TEMPO.COM, Jakarta - When choosing the best cities for young professionals, it’s easy to see why accessibility to the job market stands as the foremost detrimental factor. Across the United States, several metro areas have built a strong reputation as launchpads for recent graduates.
These cities not only offer an abundance of job openings but also provide room to grow and thrive. For ambitious freshers equipped with the right skills and drive, these urban hubs could be the perfect springboard to land that dream entry-level position and kickstart a promising career.
List of the Best Cities for Young Professionals
For Americans looking to embark on a new venture, the best cities for young professionals span from California’s San Jose, San Francisco, Colorado’s Boulder, and many more. In determining this topic, the US News and Niche have studied the top contenders that read:
1. San Jose, California
San Jose holds the rightful title of the best city for young professionals looking to jumpstart their career in the startup environment. With an average annual payout reaching $100,000, recent grads can comfortably make the cut for the soaring housing prices. Notably, the town’s residents enjoy a remarkable blend of happiness and security, outshining nearly all of the 150 metro areas analyzed and proudly claiming the second-highest ranking overall.
2. San Francisco
A revered food city in the United States, San Francisco, is undeniably the right fit for eager newcomers. At first glance, the town’s sky-high housing prices might seem like a dealbreaker, but with an impressive average salary of $86,590, the cost of living becomes far more manageable than it appears. The US News added, San Francisco has been consistently hailed among the most desirable places to live in comparison to other populous metro areas.
3. Boulder, Colorado
At the third place, Boulder stands out with its impressive postcard-like backdrop– thanks to the town’s location at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Rising talents can effortlessly navigate through their career paths while simultaneously relishing a dreamy retreat setting on the weekends. As if that weren’t excitable enough, Boulder sweetens the deal even more, boasting an average annual salary that's a striking $15,000 above the national norm.
4. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Another urban hub from Colorado takes shape as one of the best cities for young professionals. Its desirability– propelled by recreational opportunities, is recorded to place 9th on the overall best places to live list, according to the US News. Though for a longer stay, young go-getters must also consider the housing cost that requires 26.4% of the town’s average income.
5. Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville in Alabama is a thriving sphere across aerospace and defense departments, reflected by the areas of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.
Beneath its intimidating boundaries, Huntsville is actually the fourth most affordable town to live among other populous metro areas in the country. Housing cost of the town is pegged around 19.62 per cent of the median annual household income.
6. Naples, Florida
Naples might not be a catch for earnings-minded workers as the town has only $7,000 average annual salary below the national’s band.
However, it’s listed as one of the best cities for young professionals who prefer job stability more than anything else. With an unemployment rate recorded at 2.54 per cent and plenty of entertainment sources, Naples charms newcomers.
7. Seattle
Seattle is a dream city for nearly all motivated young professionals, and for all the good reasons. As the homebase for major companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and many more, Seattle has set the standard for high-paying sectors across the entire country. Paired with a myriad of national parks and national forests, the town is both desirable and resourceful.
8. Sarasota, Florida
One the coastline category, Sarasota ranks among the best cities for young professionals that continue to reserve the seascape opportunities. Thanks to its low rates of violent crime, this Florida urban hub becomes a perennial favorite. Aside from recent grads, the town has emerged into a retirement destination.
9. Charlotte, North California
As the heartbeat of the nation’s financial industry, Charlotte proudly hosts the headquarters of Bank of America, further solidifying its place as the city with in-line national average salaries.
The city isn’t slowing down either, thanks to a wave of new retail developments and restaurants rising across the skyline.
For this, experts predict a significant population boom. That momentum is already in motion, between 2020 and 2021 alone, Charlotte experienced a notable 1% population jump, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
10. Washington, D.C
Rounding out the list of the best cities for young professionals, Washington has an average annual salary recorded at $80,480 or $20,000 above the national average. Beyond the extent of desirability, the town excels in multiple departments including education, health care, financial services, tourism, and insurance.
The best cities for young professionals offer more than just job prospects, but they deliver the full package of competitive salaries, vibrant cultures, lifestyle perks, and long-term growth potential.
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