2018’s Best Places for Summer Jobs
3:00 AMPosted by: Richie Bernardo
Summer isn’t just a season of daily walks on the beach or picnics at the park. For some people, especially young adults, the warmer months are a time to gain extra spending power or work experience.
But whether you need or want a summer job, where you look for one will matter almost as much as what you do. Obviously, 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 median income of part-time workers to availability of summer jobs to rental price for a one-bedroom property. Read on for the complete ranking, job-hunting advice from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.
Main FindingsEmbed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/21137/geochart-summerjobs.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2kfyOOb>
Best Places to Get a Summer Job
Overall Rank (1=Best) |
City |
Total Score |
‘Youth Job Market’ Rank |
‘Social Environment & Affordability’ Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scottsdale, AZ | 67.39 | 1 | 4 |
2 | Orlando, FL | 60.41 | 4 | 9 |
3 | Columbia, MD | 59.68 | 8 | 7 |
4 | Denver, CO | 59.37 | 7 | 8 |
5 | Portland, ME | 59.23 | 6 | 10 |
6 | Miami, FL | 58.70 | 2 | 48 |
7 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 58.68 | 5 | 22 |
8 | Atlanta, GA | 57.64 | 3 | 65 |
9 | Salt Lake City, UT | 56.14 | 9 | 50 |
10 | Rapid City, SD | 55.67 | 10 | 45 |
11 | Minneapolis, MN | 55.44 | 15 | 6 |
12 | Seattle, WA | 54.57 | 30 | 2 |
13 | Austin, TX | 53.56 | 14 | 37 |
14 | Reno, NV | 53.56 | 17 | 26 |
15 | San Francisco, CA | 53.42 | 40 | 1 |
16 | Cincinnati, OH | 53.26 | 12 | 58 |
17 | St. Paul, MN | 53.25 | 16 | 39 |
18 | Portland, OR | 53.17 | 34 | 5 |
19 | Charleston, SC | 52.61 | 11 | 120 |
20 | Boise, ID | 52.39 | 23 | 35 |
21 | Colorado Springs, CO | 52.38 | 25 | 27 |
22 | Salem, OR | 52.03 | 20 | 63 |
23 | Richmond, VA | 51.90 | 13 | 96 |
24 | Boston, MA | 51.50 | 29 | 25 |
25 | Las Vegas, NV | 51.39 | 43 | 13 |
26 | Chandler, AZ | 51.03 | 28 | 43 |
27 | Tempe, AZ | 50.92 | 27 | 59 |
28 | Nashville, TN | 50.82 | 19 | 105 |
29 | Overland Park, KS | 50.77 | 22 | 87 |
30 | Pittsburgh, PA | 50.77 | 35 | 29 |
31 | Raleigh, NC | 50.62 | 21 | 92 |
32 | Irvine, CA | 50.54 | 18 | 121 |
33 | Tampa, FL | 50.10 | 39 | 32 |
34 | Dallas, TX | 49.70 | 26 | 109 |
35 | Bismarck, ND | 49.68 | 38 | 44 |
36 | Washington, DC | 49.57 | 58 | 12 |
37 | Spokane, WA | 49.43 | 37 | 52 |
38 | Madison, WI | 49.21 | 32 | 84 |
39 | Phoenix, AZ | 49.05 | 51 | 24 |
40 | Virginia Beach, VA | 48.94 | 47 | 51 |
41 | Dover, DE | 48.75 | 24 | 138 |
42 | Fargo, ND | 48.61 | 33 | 99 |
43 | Plano, TX | 48.50 | 31 | 108 |
44 | Tacoma, WA | 48.36 | 57 | 23 |
45 | Grand Rapids, MI | 48.23 | 46 | 72 |
46 | Des Moines, IA | 48.01 | 44 | 83 |
47 | Mesa, AZ | 47.96 | 50 | 57 |
48 | Chattanooga, TN | 47.85 | 36 | 106 |
49 | Charlotte, NC | 47.77 | 42 | 93 |
50 | St. Louis, MO | 47.55 | 60 | 28 |
51 | Louisville, KY | 47.45 | 48 | 88 |
52 | Buffalo, NY | 47.11 | 70 | 20 |
53 | Sioux Falls, SD | 46.94 | 65 | 30 |
54 | Juneau, AK | 46.90 | 66 | 36 |
55 | Chicago, IL | 46.86 | 92 | 11 |
56 | Los Angeles, CA | 46.68 | 67 | 42 |
57 | San Antonio, TX | 46.54 | 59 | 76 |
58 | Peoria, AZ | 46.50 | 49 | 103 |
59 | Henderson, NV | 46.34 | 69 | 46 |
60 | Columbus, OH | 46.25 | 53 | 101 |
61 | Jacksonville, FL | 46.19 | 61 | 71 |
62 | San Diego, CA | 46.13 | 89 | 15 |
63 | St. Petersburg, FL | 46.05 | 63 | 62 |
64 | Gilbert, AZ | 46.03 | 52 | 119 |
65 | New York, NY | 45.72 | 98 | 16 |
66 | Columbia, SC | 45.67 | 41 | 162 |
67 | Honolulu, HI | 45.61 | 130 | 3 |
68 | Durham, NC | 45.41 | 56 | 125 |
69 | Kansas City, MO | 45.35 | 71 | 69 |
70 | Nampa, ID | 45.34 | 45 | 169 |
71 | Billings, MT | 45.30 | 72 | 55 |
72 | Milwaukee, WI | 45.27 | 76 | 60 |
73 | Aurora, CO | 45.20 | 54 | 130 |
74 | Knoxville, TN | 45.15 | 55 | 131 |
75 | Glendale, AZ | 45.00 | 64 | 91 |
76 | Omaha, NE | 44.69 | 108 | 34 |
77 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 44.62 | 97 | 40 |
78 | Wilmington, DE | 44.60 | 107 | 18 |
79 | Baltimore, MD | 44.58 | 86 | 61 |
80 | Sacramento, CA | 44.33 | 111 | 41 |
81 | Indianapolis, IN | 44.16 | 68 | 116 |
82 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 44.08 | 83 | 79 |
83 | South Burlington, VT | 44.05 | 110 | 31 |
84 | Huntington Beach, CA | 43.72 | 94 | 70 |
85 | Little Rock, AR | 43.65 | 78 | 102 |
86 | Providence, RI | 43.59 | 81 | 97 |
87 | Nashua, NH | 43.54 | 90 | 80 |
88 | Warwick, RI | 43.45 | 109 | 47 |
89 | Santa Rosa, CA | 43.35 | 88 | 94 |
90 | Glendale, CA | 43.34 | 96 | 82 |
91 | Vancouver, WA | 43.21 | 80 | 114 |
92 | Manchester, NH | 43.10 | 100 | 85 |
93 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 42.99 | 73 | 132 |
94 | Tucson, AZ | 42.79 | 135 | 19 |
95 | West Valley City, UT | 42.73 | 113 | 56 |
96 | Rochester, NY | 42.69 | 137 | 14 |
97 | Worcester, MA | 42.69 | 91 | 111 |
98 | Irving, TX | 42.66 | 62 | 156 |
99 | Houston, TX | 42.45 | 131 | 49 |
100 | Huntsville, AL | 42.32 | 106 | 104 |
101 | Missoula, MT | 42.24 | 79 | 144 |
102 | New Haven, CT | 42.21 | 129 | 38 |
103 | Albuquerque, NM | 42.17 | 132 | 53 |
104 | Charleston, WV | 42.16 | 124 | 64 |
105 | Ontario, CA | 42.13 | 93 | 126 |
106 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 42.03 | 82 | 145 |
107 | Cleveland, OH | 42.02 | 119 | 90 |
108 | Fresno, CA | 41.94 | 77 | 150 |
109 | Norfolk, VA | 41.86 | 75 | 155 |
110 | Newport News, VA | 41.80 | 74 | 166 |
111 | Fort Wayne, IN | 41.72 | 105 | 129 |
112 | Oakland, CA | 41.57 | 148 | 17 |
113 | Stockton, CA | 41.46 | 102 | 135 |
114 | Riverside, CA | 41.45 | 114 | 124 |
115 | Detroit, MI | 41.36 | 120 | 113 |
116 | Oklahoma City, OK | 41.35 | 121 | 112 |
117 | Cape Coral, FL | 41.31 | 95 | 142 |
118 | Modesto, CA | 41.26 | 134 | 75 |
119 | Akron, OH | 41.15 | 123 | 100 |
120 | Huntington, WV | 41.15 | 85 | 158 |
121 | Burlington, VT | 41.14 | 118 | 122 |
122 | Lewiston, ME | 41.10 | 104 | 140 |
123 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 40.97 | 103 | 147 |
124 | Chesapeake, VA | 40.96 | 87 | 164 |
125 | San Bernardino, CA | 40.88 | 125 | 110 |
126 | Lincoln, NE | 40.79 | 141 | 68 |
127 | Greensboro, NC | 40.75 | 84 | 167 |
128 | Springfield, MO | 40.55 | 101 | 158 |
129 | Fremont, CA | 40.19 | 144 | 73 |
130 | Birmingham, AL | 40.18 | 112 | 151 |
131 | Fort Worth, TX | 39.84 | 99 | 172 |
132 | Memphis, TN | 39.84 | 116 | 154 |
133 | Fort Smith, AR | 39.57 | 122 | 149 |
134 | Gulfport, MS | 39.38 | 117 | 168 |
135 | San Jose, CA | 39.33 | 151 | 74 |
136 | Fontana, CA | 39.17 | 140 | 95 |
137 | Anchorage, AK | 39.02 | 149 | 98 |
138 | Tulsa, OK | 38.99 | 139 | 123 |
139 | Oceanside, CA | 38.91 | 143 | 107 |
140 | Jersey City, NJ | 38.83 | 157 | 66 |
141 | Winston-Salem, NC | 38.61 | 136 | 136 |
142 | Arlington, TX | 38.61 | 115 | 177 |
143 | Yonkers, NY | 38.56 | 153 | 77 |
144 | Pearl City, HI | 38.29 | 174 | 33 |
145 | New Orleans, LA | 38.25 | 164 | 67 |
146 | Long Beach, CA | 38.23 | 159 | 78 |
147 | Grand Prairie, TX | 37.85 | 127 | 173 |
148 | Anaheim, CA | 37.80 | 162 | 86 |
149 | Philadelphia, PA | 37.75 | 160 | 89 |
150 | Bakersfield, CA | 37.75 | 150 | 127 |
151 | Santa Ana, CA | 37.41 | 155 | 115 |
152 | Santa Clarita, CA | 37.34 | 154 | 117 |
153 | North Las Vegas, NV | 37.30 | 145 | 146 |
154 | Garden Grove, CA | 37.30 | 173 | 21 |
155 | Moreno Valley, CA | 37.13 | 138 | 165 |
156 | Garland, TX | 37.12 | 133 | 176 |
157 | Hialeah, FL | 36.99 | 128 | 179 |
158 | Tallahassee, FL | 36.79 | 146 | 157 |
159 | Aurora, IL | 36.74 | 142 | 170 |
160 | Lubbock, TX | 36.71 | 126 | 181 |
161 | Columbus, GA | 36.66 | 147 | 160 |
162 | Newark, NJ | 36.66 | 171 | 81 |
163 | Wichita, KS | 36.46 | 156 | 137 |
164 | Bridgeport, CT | 36.38 | 172 | 54 |
165 | Mobile, AL | 36.18 | 158 | 139 |
166 | Casper, WY | 35.65 | 167 | 133 |
167 | Corpus Christi, TX | 35.07 | 165 | 152 |
168 | Fayetteville, NC | 35.03 | 161 | 161 |
169 | Augusta, GA | 34.64 | 152 | 178 |
170 | Shreveport, LA | 34.53 | 170 | 143 |
171 | Cheyenne, WY | 34.51 | 178 | 118 |
172 | Amarillo, TX | 34.15 | 176 | 134 |
173 | Chula Vista, CA | 34.05 | 169 | 163 |
174 | Baton Rouge, LA | 34.02 | 168 | 171 |
175 | Montgomery, AL | 33.92 | 163 | 175 |
176 | Toledo, OH | 33.62 | 175 | 148 |
177 | Las Cruces, NM | 33.52 | 177 | 141 |
178 | Oxnard, CA | 32.60 | 180 | 128 |
179 | Brownsville, TX | 31.46 | 179 | 174 |
180 | Laredo, TX | 31.40 | 166 | 182 |
181 | El Paso, TX | 31.17 | 181 | 153 |
182 | Jackson, MS | 28.62 | 182 | 180 |
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?
- How can local authorities encourage companies to provide summer jobs or internships for young people? Should the government subsidize the cost of summer employment for young people?
- In evaluating the best cities for summer jobs, what are the top five indicators?
Amy Donegan Assistant Dean in the Carroll School of Management, Boston College
George Hanbury President & CEO Nova Southeastern University

What tips do you have for a young person searching for a summer job / internship?
Utilize all the resources available to you, if you are in college use your career center, talk to professors, network with friends and family and alumni of your university. Utilize LinkedIn to find alumni from your institution who are working at some of the companies you are interested in. Reach out to them and get valuable information and or possibly a referral.
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
Any job that will give them industry specific skills that would be required for employment even if it's a different industry. It could be something specific like data analytics, or social media marketing, but even more importantly summer internships or jobs can give young people the soft skills that employers seek and would rather not teach such as: problem solving skills, resiliency, creativity, an understanding of how businesses work, customer service, teamwork, conflict resolution and ethics. Every experience gives you an example to provide to future employers as evidence that you possess those skills.
What are the most common mistakes young people make when taking a summer job/internship?
Unrealistic expectations, often they are not willing to start at the bottom. They may exhibit a lack of professionalism such as not being on time, not dressing appropriate for the work place or paying more attention to their phone than to customers. Employers need to anticipate this and be willing to teach young people the appropriate behavior. It's never easy addressing issues that seem so personal but young people often need to be coached.
George Hanbury President & CEO Nova Southeastern University
What tips do you have for a young person searching for a summer job / internship?
Start Early to distinguish yourself as a competitive applicant
- According to research published in the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE) Journal, recent studies have shown students who graduate having completed at least one internship are more likely to secure full-time employment upon graduation, in comparison to students who have not done an internship (Callanan & Benzing, 2004; D'Abate, 2010; Gault, Redington & Schlager, 2000; Knouse, Tanner, & Harris, 1999; Knouse & Fontenot, 2008).
- Many entry level full-time positions require that applicants already have 1-2 years of relevant experience in their field. Rather than beginning the search for internships during senior year, students who start exploring these opportunities during their first two years of college will have more time to try different experiences within their desired field, develop their professional network and build a competitive resume.
Use internships as a career exploration tool
- The beauty of summer internships and jobs are that they are short-term commitments, giving students the opportunity to "test drive" a career.
- This experience will provide students with a real-life glimpse into a career and serve as an indicator on whether or not it's the right fit.
- The NACE Journal also reports that 81% of graduates stated that internships helped them shift their career directions, thus changing their academic experience with selecting a major and classes. The experience of doing an internship has a direct tie to re-focus and maximize classroom learning.
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?
Opportunities that provide hands-on learning
- To quote Albert Einstein, "The only source of knowledge is experience." The best way for our students to understand the outside world is to experience it firsthand. This is one of the main reasons internships are a vital part of a student's collegiate journey and such an influential force to help them reach their career goals.
- At Nova Southeastern University (NSU), we have created an Experiential Education & Learning program that allows our undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning in the classroom and through academic and co-curricular internships. Not only will our students graduate with a robust resume but also with the world-ready skills they need to be successful.
- According to author Jeffrey J. Selingo (There Is Life After College), employers are looking for graduates who have "acquired this set of overlapping skills: curiosity, creativity, grit, digital awareness, contextual thinking, and humility." This means students should use their internships or summer jobs to help develop their soft skills while also expanding their knowledge in their area of interest.
What are the most common mistakes young people make when applying/taking a summer job/internship?
Not leveraging your network
- Word of mouth can be one of the most effective ways to find an internship, however networking takes time and strategy. As students are applying for summer internships and jobs, it can be easy to get into a routine of finding and applying for positions online with low success rate. Taking steps to build your professional network will assist all students regardless of career industry.
- Develop relationships with your faculty and university's Career Development office. Have a presence on LinkedIn to maintain professional connections and seek to connect with your institution's alumni network.
- Once you have established a network, stay in contact with them, especially from past internships and professionals in your field of interest. You never know when an internship or professional network could help you land your next opportunity.
The search for a summer internship should NOT begin in May
- The end of a school year should not signify the beginning of your search for a summer position. Preparation for a summer job or internship should begin months ahead of time. Many students should begin planning and applying in the Fall semester depending on the applications, especially for leading finance internships. Industries have varying hiring cycles, so it will be important to know your field and utilize available resources to put yourself in the best position to secure a valuable summer experience.
In evaluating the best cities for summer jobs, what are the top five indicators?
- Industries Available - It's important that students select cities that are strong hubs for their careers of choice.
- Cost of Living - Some cities are known for their high cost of living which makes it an important factor that needs to be taken into account.
- Transportation - Ease of transportation can have a significant impact on a student's experience in a new city.
- Feasibility of long term commitment - Many summer internships turn into permanent opportunities after graduation. Students should keep this is mind when selecting a city.
- Local Culture - Choosing a city with a vibrant culture gives students an opportunity to grow not only professionally, but personally as well.
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, including “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 2017 and during summer 2016.
- 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)Notes: 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.
- 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, Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Conference of State Legislatures, Numbeo, Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.
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