Best & Worst Places to Start a Career

John S Kiernan, Managing EditorMay 16, 2022

John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
May 16, 2022

Deciding where to lay the foundation for a long and prosperous career can be a tall order, especially for recent graduates entering the job market for the first time. After all, there are many factors — job-market saturation, housing affordability and commuter-friendliness, for instance — to consider about each prospective area.

Fortunately, new graduates are entering the market at a good time, as the unemployment rate for people ages 20 through 24 is currently 6.9%. The job market has made a huge recovery from the damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic, and employers plan to hire 31.6% more graduates from the Class of 2022 than they did from the Class of 2021.

In order to help new graduates start their search for a career, WalletHub compared the relative market strength and overall livability of more than 180 U.S. cities to help recent college graduates find the best cradles for their budding careers. We examined each city based on 27 key metrics that range from the availability of entry-level jobs to monthly average starting salary to housing affordability.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Cities to Start a Career

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Professional Opportunities	Quality of Life
1	Salt Lake City, UT	65.12	4	5
2	Orlando, FL	63.69	3	14
3	Atlanta, GA	63.17	2	18
4	Austin, TX	62.58	8	3
5	Seattle, WA	61.38	12	2
6	Boise, ID	60.97	7	17
7	Miami, FL	60.81	1	73
8	Tampa, FL	60.74	5	44
9	Portland, ME	60.63	10	7
10	Columbia, SC	59.93	6	33
11	Minneapolis, MN	58.33	31	4
12	Pittsburgh, PA	57.95	23	12
13	Charleston, SC	57.50	11	22
14	Tempe, AZ	57.24	48	6
15	Raleigh, NC	57.24	29	8
16	Madison, WI	57.03	61	1
17	Boston, MA	57.01	14	24
18	Durham, NC	57.00	13	25
19	St. Louis, MO	56.35	9	70
20	Scottsdale, AZ	56.02	18	29
21	Reno, NV	55.48	16	45
22	San Francisco, CA	55.36	50	11
23	Overland Park, KS	55.26	35	19
24	Denver, CO	55.07	58	9
25	Cincinnati, OH	54.32	36	28
26	Knoxville, TN	54.29	24	52
27	Portland, OR	54.03	62	15
28	Charlotte, NC	53.95	26	49
29	Wilmington, DE	53.74	21	59
30	Washington, DC	53.44	65	16
31	St. Petersburg, FL	53.37	22	71
32	San Jose, CA	53.36	39	46
33	Grand Rapids, MI	53.35	44	37
34	Tacoma, WA	53.15	20	75
35	Sacramento, CA	52.89	41	53
36	Omaha, NE	52.83	52	27
37	Chandler, AZ	52.69	45	42
38	Nashville, TN	52.14	51	41
39	Chattanooga, TN	52.02	15	113
40	Providence, RI	52.01	28	84
41	Richmond, VA	51.95	27	88
42	Fort Lauderdale, FL	51.80	42	65
43	Dallas, TX	51.71	40	79
44	Spokane, WA	51.69	43	68
45	Des Moines, IA	51.56	55	50
46	Huntsville, AL	51.38	33	81
47	Jacksonville, FL	51.37	37	92
48	Rapid City, SD	51.32	46	58
49	South Burlington, VT	51.27	67	38
50	Colorado Springs, CO	51.09	63	48
51	Rochester, NY	50.98	68	40
52	Manchester, NH	50.94	30	90
53	Gilbert, AZ	50.87	49	72
54	Fargo, ND	50.59	96	20
55	Sioux Falls, SD	50.43	75	35
56	Burlington, VT	50.33	129	10
57	Fort Worth, TX	50.31	47	91
58	West Valley City, UT	50.18	53	77
59	Irving, TX	50.10	54	82
60	Nampa, ID	49.91	25	136
61	Columbus, OH	49.90	87	26
62	Kansas City, MO	49.78	56	89
63	Charleston, WV	49.67	19	146
64	Phoenix, AZ	49.53	57	94
65	Dover, DE	49.45	17	157
66	Plano, TX	49.26	88	39
67	Cheyenne, WY	49.20	60	87
68	Columbia, MD	49.16	143	13
69	San Diego, CA	49.00	98	30
70	Tucson, AZ	48.91	86	51
71	Oakland, CA	48.83	69	78
72	Lincoln, NE	48.66	115	23
73	Mesa, AZ	48.53	59	105
74	Birmingham, AL	48.36	38	159
75	Laredo, TX	48.33	74	74
76	Oklahoma City, OK	47.96	91	61
77	St. Paul, MN	47.89	112	31
78	Glendale, AZ	47.81	64	110
79	San Antonio, TX	47.74	92	64
80	Louisville, KY	47.48	76	98
81	Virginia Beach, VA	47.42	106	47
82	Tulsa, OK	47.38	72	101
83	Newport News, VA	47.32	34	168
84	Tallahassee, FL	47.29	126	32
85	Cedar Rapids, IA	47.10	97	67
86	Irvine, CA	47.04	125	34
87	Nashua, NH	46.97	82	93
88	Indianapolis, IN	46.96	73	115
89	Fort Smith, AR	46.81	32	169
90	Arlington, TX	46.70	78	108
91	Aurora, CO	46.60	80	107
92	Las Vegas, NV	46.43	103	69
93	Worcester, MA	46.41	89	96
94	Missoula, MT	46.39	158	21
95	Houston, TX	46.15	109	62
96	Albuquerque, NM	46.08	116	56
97	Jersey City, NJ	45.86	134	43
98	Peoria, AZ	45.85	70	135
99	Vancouver, WA	45.84	84	111
100	Buffalo, NY	45.82	119	60
101	Fremont, CA	45.66	122	55
102	Lexington-Fayette, KY	45.45	151	36
103	Springfield, MO	45.41	85	116
104	Norfolk, VA	45.11	118	83
105	Huntington, WV	44.92	81	134
106	Lewiston, ME	44.85	79	140
107	Bismarck, ND	44.68	107	97
108	Chicago, IL	44.64	137	63
109	Greensboro, NC	44.54	99	119
110	Modesto, CA	44.28	71	165
111	Billings, MT	44.26	128	86
112	Akron, OH	44.20	94	133
113	New Haven, CT	43.96	141	80
114	Lubbock, TX	43.91	117	106
115	Cleveland, OH	43.83	105	121
116	Winston-Salem, NC	43.74	95	150
117	Fort Wayne, IN	43.72	90	155
118	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	43.71	121	102
119	Augusta, GA	43.53	77	171
120	Salem, OR	43.47	123	103
121	Honolulu, HI	43.34	154	66
122	El Paso, TX	43.32	146	85
123	Port St. Lucie, FL	43.29	66	176
124	Little Rock, AR	43.26	100	143
125	Baltimore, MD	43.23	114	127
126	Riverside, CA	43.21	110	130
127	Garland, TX	42.93	101	156
128	Warwick, RI	42.81	138	104
129	Oceanside, CA	42.79	104	144
130	Mobile, AL	42.66	83	172
131	Milwaukee, WI	42.49	145	99
132	Chesapeake, VA	42.39	127	122
133	New Orleans, LA	42.22	139	117
134	Santa Rosa, CA	41.90	130	128
135	Wichita, KS	41.79	140	126
136	Aurora, IL	41.79	135	124
137	Philadelphia, PA	41.70	144	120
138	Hialeah, FL	41.65	93	180
139	Ontario, CA	41.61	113	160
140	Baton Rouge, LA	41.24	152	114
141	Fresno, CA	41.20	132	149
142	Los Angeles, CA	41.20	155	109
143	Amarillo, TX	41.13	131	142
144	Stockton, CA	41.07	102	179
145	Grand Prairie, TX	41.01	124	158
146	Jackson, MS	40.98	108	173
147	Brownsville, TX	40.81	142	139
148	San Bernardino, CA	40.76	120	170
149	Santa Ana, CA	40.60	147	141
150	Memphis, TN	40.57	133	163
151	Fontana, CA	40.16	148	145
152	Chula Vista, CA	40.05	149	152
153	Las Cruces, NM	39.93	175	76
154	Columbus, GA	39.68	111	178
155	Huntington Beach, CA	39.38	168	95
156	Bakersfield, CA	39.25	160	132
157	Gulfport, MS	39.17	150	161
158	Montgomery, AL	39.09	136	174
159	Fayetteville, NC	38.89	162	118
160	Toledo, OH	38.62	156	167
161	Bridgeport, CT	38.59	161	148
162	Oxnard, CA	38.50	157	164
163	Henderson, NV	38.47	167	112
164	Garden Grove, CA	38.42	176	100
165	Cape Coral, FL	38.35	159	153
166	Corpus Christi, TX	38.04	163	137
167	Yonkers, NY	37.91	169	123
168	Anaheim, CA	37.77	166	129
169	Moreno Valley, CA	37.53	153	177
169	Glendale, CA	37.53	174	125
171	Pearl City, HI	37.45	173	131
172	Juneau, AK	37.40	182	54
173	Anchorage, AK	37.36	181	57
174	Long Beach, CA	37.24	172	138
175	Pembroke Pines, FL	37.08	165	154
176	Newark, NJ	36.08	170	166
177	Casper, WY	36.07	171	162
178	Detroit, MI	35.09	164	181
179	Santa Clarita, CA	34.42	178	151
180	New York, NY	34.32	180	147
181	Shreveport, LA	33.21	177	182
182	North Las Vegas, NV	32.90	179	175

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.

"[edu-info-metric

Ask The Experts

Choosing a career path can be just as challenging as finding a place in which to settle down. To help job seekers with such decisions, we turned to a panel of experts for their thoughts on the following key questions:

What can city policymakers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates?
Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career?
What is the biggest career mistake that young people make?
In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top 5 indicators?
How has the pandemic affected the entry-level job market?

[expert_gallery link="file" columns="3" ids="105662,105663,105664,105665,105666,105667,105668"]

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities in which to launch a career, 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, “Professional Opportunities” and “Quality of Life.” Our sample considers only city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the two dimensions using 27 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 job-market entrants.

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.

Professional Opportunities – Total Points: 70

Availability of Entry-Level Jobs: Double Weight (~9.66 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of entry-level jobs per 100,000 residents aged 16 and older.
4+ Star Company Jobs per Total People in Labor Force: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of full time job opportunities at companies with 4+ stars on Glassdoor.com per the total number of people in the labor force.
Monthly Average Starting Salary: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
Annual Job Growth Rate: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for population growth.
Median-Income Growth Rate: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Share of Workers in Poverty: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Workforce Diversity: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Employer-Based Retirement Access & Participation: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Note: It’s important for employees to have access to an employer-based retirement plan.
Workers in the United States accumulate the vast majority of their retirement savings through employer-based plans, but large gaps in coverage exist. Pew’s analysis shows that more than 30 million workers report they do not have access to an employer-based retirement plan.
The analysis focuses on full-time, full-year, private sector wage and salary workers, ages 18 to 64.
Job Satisfaction: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Note: This metric is based on The Indeed Job Happiness Index 2016.
Career Counselors per 1,000 Workers: Half Weight (~2.41 Points)
Entrepreneur-Friendliness: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best Large Cities to Start a Business” ranking.
MSA GDP Growth Rate: Full Weight (~4.83 Points)

Quality of Life – Total Points: 30

Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
Average Length of Work Week (in Hours): Half Weight (~1.15 Points)
Commuter-Friendly Jobs: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of jobs accessible by a 30-minute transit ride per total civilian employed population.
Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Half Weight (~1.15 Points)
Share of Population Aged 25 to 34: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Share of Millennial Newcomers: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Projected Population Growth (2046 vs. 2016): Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Fun-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Families” ranking.
Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Cities for Singles” ranking.
Percentage of Residents Who Are Fully Vaccinated: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Indeed.com, Glassdoor, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Council for Community & Economic Research, United States Conference of Mayors, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.

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