Best Places for Summer Jobs

Adam McCann, Financial WriterMay 25, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
May 25, 2022

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. With states having mostly removed their COVID-19 restrictions, and vaccines and booster doses continuing to be distributed, people can find summer jobs in industries that are returning to full capacity, like dining, entertainment and tourism. Many employers are also desperate to hire, which gives applicants leverage to get better compensation.

But where you look for a summer job will matter almost as much as what you do. 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 22 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 percentage of residents who are vaccinated.

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	60.02	1	16
2	Fort Lauderdale, FL	59.44	2	13
3	Columbia, MD	58.44	7	8
4	Scottsdale, AZ	58.22	3	24
5	Juneau, AK	56.76	5	23
6	Warwick, RI	56.20	4	55
7	Rapid City, SD	55.13	8	52
8	Portland, ME	54.76	23	3
9	Huntington Beach, CA	53.82	9	42
10	Garden Grove, CA	53.73	12	36
11	Miami, FL	53.73	15	20
12	Tampa, FL	53.26	11	60
13	Glendale, CA	52.99	10	67
14	Charleston, WV	52.88	6	124
15	Las Vegas, NV	52.42	20	18
16	St. Petersburg, FL	51.78	16	68
17	Pearl City, HI	51.14	13	94
18	Salt Lake City, UT	50.82	21	45
19	Wilmington, DE	50.39	44	5
20	Seattle, WA	50.31	71	2
21	Irvine, CA	50.25	19	74
22	Madison, WI	50.23	27	53
23	Portland, OR	49.75	64	4
24	Tempe, AZ	49.52	26	72
25	Atlanta, GA	49.47	22	88
26	Hialeah, FL	49.39	17	132
27	Overland Park, KS	49.23	31	43
28	Henderson, NV	49.10	24	96
29	Pittsburgh, PA	48.81	37	33
30	San Francisco, CA	48.80	110	1
31	Sioux Falls, SD	48.76	32	51
32	Denver, CO	48.68	68	7
33	Chandler, AZ	48.56	33	46
34	Pembroke Pines, FL	48.39	18	140
35	Des Moines, IA	48.38	29	80
36	Bismarck, ND	48.14	25	117
37	Raleigh, NC	47.97	34	63
38	Spokane, WA	47.89	42	40
39	Buffalo, NY	47.77	53	32
40	St. Louis, MO	47.77	51	34
41	Austin, TX	47.35	63	25
42	Jacksonville, FL	47.31	39	71
43	Salem, OR	47.22	43	62
44	Dover, DE	47.20	14	180
45	Boise, ID	47.07	50	57
46	Minneapolis, MN	46.95	85	12
47	Charleston, SC	46.81	30	125
48	Cape Coral, FL	46.80	35	101
49	Anaheim, CA	46.71	41	89
50	Glendale, AZ	46.54	48	69
51	Providence, RI	46.46	45	84
52	St. Paul, MN	46.44	69	28
53	Worcester, MA	46.31	54	61
54	Fremont, CA	46.30	73	26
55	South Burlington, VT	46.21	52	78
56	Long Beach, CA	46.14	55	70
57	Los Angeles, CA	45.97	75	29
58	Reno, NV	45.88	80	30
59	Rochester, NY	45.84	94	14
60	Nashville, TN	45.72	46	103
61	Oakland, CA	45.66	111	11
62	Cincinnati, OH	45.62	79	35
63	Cleveland, OH	45.50	61	83
64	Irving, TX	45.41	28	172
65	Port St. Lucie, FL	45.36	36	141
66	Colorado Springs, CO	45.29	78	41
67	West Valley City, UT	45.16	49	113
68	Boston, MA	45.11	95	21
69	Santa Ana, CA	44.98	58	104
70	Mesa, AZ	44.87	60	106
71	Honolulu, HI	44.78	128	6
72	New Orleans, LA	44.60	70	82
73	Durham, NC	44.56	67	105
74	Virginia Beach, VA	44.55	88	50
75	Sacramento, CA	44.42	91	49
76	Albuquerque, NM	44.30	119	17
77	Fargo, ND	44.28	65	111
78	Cedar Rapids, IA	44.20	77	85
79	Knoxville, TN	44.17	62	118
80	Gilbert, AZ	44.14	47	145
81	Tacoma, WA	43.98	113	22
82	Kansas City, MO	43.93	72	99
83	Milwaukee, WI	43.87	81	87
84	Peoria, AZ	43.81	56	139
85	North Las Vegas, NV	43.72	38	174
86	Santa Clarita, CA	43.67	57	137
87	Chattanooga, TN	43.48	66	134
88	Phoenix, AZ	43.35	96	65
89	Indianapolis, IN	43.19	74	116
90	Gulfport, MS	42.99	59	155
91	Grand Rapids, MI	42.96	98	66
92	San Diego, CA	42.91	138	15
93	Santa Rosa, CA	42.81	106	64
94	Aurora, CO	42.81	99	77
95	Little Rock, AR	42.76	84	110
96	Modesto, CA	42.76	83	112
97	Grand Prairie, TX	42.72	40	182
98	Oceanside, CA	42.59	97	91
99	Plano, TX	42.50	93	108
100	Billings, MT	42.45	105	79
101	Tulsa, OK	42.40	82	127
102	Louisville, KY	42.39	108	81
103	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	42.35	102	92
104	Vancouver, WA	42.10	114	75
105	San Antonio, TX	42.04	125	54
106	Oklahoma City, OK	42.03	101	102
107	Nashua, NH	42.02	107	95
108	Omaha, NE	42.01	133	37
109	Washington, DC	41.97	161	9
110	Missoula, MT	41.86	92	120
111	Charlotte, NC	41.82	100	109
112	Huntington, WV	41.75	76	150
113	Richmond, VA	41.74	87	135
114	Yonkers, NY	41.73	135	31
115	Tucson, AZ	41.71	151	19
116	Chesapeake, VA	41.59	89	136
117	Akron, OH	41.06	117	100
118	Chicago, IL	41.05	166	10
119	San Jose, CA	40.81	152	27
120	Las Cruces, NM	40.80	115	119
121	Anchorage, AK	40.74	136	73
122	Bakersfield, CA	40.71	112	128
123	Fort Wayne, IN	40.46	86	163
124	Huntsville, AL	40.34	104	144
125	New York, NY	40.30	153	38
126	Ontario, CA	40.15	116	129
127	Nampa, ID	40.01	90	171
128	Lincoln, NE	39.81	143	90
129	Tallahassee, FL	39.57	103	160
130	Columbus, OH	39.44	148	86
131	Jersey City, NJ	39.26	164	39
132	Greensboro, NC	39.22	109	162
133	Norfolk, VA	39.20	127	133
134	Oxnard, CA	39.16	142	98
135	Chula Vista, CA	39.09	134	121
136	Fort Smith, AR	39.07	120	153
137	Baltimore, MD	39.01	163	44
138	Cheyenne, WY	38.90	140	114
139	Shreveport, LA	38.74	122	157
140	Fontana, CA	38.72	146	107
141	Manchester, NH	38.56	154	93
142	Dallas, TX	38.53	144	115
143	Lewiston, ME	38.44	141	123
144	Winston-Salem, NC	38.43	124	158
145	Wichita, KS	38.42	130	146
146	Newport News, VA	38.35	121	161
147	Riverside, CA	38.21	137	143
148	Detroit, MI	38.18	129	156
149	Houston, TX	38.12	169	58
150	Fresno, CA	38.10	139	138
151	Mobile, AL	38.10	131	147
152	Springfield, MO	38.06	123	164
153	Stockton, CA	37.90	145	130
154	Memphis, TN	37.88	126	166
155	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.52	156	122
156	Augusta, GA	37.52	118	178
157	New Haven, CT	37.02	176	47
158	Fayetteville, NC	37.00	150	148
159	Philadelphia, PA	36.77	177	59
160	Aurora, IL	36.57	160	131
161	Burlington, VT	36.39	174	97
162	Birmingham, AL	36.37	132	177
163	San Bernardino, CA	36.25	147	167
164	Newark, NJ	36.20	181	48
165	Columbia, SC	36.19	149	169
166	Amarillo, TX	36.02	159	149
167	Casper, WY	35.71	158	159
168	Garland, TX	35.65	155	165
169	El Paso, TX	35.34	180	76
170	Moreno Valley, CA	35.28	157	168
171	Toledo, OH	35.19	165	154
172	Corpus Christi, TX	34.83	172	142
173	Jackson, MS	34.32	162	176
174	Laredo, TX	34.27	178	126
175	Brownsville, TX	34.15	173	152
176	Fort Worth, TX	34.05	175	151
177	Arlington, TX	34.03	168	170
178	Montgomery, AL	33.93	167	173
179	Baton Rouge, LA	33.42	170	175
180	Bridgeport, CT	33.15	182	56
181	Columbus, GA	32.59	171	179
182	Lubbock, TX	30.73	179	181

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. New York, NY
179. Laredo, TX
180. Winston-Salem, NC
181. Brownsville, TX
182. Irvine, CA

Unemployment Rate of Population Aged 16 to 24

Lowest Rate

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

Highest Rate

Highest Rate
178. Cleveland, OH
179. Newark, NJ
180. Bridgeport, CT
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. Hialeah, FL
179. Garden Grove, CA
180. Glendale, CA
181. Burlington, VT
182. New York, NY

Availability of Summer Jobs

Highest Availability

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

Lowest Availability

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

Availability of Internships

Highest Availability

Highest Availability
T-1. Glendale, CA
T-1. Pearl City, HI
T-1. Garden Grove, CA
T-1. Grand Prairie, TX
T-1. Dover, DE

Lowest Availability

Lowest Availability
178. Bakersfield, CA
179. Laredo, TX
180. Fayetteville, NC
181. Amarillo, TX
182. Brownsville, TX

% of Population Aged 16 to 24 in Poverty

Lowest %

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

Highest %

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

Rental Prices

Lowest Prices

Lowest Prices
1. Cedar Rapids, IA
2. Fort Wayne, IN
3. Casper, WY
4. Wichita, KS
5. Fargo, ND

Highest Prices

Highest Prices
178. San Francisco, CA
179. Jersey City, NJ
180. San Jose, CA
T-181. New York, NY
T-181. 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/internship during the pandemic?
What types of summer jobs/internships will best equip young people with the skills and experience 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?
Will a faster rollout of the vaccine help the rebound of the labor market, thus of the summer employment?

Ask the Experts

Dave Ulrich
Rensis Likert Professor, Ross School of Business – University of Michigan and a partner at the RBL Group
Read More

Marcus Stewart
Department of Management – Bentley University
Read More

Maura J. Mills
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Department of Management – The University of Alabama
Read More

Christopher Zirkle
Associate Professor, Department of Educational Studies; Program Chair, Department of Educational Studies, College of Education and Human Ecology – Ohio State University
Read More

Claretha Hughes
Professor of Human Resource and Workforce Development – University of Arkansas
Read More

Christian E. Hardigree
J.D. – Dean, School of Hospitality – Metropolitan State University of Denver
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 22 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 2021 and during summer 2020.
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 (~2.08 Points)
Share of Population Aged 16 to 24 in Poverty: Full Weight (~2.08 Points)
Minimum Wage: Full Weight (~2.08 Points)
Note: Data for this metric were available at the state level only.
Rental Price as Share of Median Income: Full Weight (~2.08 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 (~2.08 Points)
Note: This metric measures the percentage of commuters who use public transit.
Commuter-Friendliness of Jobs: Full Weight (~2.08 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 (~2.08 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 (~2.08 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Active-Lifestyle-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.08 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for an Active Lifestyle” ranking.
Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.08 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Singles” ranking.
Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~4.17 Points)

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, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Conference of State Legislatures, Numbeo, Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.

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