This Is America’s Top City for Job Hunters—It’s Not What You Think

Job hunters looking to launch or level up their careers might flock to New York City or Silicon Valley, but a new report suggests you’ll have much better luck in a far more surprising locale: Atlanta.

Georgia’s capital might be the best place to start a career in the U.S. right now, according to a new report published by WalletHub.

The report analyzed 180 U.S. cities for professional opportunities through the availability of entry-level jobs, starting salaries, job growth rates, unemployment levels, workforce diversity, how companies were ranked by employees on Glassdoor, and more.

And because everyone knows how important a good work/life balance can be, WalletHub also weighed outside factors in their research, which included quality-of-life specifics such as the average length of the work week, commute times, number of millennial newcomers, whether an area could be considered friendly to singles, and (last but not least) housing affordability.

In a recent Realtor.com study, Atlanta was also identified as one of the top rental markets for graduates, thanks to its booming job market, low cost of living, and plenty of young people with college under their belt. Atlanta has just under 500,000 residents.

It also has an array of industries—from finance to tech to health services—and a buzzing nightlife.

Here are the Top 10 cities for job hunters, including the median annual income in each, along with home prices and other stats that might inspire you to polish up that resume.

1. Atlanta, GA

Median annual income: $79,000
Median home price: $415,000

The largest city in the Peach State has plentiful job opportunities, but that’s not all this Southeastern metro has going for it. It’s also ranked as one of the top rental markets for college graduates looking for an affordable place to call home.

Why is “Hotlanta” so hot on the job front right now? Well, that has a lot to do with the city’s 8.9% increase in household income from a year earlier. Atlanta is also brimming with jobs in the health services, tech, and finance industries.

Many of the people surveyed also said that they were happy with their jobs. And while that’s great news for those who like to keep their nose to the grindstone, there are plenty of leisure activities around the city, too.

The city has a notable cornhole league, loads of eateries, and plenty of cool bars—like The Independent, where movie buffs can have a drink and discuss cinema.

2. Orlando, FL

Median annual income: $93,829
Median home price: $395,000

If you’re on the hunt for a new job, you won’t have to wait long when you apply for positions in Orlando. This second best city for starting a new career has one of the country’s lowest unemployment rates. It’s also a great place for recent college grads and those looking to get a fresh start in a new industry, since it has the second highest number of entry-level jobs as well. Best of all, your entry-level gig likely won’t stay that way for long, since the median income here grew by approximately 8.2% since last year.

3. Salt Lake City, UT

Median annual income: $68,696
Median home price: $475,000

With just a 3% unemployment rate, anyone looking to refresh their resume with a new job won’t have to wait long to find one in Salt Lake City. That’s especially great news for anyone who works in educational services, health care, or tech, which are some of the city’s biggest industries.

4. Tampa, FL

Median annual income: $60,604
Median home price: $401,000

If you’ve been looking to transition to a job in defense, security, information technology, or even financial services, you might want to send an application to an employer in Tampa, FL. The city has a 3.3% unemployment rate, which is still significantly lower the national average of 3.9%.

5. Pittsburgh, PA

Median annual income: $88,110
Median home price: $270,000

Once known for being a steel town, job seekers in Pennsylvania’s second largest city can find work in a variety of industries, including technology, life sciences, health and education, and manufacturing. Even better, they’re also likely to find that work quickly, since the city’s unemployment rate continues to drop as more employers post job openings.

6. Portland, ME

Median annual income: $63,775
Median home price: $450,000

If you love lobster and lighthouses, you might want to think about heading all the way up the East Coast to Portland, ME. While you won’t need to put on your overalls and muck boots to go to work, you are likely to spend more time outdoors than in most of the other cities on this list, since the majority of Mainers in this area work in the marine/aquaculture, food/agriculture, and outdoor recreation industries.

7. Charleston, SC

Median annual income: $74,130
Median home price: $577,000

Employers in the Charleston metro area are especially keen on filling roles in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, according to the CHS Today City Guide. In fact, this industry currently employs a staggering 66,000 workers and is poised to grow in the coming years. With an unemployment rate of just 2.7%, newcomers are likely to have an easy time finding work.

8. Austin, TX

Median annual income: $86,530
Median home price: $527,000

Austin is home to more than 2 million people, with many of them flocking to the city for some of the high-paying positions available in this booming tech hub. Anyone looking to dip their toe into the world of technology, healthcare, or manufacturing is likely to find more than just a job when the move to Austin, thanks to the state’s low taxes.

9. Miami, FL

Median annual income: $54,970
Median home price: $560,000

Known for its dynamic nightlife, gorgeous beaches, and fantastic restaurants, Miami probably isn’t a surprising inclusion on this list. People looking for new careers in the tourism industry can easily find work in this splashy metro area. Because the city’s unemployment rate is currently at a shockingly low 2.1%, job seekers won’t having to worry too much about employment security there.

10. Knoxville, TN

Median annual income: $46,549
Median home price: $372,500

The three largest industries are manufacturing, metal fabrication, and food product supply, each of which are perfect for folks looking for entry-level positions where they can get in on the ground floor and work their way up. In fact, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce reports that the average Knoxville employee saw a 7.7% increase in their wages from 2022 to 2023.