	Employee Relations Specialist I	62.27	59	57	19
41	Network Service Representative I	61.75	47	65	14
42	Geophysicist I	60.96	55	53	52
43	Secretary I	60.82	22	105	7
44	Drilling Engineer I	60.74	31	6	102
45	Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant	60.56	56	52	1
46	Environmental Engineering Technician I	60.48	87	50	41
47	Biologist I	60.20	94	46	50
48	Mechanical Engineering Technician I	59.98	67	60	41
49	Buyer I	59.87	18	63	74
50	Credit Analyst I	59.52	38	86	27
51	General Maintenance Worker I	59.40	20	74	61
52	Landscape Architect I	59.31	82	20	59
53	Records Clerk	59.01	40	94	10
54	Environmental Engineer I	58.93	35	18	102
55	New Accounts Representative I	58.21	25	107	10
56	Safety Representative I	57.88	51	55	58
57	Information Security Analyst I	57.86	29	38	102
58	Installation & Maintenance Technician I	56.83	26	67	62
59	Geologist I	56.76	100	53	52
60	Logistics Analyst I	56.72	63	29	74
61	Budget Analyst I	56.45	37	106	27
62	Geotechnical Engineer I	55.69	61	31	85
63	Biomedical Engineer I	55.44	80	16	85
64	Underwriter (Life) I	55.17	69	82	27
65	Mechanical Drafter I	55.10	91	75	45
66	Logistics Clerk	55.05	85	29	74
67	Mine Engineer I	54.88	70	31	85
68	Claims Adjuster I	54.69	71	78	34
69	Electrical Engineering Technician I	54.68	57	85	45
70	Electrician I	54.47	89	34	64
71	Architectural Drafter I	54.42	103	64	41
72	Consumer Credit Analyst I	54.05	78	86	27
73	Accountant I	53.91	19	89	78
74	Environmental Planner I	53.86	48	36	102
75	Civil Engineering Technician I	53.42	86	76	45
76	Teaching Assistant (College)	53.38	96	79	25
77	Network Planning Analyst I	53.35	54	56	70
78	Public Relations Specialist I	52.73	73	45	91
79	Telecommunications Technician I	52.65	53	61	64
80	Safety Technician I	52.49	79	51	63
81	Accounting Clerk I	51.59	75	103	3
82	Plumber I	51.49	98	48	64
83	Benefits Administrator I	50.80	24	97	90
84	Electric/Electronics Technician I	50.44	76	81	56
85	Payroll Clerk	50.41	88	104	8
86	Technical Writer I	50.32	66	93	1
87	Technical Librarian I	49.29	99	88	54
88	Policy Processing Clerk	48.94	104	101	4
89	Computer Numeric Control Machine Programmer I	48.00	95	43	101
90	Consumer Loan Officer I	47.59	81	66	78
91	Financial Reporting Accountant I	47.41	46	89	78
92	Claims Processing Clerk	47.34	106	101	4
93	Teller I	47.31	90	109	8
94	Consumer Loan Servicing Clerk I	47.30	107	99	10
95	Refinery Operator I	45.39	74	84	64
96	Cost Accountant I	45.01	62	89	78
97	Tax Accountant I	44.99	64	89	78
98	Emergency Dispatcher	44.89	93	68	93
99	Electronics Assembler I	44.72	105	108	31
100	Machinist I	44.09	68	77	99
101	Sheetmetal Mechanic I	44.05	109	73	57
102	Building Inspector	40.89	102	95	64
103	Carpenter I	40.87	49	70	102
104	Aircraft Painter I	40.18	92	98	84
105	Tool and Die Maker I	39.49	77	96	100
106	Automotive Mechanic I	39.20	52	72	102
107	Floor Assembler I	38.35	108	83	64
108	Boilermaker I	36.27	97	69	102
109	Welder I	33.51	60	100	102

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?

Ask the Experts

: Denise Dwight Smith
Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Career Services, University of Richmond
Read More

: Sarah L. Park
Director of Office of Career Services, Harvey Mudd College
Read More

: William Jones
Senior Director of University Career Services, Rutgers University – New Brunswick
Read More

: Eugene Durkee
Director, Career & Life Planning – New England College
Read More

: Dona Gaynor
Director of Career Management Services, Florida Institute of Technology
Read More

: Kathy Kassissieh
Interim Director Career Services & Employer Relations, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
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 13 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 (~12.63 Points)
Note: This metric measures the probability of a certain occupation being replaced with a computer.
Projected Job Growth by 2026: Full Weight (~4.21 Points)
Income Growth Potential: Full Weight (~4.21 Points)
Typicality of On-the-Job Training: Full Weight (~4.21 Points)
Median Annual Salary: Full Weight (~4.21 Points)
Work Experience in Related Occupation Needed: Full Weight (~4.21 Points)
Median Tenure with Employer: Half Weight (~2.11 Points)
Occupation Schedule Flexibility: Full Weight (~4.21 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)

Videos for News Use:

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.

Image: Pressmaster / Shutterstock.com

Questions & Answers

Ask your Question

Was this article helpful?

Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content is not provided or commissioned by financial institutions. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and have not been approved or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution, including those that are WalletHub advertising partners. Our content is intended for informational purposes only, and we encourage everyone to respect our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.

Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.