2023’s Best Places for Summer Jobs

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterMay 24, 2023

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
May 24, 2023

Summer isn’t just a season of 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.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Places to Get a Summer Job

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Youth Job Market	Social Environment & Affordability
1	Orlando, FL	61.28	3	16
2	Scottsdale, AZ	61.20	4	12
3	Juneau, AK	61.02	2	47
4	Warwick, RI	60.38	1	98
5	Rapid City, SD	57.59	5	40
6	Columbia, MD	57.49	6	22
7	Portland, ME	56.70	11	5
8	Pearl City, HI	55.38	9	33
9	Fort Lauderdale, FL	54.29	14	14
10	Minneapolis, MN	54.01	16	13
11	South Burlington, VT	53.64	8	95
12	Wilmington, DE	53.08	24	7
13	Providence, RI	52.99	10	69
14	Billings, MT	52.54	15	45
15	San Francisco, CA	51.57	72	1
16	St. Paul, MN	51.25	18	55
17	Seattle, WA	51.07	66	2
18	Denver, CO	51.06	38	8
19	Las Vegas, NV	50.97	37	10
20	St. Louis, MO	50.92	31	18
21	Salt Lake City, UT	50.79	17	76
22	Richmond, VA	50.43	22	46
23	Dover, DE	50.42	7	174
24	Bismarck, ND	50.09	12	138
25	Charleston, SC	50.03	13	126
26	Tempe, AZ	49.83	25	49
27	Huntington Beach, CA	49.76	30	32
28	Garden Grove, CA	49.75	32	24
29	Charleston, WV	49.29	23	70
30	Missoula, MT	49.18	20	116
31	Boise, ID	49.15	28	65
32	Burlington, VT	48.98	19	119
33	Tampa, FL	48.92	33	42
34	Portland, OR	48.60	84	9
35	Cedar Rapids, IA	48.45	27	89
36	Austin, TX	48.41	43	37
37	Atlanta, GA	48.16	36	52
38	Cincinnati, OH	48.00	62	23
39	Jersey City, NJ	47.90	57	31
40	Sioux Falls, SD	47.89	47	39
41	St. Petersburg, FL	47.86	45	48
42	Pittsburgh, PA	47.69	56	36
43	Louisville, KY	47.55	34	75
44	Nampa, ID	47.45	21	156
45	Fargo, ND	47.24	29	118
46	Virginia Beach, VA	47.04	51	58
47	Buffalo, NY	46.97	81	25
48	Chandler, AZ	46.94	59	44
49	Lewiston, ME	46.91	26	135
50	Grand Rapids, MI	46.91	53	54
51	Honolulu, HI	46.86	134	3
52	Miami, FL	46.83	67	43
53	Rochester, NY	46.82	92	15
54	Henderson, NV	46.72	40	87
55	Overland Park, KS	46.72	44	74
56	Colorado Springs, CO	46.66	86	26
57	Nashua, NH	46.64	35	107
58	Madison, WI	46.56	39	94
59	Cape Coral, FL	46.20	54	71
60	Omaha, NE	46.17	82	38
61	Glendale, CA	46.15	46	97
62	Oakland, CA	46.10	108	19
63	Des Moines, IA	46.07	48	91
64	Cleveland, OH	45.99	55	83
65	San Diego, CA	45.89	115	17
66	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	45.65	49	102
67	Bakersfield, CA	45.55	65	77
68	Little Rock, AR	45.18	60	99
69	Albuquerque, NM	45.04	105	34
70	Sacramento, CA	45.04	101	35
71	Chicago, IL	45.00	159	4
72	Akron, OH	44.96	61	106
73	Chesapeake, VA	44.90	42	139
74	Aurora, CO	44.85	63	105
75	Mesa, AZ	44.68	89	67
76	Glendale, AZ	44.65	79	84
77	Yonkers, NY	44.65	96	53
78	Columbus, OH	44.51	90	73
79	Boston, MA	44.46	137	20
80	Plano, TX	44.32	70	111
81	Irvine, CA	44.23	83	93
82	Raleigh, NC	44.05	72	115
83	Tacoma, WA	43.93	149	11
84	Fremont, CA	43.92	111	60
85	Newark, NJ	43.78	93	90
86	Santa Rosa, CA	43.62	98	82
87	Spokane, WA	43.51	136	30
88	Anaheim, CA	43.43	102	80
89	Oceanside, CA	43.41	87	114
90	Modesto, CA	43.39	116	64
91	Reno, NV	43.32	150	28
92	Anchorage, AK	43.28	118	68
93	Durham, NC	43.27	64	146
94	Tulsa, OK	43.26	97	100
95	West Valley City, UT	43.21	76	132
96	Phoenix, AZ	43.20	145	29
97	Jacksonville, FL	43.16	127	51
98	Knoxville, TN	43.15	71	141
99	Toledo, OH	43.14	68	145
100	Vancouver, WA	43.12	109	79
101	Baltimore, MD	43.10	123	61
102	Fort Wayne, IN	43.05	41	171
103	Cheyenne, WY	43.01	110	88
104	Lincoln, NE	42.95	132	57
105	Manchester, NH	42.95	106	92
106	Gilbert, AZ	42.92	85	127
107	Birmingham, AL	42.86	58	160
108	New Haven, CT	42.83	78	142
109	Lexington-Fayette, KY	42.80	74	143
110	Peoria, AZ	42.79	88	128
111	Charlotte, NC	42.62	95	122
112	Huntington, WV	42.57	77	149
113	Las Cruces, NM	42.51	121	85
114	San Jose, CA	42.47	133	62
115	Norfolk, VA	42.43	80	144
116	Ontario, CA	42.28	114	101
117	Santa Ana, CA	42.25	124	81
118	Indianapolis, IN	42.20	100	123
119	Irving, TX	42.20	50	173
120	Nashville, TN	42.07	94	134
121	North Las Vegas, NV	41.93	75	163
122	Huntsville, AL	41.88	69	166
123	Milwaukee, WI	41.85	122	104
124	Kansas City, MO	41.83	139	66
125	Wichita, KS	41.79	120	109
126	Washington, DC	41.75	176	6
127	Worcester, MA	41.70	128	86
128	Mobile, AL	41.62	103	129
129	Philadelphia, PA	41.57	153	59
130	Riverside, CA	41.39	126	103
131	New Orleans, LA	41.36	143	78
132	Grand Prairie, TX	41.33	52	181
133	Tucson, AZ	41.27	169	21
134	Aurora, IL	41.25	99	152
135	Hialeah, FL	41.24	91	159
136	Bridgeport, CT	41.03	117	133
137	San Antonio, TX	41.02	152	72
138	San Bernardino, CA	40.91	119	130
139	Fontana, CA	40.77	140	96
140	Salem, OR	40.75	161	50
141	Fort Smith, AR	40.72	135	112
142	Newport News, VA	40.53	113	153
143	Pembroke Pines, FL	40.52	112	155
144	Los Angeles, CA	40.44	172	27
145	Chattanooga, TN	40.23	107	161
146	Chula Vista, CA	40.14	125	140
147	Oklahoma City, OK	40.08	141	120
148	Fresno, CA	40.03	142	121
149	Houston, TX	39.93	165	63
150	New York, NY	39.67	174	41
151	Stockton, CA	39.64	154	108
152	Port St. Lucie, FL	39.49	146	125
153	Montgomery, AL	39.43	104	172
154	Shreveport, LA	39.16	138	151
155	Casper, WY	39.01	130	158
156	Dallas, TX	39.01	155	124
157	Gulfport, MS	38.94	144	147
158	Long Beach, CA	38.92	175	56
159	Detroit, MI	38.60	156	131
160	Moreno Valley, CA	38.43	148	150
161	Springfield, MO	38.30	158	137
162	Fort Worth, TX	38.08	151	157
163	Tallahassee, FL	38.02	157	148
164	Brownsville, TX	37.77	131	175
165	Fayetteville, NC	37.66	147	164
166	Greensboro, NC	37.65	129	176
167	Oxnard, CA	37.11	171	113
168	Amarillo, TX	36.98	173	117
169	Columbia, SC	36.87	160	162
170	Santa Clarita, CA	36.67	167	136
171	Corpus Christi, TX	35.32	166	168
172	El Paso, TX	35.06	180	110
173	Arlington, TX	34.89	164	179
174	Garland, TX	34.86	163	178
175	Lubbock, TX	34.53	162	180
176	Winston-Salem, NC	34.16	168	177
177	Augusta, GA	33.71	178	154
178	Baton Rouge, LA	32.67	177	169
179	Memphis, TN	32.56	179	165
180	Columbus, GA	32.03	181	170
181	Laredo, TX	31.78	170	182
182	Jackson, MS	30.90	182	167

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

Labor-Force Participation Rate of Population Aged 16 to 24

Highest Rate

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

Lowest Rate

Lowest Rate
178. Winston-Salem, NC
179. Laredo, TX
180. New Orleans, LA
181. Brownsville, TX
182. Irvine, CA

Unemployment Rate of Population Aged 16 to 24

Lowest Rate

Lowest Rate
1. Madison, WI
2. Sioux Falls, SD
3. Salt Lake City, UT
4. Burlington, VT
5. Pearl City, HI

Highest Rate

Highest Rate
178. Newark, NJ
179. Cleveland, OH
180. Jackson, MS
T-181. Chula Vista, CA
T-181. Detroit, MI

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

Highest Income

Highest Income
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. Overland Park, KS
3. Henderson, NV
4. Cheyenne, WY
5. Virginia Beach, VA

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

Highest Availability

Highest Availability
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. St. Louis, MO
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Fort Lauderdale, FL
T-1. Wilmington, DE

Lowest Availability

Lowest Availability
178. West Valley City, UT
179. Laredo, TX
180. Moreno Valley, CA
181. Santa Clarita, CA
182. Fontana, CA

Availability of Internships

Highest Availability

Highest Availability
T-1. Glendale, CA
T-1. Pearl City, HI
T-1. Dover, DE
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
5. Wilmington, DE

Lowest Availability

Lowest Availability
178. Fayetteville, NC
179. El Paso, TX
180. Amarillo, TX
181. Lubbock, TX
182. Brownsville, TX

% of Population Aged 16 to 24 in Poverty

Lowest %

Lowest %
1. Fremont, CA
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Pearl City, HI
4. Warwick, RI
5. Gilbert, AZ

Highest %

Highest %
178. Columbia, SC
179. Tallahassee, FL
180. Huntington, WV
181. Madison, WI
182. Burlington, VT

Rental Prices

Lowest Prices

Lowest Prices
1. Cedar Rapids, IA
2. Cheyenne, WY
3. Bismarck, ND
4. Casper, WY
5. Fort Smith, AR

Highest Prices

Highest Prices
T-177. Miami, FL
T-177. Hialeah, FL
T-179. New York, NY
T-179. San Jose, CA
T-179. San Francisco, CA
T-179. Boston, MA

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 or internship?
What types of summer jobs or 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 or internship?
In evaluating the best cities for summer jobs, what are the top five indicators?
What are some predictions for 2023’s summer employment?

Ask the Experts

Paul J. Antonellis
Ed.D. – Director of Institutional Planning & Assessment (IPA) -- Office of the Provost; Chair -- Institutional Assessment Committee – Endicott College
Read More

e. christi cunningham
Professor at the Howard University School of Law and Director of the Education Rights Center
Read More

Barry Goldman
Associate Professor of Management and Organizations and McClelland Fellow, Eller College of Management – University of Arizona
Read More

Jose F. Rodriguez
Ph.D. – Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, Associate Teaching Professor and Director, Master of Organizational Sciences Program – Florida International University
Read More

Paul Harrington
Economist at Rhode Island College in Providence
Read More

Linda Fisher Thornton
Adjunct Professor – University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies
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 2022 and during summer 2021.
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 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, ManpowerGroup, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Council for Community and Economic Research, Indeed.com, Internships.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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