Best Places for Summer Jobs (2026)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterMay 21, 2025

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
May 21, 2025

Summer isn’t just a season for relaxing and planning vacations. For some people, especially young adults, the warmer months are a time to gain extra spending money or work experience. Fortunately, it’s a great time to join the workforce. There’s a labor shortage, and many employers are desperate to hire, which gives applicants leverage to get better compensation.

Where you look for a summer job will matter almost as much as what you do, though. Naturally, opportunities will be more widely available in some places than in others, and while a job may pay well in one city, the same position may not pay as much in another. Minimum-wage laws and local costs, for instance, will determine how much you earn and consequently what you’ll be able to afford in terms of housing, transportation and social activities. More importantly, if you’re supporting yourself, location will dictate how much of your income you’ll be able to save, if that’s your goal.

With summer-job seekers in mind, WalletHub compared the relative strength of more than 180 markets in the U.S. across 21 key indicators of employment outlook, affordability and downtime-friendliness. Our data set ranges from the median income of part-time workers to the availability of summer jobs to the commuter-friendliness of jobs.

“It’s a great time to get a summer job, considering that a lot of places are still having labor shortages and may increase their compensation as a result. In addition to good pay and good work conditions, the best cities for summer jobs also have attractive features like short commute times and fun activities to engage in outside of work.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places to Get a Summer Job

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Youth Job Market Rank	Social Environment & Affordability Rank
1	Scottsdale, AZ	64.87	2	9
2	Columbia, MD	62.26	1	36
3	South Burlington, VT	60.38	3	99
4	Portland, ME	59.92	5	11
5	Rapid City, SD	58.15	6	23
6	Peoria, AZ	57.10	4	102
7	Charleston, WV	54.58	7	46
8	St. Louis, MO	54.08	23	12
9	Chandler, AZ	54.02	8	55
10	Fort Lauderdale, FL	53.43	22	16
11	Pearl City, HI	52.36	12	71
12	Warwick, RI	52.22	18	52
13	Boise, ID	51.87	16	76
14	Glendale, AZ	51.45	13	97
15	Juneau, AK	51.40	17	79
16	Gilbert, AZ	51.30	9	150
17	Mesa, AZ	51.28	20	70
18	Charleston, SC	51.23	11	127
19	Orlando, FL	50.97	43	13
20	Nampa, ID	50.65	10	152
21	Huntington Beach, CA	50.61	27	48
22	Nashua, NH	50.42	14	125
23	Little Rock, AR	50.36	15	123
24	Pittsburgh, PA	50.04	37	39
25	St. Petersburg, FL	49.72	39	41
26	Colorado Springs, CO	49.55	50	28
27	Cincinnati, OH	49.52	52	27
28	Las Vegas, NV	49.48	78	10
29	Sioux Falls, SD	49.43	46	35
30	Lewiston, ME	49.28	24	107
31	Tempe, AZ	49.22	35	51
32	Portland, OR	49.07	94	6
33	Wilmington, DE	49.02	87	8
34	Plano, TX	49.01	21	138
35	Austin, TX	49.00	49	37
36	Richmond, VA	48.94	31	77
37	Phoenix, AZ	48.86	70	20
38	Atlanta, GA	48.78	45	45
39	Virginia Beach, VA	48.75	40	67
40	Chattanooga, TN	48.70	25	128
41	Worcester, MA	48.59	34	84
42	Garden Grove, CA	48.24	44	56
43	Chesapeake, VA	48.19	26	140
44	Tampa, FL	48.12	72	32
45	Madison, WI	48.10	38	88
46	Salem, OR	48.06	58	42
47	Norfolk, VA	47.99	29	108
48	Washington, DC	47.94	134	2
49	Gulfport, MS	47.93	28	129
50	Spokane, WA	47.69	75	31
51	Boston, MA	47.69	81	22
52	Akron, OH	47.36	55	69
53	Pembroke Pines, FL	47.34	33	134
54	Jersey City, NJ	47.34	77	34
55	Salt Lake City, UT	47.23	54	72
56	Glendale, CA	47.19	48	86
57	Denver, CO	47.15	118	7
57	Overland Park, KS	47.15	50	81
59	Bismarck, ND	47.03	41	117
60	Fargo, ND	46.91	30	149
61	Miami, FL	46.83	84	38
62	Henderson, NV	46.83	69	57
63	Burlington, VT	46.81	32	145
64	Louisville, KY	46.79	53	90
65	Kansas City, MO	46.72	74	53
66	Cheyenne, WY	46.51	56	89
67	Springfield, MO	46.38	65	78
68	Tucson, AZ	46.35	110	14
69	Fort Smith, AR	46.27	57	94
70	Tulsa, OK	46.13	60	95
71	Grand Prairie, TX	46.10	19	182
72	San Antonio, TX	46.06	67	83
73	Huntsville, AL	46.05	47	122
74	Cape Coral, FL	45.95	86	47
75	Billings, MT	45.88	89	49
76	Minneapolis, MN	45.87	114	19
77	Cleveland, OH	45.81	88	54
78	Omaha, NE	45.73	108	26
79	Tacoma, WA	45.58	105	25
80	Newport News, VA	45.57	42	155
81	Grand Rapids, MI	45.49	82	68
82	Anchorage, AK	45.15	93	64
83	Missoula, MT	45.12	62	119
84	Nashville, TN	45.00	71	111
85	Raleigh, NC	44.97	79	93
86	Casper, WY	44.85	66	121
87	St. Paul, MN	44.80	106	44
88	Modesto, CA	44.80	100	59
89	Honolulu, HI	44.73	161	5
90	Manchester, NH	44.65	63	132
91	Albuquerque, NM	44.58	112	40
91	Knoxville, TN	44.58	61	142
93	San Francisco, CA	44.45	175	1
94	Oakland, CA	44.41	148	15
95	Oklahoma City, OK	44.31	76	113
96	Sacramento, CA	44.21	132	33
97	Reno, NV	44.18	140	29
98	Newark, NJ	44.10	109	50
99	Providence, RI	44.07	99	80
100	Seattle, WA	44.06	169	3
101	Fremont, CA	44.00	91	98
102	Huntington, WV	43.91	64	156
103	Columbus, OH	43.87	103	73
104	Lincoln, NE	43.85	131	43
105	Durham, NC	43.84	59	164
106	Long Beach, CA	43.71	113	63
107	Indianapolis, IN	43.56	96	103
108	Irving, TX	43.53	36	181
109	Rochester, NY	43.43	154	17
110	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	43.35	95	110
111	Buffalo, NY	43.17	156	24
112	Birmingham, AL	43.11	68	169
113	Houston, TX	42.94	129	61
114	Lexington-Fayette, KY	42.93	80	154
115	Santa Rosa, CA	42.75	128	65
116	Milwaukee, WI	42.72	133	66
117	Bakersfield, CA	42.66	117	82
118	Dover, DE	42.62	85	161
119	Amarillo, TX	42.62	97	136
120	Vancouver, WA	42.41	126	74
121	Yonkers, NY	42.36	135	60
122	Mobile, AL	42.35	102	124
123	Jacksonville, FL	42.35	138	62
124	Columbia, SC	41.82	98	160
125	Chicago, IL	41.71	180	4
126	Irvine, CA	41.56	119	112
127	Garland, TX	41.53	73	178
128	Baltimore, MD	41.52	149	75
129	Toledo, OH	41.49	130	101
130	Los Angeles, CA	41.43	167	18
131	Oceanside, CA	41.29	122	109
132	New Haven, CT	41.18	111	146
133	Dallas, TX	41.14	123	118
134	Santa Ana, CA	41.12	147	87
135	Des Moines, IA	41.05	139	92
136	Ontario, CA	40.94	121	131
137	Anaheim, CA	40.83	120	139
138	Wichita, KS	40.76	137	105
139	Augusta, GA	40.73	107	165
140	Hialeah, FL	40.66	83	179
141	Arlington, TX	40.61	92	175
142	Las Cruces, NM	40.50	127	137
143	Brownsville, TX	40.46	90	176
144	San Diego, CA	40.43	177	21
145	Montgomery, AL	40.34	104	170
146	Stockton, CA	40.23	155	100
147	Charlotte, NC	40.22	144	120
148	Corpus Christi, TX	40.16	115	162
149	Fort Worth, TX	40.08	125	153
150	Cedar Rapids, IA	40.05	157	96
151	West Valley City, UT	39.99	116	166
152	Santa Clarita, CA	39.94	151	116
153	North Las Vegas, NV	39.72	136	151
154	Aurora, CO	39.58	142	144
155	Philadelphia, PA	39.47	166	58
156	Columbus, GA	39.47	124	168
157	El Paso, TX	39.28	150	143
158	Lubbock, TX	39.16	101	180
159	Fort Wayne, IN	39.15	141	157
160	Tallahassee, FL	39.11	143	159
161	New Orleans, LA	39.02	164	85
162	Port St. Lucie, FL	38.60	160	126
163	Aurora, IL	38.56	159	130
164	San Bernardino, CA	38.54	158	147
165	Fayetteville, NC	38.15	153	167
166	Bridgeport, CT	37.61	162	133
167	Jackson, MS	37.57	146	173
168	Greensboro, NC	37.46	145	174
169	Detroit, MI	37.44	170	106
170	Riverside, CA	37.27	163	148
171	Fontana, CA	37.06	173	104
172	Oxnard, CA	37.02	172	115
173	New York, NY	36.81	182	30
174	Fresno, CA	36.70	176	114
175	Laredo, TX	36.68	152	177
176	Shreveport, LA	36.52	171	141
177	Chula Vista, CA	36.41	174	135
178	San Jose, CA	36.05	179	91
179	Moreno Valley, CA	35.93	168	158
180	Winston-Salem, NC	35.44	165	171
181	Baton Rouge, LA	34.17	178	172
182	Memphis, TN	32.81	181	163

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric.

Labor-Force Participation Rate of People 16-24 Years Old

Highest Rate

Highest Rate
1. South Burlington, VT
2. Fargo, ND
3. Missoula, MT
4. Sioux Falls, SD
5. Manchester, NH

Lowest Rate

Lowest Rate
178. New York, NY
179. New Orleans, LA
180. Brownsville, TX
181. Fremont, CA
182. Irvine, CA

Unemployment Rate of People 16-24 Years Old

Lowest Rate

Lowest Rate
1. Sioux Falls, SD
2. Madison, WI
3. South Burlington, VT
4. Knoxville, TN
5. Amarillo, TX

Highest Rate

Highest Rate
178. Newark, NJ
T-179. Yonkers, NY
T-179. Chula Vista, CA
T-179. Shreveport, LA
T-179. Detroit, MI

Median Income of Part-Time Workers (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Highest Income

Highest Income
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. Henderson, NV
T-1. Overland Park, KS
T-1. Bismarck, ND
T-1. South Burlington, VT
T-1. Cheyenne, WY

Lowest Income

Lowest Income
178. New York, NY
179. Hialeah, FL
180. Garden Grove, CA
181. Glendale, CA
182. Burlington, VT

Availability of Summer Jobs per Capita

Highest Availability

Highest Availability
1. Charleston, WV
2. Miami, FL
3. Juneau, AK
4. Fort Lauderdale, FL
5. Wilmington, DE

Lowest Availability

Lowest Availability
178. Moreno Valley, CA
179. West Valley City, UT
180. North Las Vegas, NV
181. Fontana, CA
182. New York, NY

Availability of Internships per Capita

Highest Availability

Highest Availability
T-1. Jersey City, NJ
T-1. Fremont, CA
T-1. Yonkers, NY
T-1. Glendale, CA
T-1. Garden Grove, CA
T-1. Columbia, MD

Lowest Availability

Lowest Availability
178. Springfield, MO
179. Reno, NV
180. Billings, MT
181. El Paso, TX
182. Las Cruces, NM

% of People 16-24 Years Old in Poverty

Lowest %

Lowest %
1. Pearl City, HI
2. Warwick, RI
3. Nashua, NH
4. Fremont, CA
5. Gilbert, AZ

Highest %

Highest %
178. Baton Rouge, LA
179. Madison, WI
180. Tallahassee, FL
181. Columbia, SC
182. Burlington, VT

Apartment Rental Prices

Lowest Prices

Lowest Prices
1. Cedar Rapids, IA
2. Cheyenne, WY
3. Wichita, KS
4. Bismarck, ND
5. Fargo, ND

Highest Prices

Highest Prices
T-178. New York, NY
T-178. San Jose, CA
T-178. Hialeah, FL
T-178. Miami, FL
T-178. Boston, MA

In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for Summer Jobs

Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale, AZ, is the best city for summer jobs, and it has the highest median income for part-time workers, over $33,000 per year, which means that summer employment should make people a decent chunk of cash.

Scottsdale also has a good employment outlook, with 28% more employers expecting to add employees than cut jobs. Therefore, it should be fairly easy to find a job.

To top things off, Scottsdale has the 11th-most internship opportunities per capita and seventh-most part-time job openings per capita.

Columbia, MD

Columbia, MD, is the second-best city for summer jobs, boasting one of the most internships per capita. In addition, Columbia ranks at the top of the country when it comes to the number of jobs per capita that residents can get to within a 30-minute commute.

The pay for summer jobs in Columbia is good, too. The city has one of the highest median incomes for part-time workers, over $29,000 per year. In addition, Columbia has a low poverty rate, at just 12.6%.

Finally, Columbia has more part-time jobs openings per capita than most other cities.

South Burlington, VT

South Burlington, VT, is the third-best city for summer employment, and it has the 16th-biggest “summer employment bump” in the country, which means that there are significantly more jobs available during the summer compared to other times of the year.

In addition, South Burlington has the fourth-most part-time jobs openings per capita, and ranks among the top cities for the number of jobs per capita that residents can access within a 30-minute commute.

Furthermore, South Burlington stands out with the highest percentage of part-time workers receiving health insurance coverage and has the seventh-highest median annual income for part-time workers, over $26,000.

Ask the Experts

As with searching for permanent employment, finding part-time, seasonal or temporary work can be challenging. For advice on overcoming those obstacles, we asked a panel of experts to answer the following key questions:

What tips do you have for a young person searching for a summer job/internship?
What types of summer jobs/internships will best equip young people with the skills and experiences they need to secure a full-time career after graduation?
What are the most common mistakes young people make when taking a summer job/internship?
In evaluating the best cities for summer jobs, what are the top five indicators?
What are some predictions for 2025’s summer employment?

Ask the Experts

Elizabeth Lintelman
Director of Career Services - Rasmussen University - Central Services
Read More

Jenna Crabb
Ph.D., LPCC, NCC, Executive Director for Student Resources, Acting Director for Career Services, Division of Student Affairs - The University of New Mexico
Read More

Dana C. Romano
M.Ed., Director of Career and Industry Engagement, Experiential Learning and Professional Engagement (ELPE), Swanson School of Engineering - University of Pittsburgh
Read More

Brandon Street
Director, Career & Professional Development – Southern Utah University
Read More

Lily Corley
Assistant Director, Career Development – Lipscomb University
Read More

Ron Culp
Consultant & Professional in Residence, Public Relations and Advertising, College of Communication – DePaul University
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for summer jobs, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Youth Job Market” and “Social Environment & Affordability.” Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the two dimensions using 21 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 individuals seeking summer work.

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

Youth Job Market – Total Points: 75

Availability of Summer Jobs: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of part-time and temporary jobs per total civilian population aged 16 to 24 in the labor force.
Availability of Internships: Double Weight (~10.71 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of internship listings per total civilian population aged 16 to 24 in the labor force.
Summer Employment Growth: Double Weight (~10.71 Points)
Note: This metric measures the change in employment during summer 2024 and during summer 2023.
Summer Employment Bump: Double Weight (~10.71 Points)
Note: This metric measures the difference in employment during summer versus year-round. A higher difference favors summer employment.
Labor-Force Participation Rate of Population Aged 16 to 24: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Unemployment Rate of Population Aged 16 to 24: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Net Employment Outlook: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of employers who expect to add employees minus the percentage who expect to have fewer, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
Ratio of Part-Time Workers to Full-Time Workers: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of part-time employees per 100 full-time employees.
Median Income of Part-Time Workers: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
Share of Insured Part-Time Workers: Full Weight (~5.36 Points)
Note: “Insured” refers to those with health-insurance coverage.

Social Environment & Affordability – Total Points: 25

Share of Population Aged 16 to 24: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Share of Population Aged 16 to 24 in Poverty: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Minimum Wage: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: Data for this metric were available at the state level only.
Rental Price as Share of Median Income: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the rental price for a one-bedroom property as a share of the median income of part-time workers.
Access to Public Transportation: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of commuters who use public transit.
Commuter-Friendliness of Jobs: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of jobs accessible by a 30-minute transit ride per total civilian employed population.
Annual Costs of Public Transportation Pass for Part-Time Workers: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures annual costs of public transportation pass as a share of the median income of part-time workers.
Fun-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Active-Lifestyle-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle” ranking.
Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Singles” ranking.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of April 23, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, ManpowerGroup, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Council for Community and Economic Research, Indeed.com, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Conference of State Legislatures, Numbeo, Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.

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