CareerCity.png

10 top cities to start a career

As the gig economy booms and the positive job numbers continue to pour out from the DOL, it is evident that the current market is strong for job seekers. Here are some municipalities that are prime for the up and coming worker to find stellar growth.

According to financial site WalletHub, these cities may prove difficult for the aspiring job seeker. When researching the best and worse spots to launch a career, research looked across two key dimensions: “Professional opportunities” (weighing 70% of the overall score) and “quality of life” (weighing 30% of the overall score)

Twenty-seven relevant metrics were graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job-market entrants. Under professional opportunities, WalletHub evaluated data such as the availability of entry-level jobs, starting salaries and median income growth. And for quality of life, the personal finance site evaluated commute times, average length of a work week and housing affordability.

According to the report, the following 10 cities top the list of best cities to start a career comparing 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state.
michigan.jpg

10. Grand Rapids, Mich.

Professional opportunities rank: 8
Quality of life rank: 37
Overall score: 57.13
1. Raleigh.jpg
Downtown Raleigh at Twilight with a beuatiful colorful skyscape. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

9. Raleigh, N.C.

Professional opportunities rank: 17
Quality of life rank: 10
Overall score: 57.82
denver-denver-357.jpg

8. Denver, Colo.

Professional opportunities rank: 16
Quality of life rank: 12
Overall score: 57.85
columbia-river-crossing-photo.jpg

7. Columbia, S.C.

Professional opportunities rank: 5
Quality of life rank: 34
Overall score: 57.98
Austin, Texas
View of Austin, Texas downtown skyline

6. Austin, Texas

Professional opportunities rank: 6
Quality of life rank: 5
Overall score: 60.24
2. Tempe.jpg
"The Phoenix suburb / satellite city of Tempe, with the Tempe city skyline, Hayden Butte (hill), Tempe Town Lake (part of Salt River), and Mill Avenue Bridge"

5. Tempe, Ariz.

Professional opportunities rank: 10
Quality of life rank: 2
Overall score: 60.41
charleston-sc.jpg

4. Charleston, S.C.

Professional opportunities rank: 4
Quality of life rank: 19
Overall score: 60.70
atlanta-highway-courtesy-ga-dot.jpg
The seller, Heritage Southeast Bancorp in Atlanta, has 23 branches across Georgia and northeast Florida.

3. Atlanta, Ga.

Professional opportunities rank: 2
Quality of life rank: 11
Overall score: 65.04
8. Orlando.jpg
Downtown Orlando Florida

2. Orlando, Fla.

Professional opportunities rank: 1
Quality of life rank: 6
Overall score: 66.33
3. Salt Lake City.jpg
Skyline of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA in early spring as the sun sets.

1. Salt Lake City, Utah

Professional opportunities rank: 3
Quality of life rank: 1
Overall score: 67.83
CityCareerLeadSlider.png

Worst cities to start a career

To view the cities that landed at the bottom of this list, click here.
MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS