Posted by: John S Kiernan

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. The market is ripe for new graduates, though, with an unemployment rate of only 3.8 percent as of March 2019. And employers plan to hire nearly 17 percent more graduates from the Class of 2019 than they did from the Class of 2018.

Starting a career doesn’t need to be that difficult or intimidating. 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 29 key metrics that range from the availability of entry-level jobs to monthly average starting salary to workforce diversity. A complete breakdown of our findings, a detailed methodology and expert career advice can be found below.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask The Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/3626/startcarreer-geochart1-2019.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://bit.ly/2PZww4Q>  

Best Cities to Start a Career

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Professional Opportunities’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank
1	Salt Lake City, UT	70.03	1	2
2	Pittsburgh, PA	67.49	4	6
3	Atlanta, GA	67.20	2	12
4	Orlando, FL	67.19	3	8
5	Austin, TX	64.77	7	5
6	Minneapolis, MN	63.53	14	4
7	Seattle, WA	62.91	11	11
8	Raleigh, NC	61.83	19	9
9	Boston, MA	61.83	6	45
10	Denver, CO	61.70	15	19
11	Tampa, FL	60.74	9	43
12	Charleston, SC	60.72	24	7
13	Portland, ME	60.45	22	10
14	St. Louis, MO	60.11	8	54
15	San Francisco, CA	59.95	12	47
16	Fargo, ND	59.53	27	14
17	Durham, NC	59.30	18	41
18	Grand Rapids, MI	59.29	21	27
19	Washington, DC	58.92	26	18
20	Columbia, SC	58.59	23	30
21	Miami, FL	58.45	5	129
22	San Jose, CA	58.32	13	84
23	St. Paul, MN	58.26	29	22
24	Madison, WI	58.10	49	3
25	Tempe, AZ	58.08	62	1
26	Overland Park, KS	58.02	25	32
27	Fort Worth, TX	57.90	16	77
28	Fort Lauderdale, FL	57.85	10	98
29	Portland, OR	56.88	35	25
30	Cincinnati, OH	56.85	37	23
31	Scottsdale, AZ	56.72	44	17
32	Knoxville, TN	56.51	34	31
33	Casper, WY	56.31	17	99
34	Charlotte, NC	56.05	42	26
35	Des Moines, IA	55.98	31	48
36	Cheyenne, WY	55.84	20	94
37	Boise, ID	55.45	60	15
38	Nashville, TN	55.13	51	24
39	Reno, NV	55.09	41	42
40	Irving, TX	54.74	28	87
41	Dallas, TX	54.43	30	81
42	Irvine, CA	54.25	53	36
43	San Diego, CA	53.92	45	49
44	Sacramento, CA	53.89	38	65
45	Colorado Springs, CO	53.79	58	34
46	San Antonio, TX	53.76	48	46
47	Chandler, AZ	53.65	70	28
48	Bismarck, ND	53.59	39	70
49	West Valley City, UT	53.53	40	73
50	Oklahoma City, OK	53.47	55	44
51	Burlington, VT	53.38	96	13
52	Omaha, NE	53.25	67	37
53	Sioux Falls, SD	53.16	71	33
54	Dover, DE	53.13	33	100
55	St. Petersburg, FL	52.91	43	78
56	Columbus, OH	52.50	97	16
57	Richmond, VA	52.43	72	40
58	Rapid City, SD	52.40	61	53
59	Missoula, MT	52.11	100	20
60	Las Vegas, NV	52.10	52	75
61	Plano, TX	51.94	66	57
62	Jacksonville, FL	51.91	54	76
63	Aurora, CO	51.86	32	123
64	Birmingham, AL	51.66	36	126
65	Kansas City, MO	51.62	63	68
66	Phoenix, AZ	51.48	56	82
67	Houston, TX	51.38	65	71
68	Tacoma, WA	51.36	50	96
69	Tulsa, OK	51.33	47	97
70	Oakland, CA	51.26	46	102
71	Billings, MT	51.03	69	66
72	Buffalo, NY	50.69	81	60
73	Gilbert, AZ	50.45	83	58
74	Springfield, MO	50.25	87	56
75	Amarillo, TX	49.91	57	111
76	Lubbock, TX	49.73	74	89
77	Chattanooga, TN	49.63	64	116
78	Huntsville, AL	49.61	92	59
79	Rochester, NY	49.58	98	52
80	Spokane, WA	49.53	91	62
81	Lincoln, NE	49.35	140	21
82	Mesa, AZ	49.29	90	74
83	Arlington, TX	49.19	75	101
84	Virginia Beach, VA	49.11	115	39
85	Fremont, CA	49.10	76	104
86	Tallahassee, FL	49.03	134	29
87	Grand Prairie, TX	48.73	58	134
88	Greensboro, NC	48.70	80	107
89	Providence, RI	48.68	101	64
90	Peoria, AZ	48.45	78	115
91	Cedar Rapids, IA	48.31	106	63
92	Wilmington, DE	48.17	88	103
93	Salem, OR	48.04	95	91
94	South Burlington, VT	47.70	114	61
95	Louisville, KY	47.37	130	50
96	Nampa, ID	47.26	68	155
97	Lexington-Fayette, KY	47.23	154	38
98	Riverside, CA	47.10	93	117
99	Baltimore, MD	47.03	85	133
100	Manchester, NH	46.97	111	88
101	Honolulu, HI	46.79	113	85
102	Little Rock, AR	46.70	102	114
103	Nashua, NH	46.65	104	110
104	Juneau, AK	46.61	122	79
105	Ontario, CA	46.60	79	150
106	Indianapolis, IN	46.58	126	69
107	Chicago, IL	46.57	129	67
108	Tucson, AZ	46.46	145	51
109	Glendale, AZ	46.41	99	119
110	Modesto, CA	46.37	86	138
111	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	46.03	136	72
112	Jersey City, NJ	45.99	151	54
113	Corpus Christi, TX	45.97	89	140
114	New Orleans, LA	45.56	138	80
115	Lewiston, ME	45.37	77	166
116	Warwick, RI	45.34	105	132
117	Columbia, MD	45.25	170	35
118	Baton Rouge, LA	45.14	135	93
119	Vancouver, WA	45.12	108	130
120	Detroit, MI	44.96	82	176
121	Los Angeles, CA	44.84	109	135
122	Huntington Beach, CA	44.77	132	109
123	Bakersfield, CA	44.73	118	120
124	Aurora, IL	44.72	103	146
125	Port St. Lucie, FL	44.64	73	181
126	Laredo, TX	44.62	84	169
127	Henderson, NV	44.56	148	92
128	Norfolk, VA	44.53	146	95
129	Fort Wayne, IN	44.52	110	137
130	Fontana, CA	44.43	117	127
131	Santa Rosa, CA	44.38	94	162
132	Cleveland, OH	44.12	128	122
133	Garland, TX	44.05	107	154
134	Worcester, MA	43.97	121	131
135	Charleston, WV	43.78	112	147
136	Huntington, WV	43.46	137	121
137	Akron, OH	43.37	123	141
138	Chesapeake, VA	43.32	156	106
139	Anaheim, CA	43.04	116	160
140	Winston-Salem, NC	42.88	124	153
141	Milwaukee, WI	42.88	159	105
142	El Paso, TX	42.85	147	125
143	Cape Coral, FL	42.70	127	151
144	San Bernardino, CA	42.47	139	143
145	Wichita, KS	42.35	158	118
146	Long Beach, CA	42.34	131	158
147	Anchorage, AK	42.34	171	83
148	Augusta, GA	42.28	133	157
149	Oceanside, CA	42.27	125	165
150	Garden Grove, CA	42.27	162	113
151	Fresno, CA	42.19	142	145
152	Glendale, CA	42.02	141	152
153	Stockton, CA	41.98	120	171
154	Chula Vista, CA	41.97	119	173
155	Philadelphia, PA	41.93	150	144
156	North Las Vegas, NV	41.82	155	136
157	Memphis, TN	41.45	169	112
158	Pembroke Pines, FL	41.24	143	163
159	Las Cruces, NM	41.10	175	90
160	Mobile, AL	40.80	157	148
161	Fort Smith, AR	40.77	153	161
162	Albuquerque, NM	40.71	178	86
163	Newark, NJ	40.70	144	172
164	Gulfport, MS	40.64	166	139
165	Columbus, GA	40.57	161	142
166	Moreno Valley, CA	40.07	152	177
167	Brownsville, TX	39.66	149	180
168	Fayetteville, NC	39.47	174	124
169	Santa Ana, CA	39.31	165	168
170	New York, NY	39.31	168	149
171	Yonkers, NY	39.03	163	173
172	Santa Clarita, CA	38.97	160	175
173	Jackson, MS	38.78	167	167
174	Newport News, VA	38.76	177	128
175	Toledo, OH	38.66	172	159
176	New Haven, CT	38.05	181	108
177	Pearl City, HI	38.00	173	164
178	Oxnard, CA	36.38	179	170
179	Bridgeport, CT	36.36	176	179
180	Hialeah, FL	35.75	164	182
181	Montgomery, AL	35.29	182	156
182	Shreveport, LA	35.19	180	178

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:

1. What tips do you have for job seekers who are applying for jobs in a different city?
2. What can city policy makers and corporations do to attract and retain recent graduates?
3. Do you have any tips for turning an entry-level job into a long, successful career?
4. What is the biggest career mistake that young people make?
5. In choosing a city to start a career, what are the top five indicators?

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• Robert Smith M.S., Ed. – Chair, Assistant Director for Onboarding and Career Services, Indiana University Purdue University – Indianapolis
• Elizabeth Seager Associate Director, Career Advising and Experiential Education, University of Dayton
• Ingrid Fulmer Ph.D. – Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Human Resource Management, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations
• Caroline Wright Director of Academic and Career Services, Fisher College

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 29 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 (~8.48 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of entry-level jobs per 100,000 residents aged 16 years and older.
• 4+ Star Company Jobs per Total People in Labor Force: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of entry-level job opportunities at companies with 4+ stars on Glassdoor.com per the total number of people in the labor force.
• Job Fairs per Total People in Labor Force: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)
• Monthly Average Starting Salary: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Annual Job Growth Rate: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for population growth.
• Median-Income Growth Rate: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)
• Share of Workers in Poverty: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)
• Economic Mobility: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)Note: The probability that a child grew up in the bottom half of the family income distribution and will have family income on the top half of the income distribution by age 30.
• Workforce Diversity: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)
• Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)
• Employer-Based Retirement Access & Participation: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)Notes: 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 (~4.24 Points)Note: This metric is based on The Indeed Job Happiness Index 2016.
• Career Counselors per 1,000 Workers: Half Weight (~2.12 Points)
• Entrepreneur-Friendliness: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best Large Cities to Start a Business ranking.
• MSA GDP Growth Rate: Full Weight (~4.24 Points)

Quality of Life – Total Points: 30

• Median Annual Income: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the cost of living.
• Average Length of Work Week (in Hours): Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
• Commuter-Friendly 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.
• Average Commute Time (in Minutes): Half Weight (~1.25 Points)
• Share of Population Aged 25 to 34 Years: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Share of Millennial Newcomers: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Strength of Social Ties: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on responses to Sharecare’s RealAge® Test and was used in our analysis to highlight the places where relationships with family and friends are strongest and therefore likely to result in a positive effect on a person’s social life.
• Share of Adults Aged 25 Years & Older with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Projected Population Growth (2046 vs. 2016): Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Fun-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.
• Family-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Families ranking.
• Singles-Friendliness: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Cities for Singles ranking.

Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• YouTube (for web embedding Salt Lake City, UT)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 

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, Sharecare, Indeed.com, Glassdoor, Eventbrite, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Equality of Opportunity Project, Council for Community & Economic Research, United States Conference of Mayors, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.

Image: iQoncept / Shutterstock.com

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