For those looking to make changes in 2025, finding a new job is a significant start — and knowing where to look for these opportunities can boost success.
WalletHub recently ranked the best and worst cities for jobs in 2025, evaluating 182 U.S. cities, and determining the ranking based on factors that indicate job-market strength, such as job opportunities per job seeker, employment growth and monthly average starting salary.
"It's important to look at more than just the number of jobs available or the unemployment rate when determining the best place to find employment," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, in a release. "Quality matters just as much as quantity, from the average salaries and benefits to job security and overall satisfaction. There are plenty of secondary factors to take into account as well, from how easy a city makes commuting to jobs to whether it's a good place for raising a family or engaging in recreational activities outside of work."
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Scottsdale, Arizona is the best city for jobs in 2025, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. The city also ranks first when it comes to paid internship opportunities, and it has one of the highest median household incomes in the country, at over $102,000, adjusted for the cost of living.
Other top cities for jobs in 2025 include Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Columbia, Maryland. Pittsburgh has the most job opportunities per capita, and also ranks towards the top for full-time job opportunities per capita at companies rated 4.5+ stars on Glassdoor. Columbia has the highest median household incomes in the country, at nearly $124,000, adjusted for the cost of living. Columbia also ranks fourth when it comes to net employment outlook, which measures the quarterly percentage of employers who expect to add employees minus the percentage who expect to have fewer of them.
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"The labor market enters 2025 on solid footing, with the unemployment rate at 4.2%," said Mark Kurt Ph.D., assistant dean of global education, professor of economics, at Elon University. "Over the past 12 months, overall wages have outpaced inflation, signaling persistent tightness in the labor market. With ongoing investment in artificial intelligence, the information technology sector is also poised for robust hiring. Another bright spot is the market for recent college graduates, as the National Association of Colleges and Employers survey indicates a 7.3% increase in hiring for the class of 2025."
Memphis, Tennessee, is the worst city for jobs in 2025, ranking towards the bottom for job market factors and socio-economic factors. Other cities ranking at the bottom are Detroit, Michigan, and San Bernardino, California. Detroit has the highest unemployment rate, as well as the lowest median annual income. San Bernardino ranks low for job market factors and socio-economic factors.
Read more about the best and worst cities for jobs in 2025.
Best cities for jobs in 2025
| Overall rank | City | Total score | Job market rank | Socio-economics rank |
| 10 | Orlando, FL | 60.95 | 14 | 37 |
| 9 | Tempe, AZ | 61.03 | 17 | 22 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | 61.07 | 11 | 36 |
| 7 | Chandler, AZ | 61.13 | 15 | 29 |
| 6 | Charleston, SC | 61.72 | 6 | 40 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | 64.29 | 5 | 15 |
| 4 | South Burlington, VT | 65.33 | 4 | 5 |
| 3 | Columbia, MD | 66.38 | 2 | 11 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | 66.48 | 3 | 2 |
| 1 | Scottsdale, AZ | 67.04 | 1 | 10 |
Worst cities for jobs in 2025
| Overall rank | City | Total score | Job market rank | Socio-economics rank |
10
| Shreveport, LA
| 44.36
| 168
| 176
|
9
| Stockton, CA
| 44.17
| 173
| 154
|
8
| Huntington, WV
| 43.76
| 182
| 109
|
7
| Bakersfield, CA
| 43.51
| 180
| 147
|
6
| Gulfport, MS
| 43.13
| 170
| 179
|
5
| Baton Rouge, LA
| 42.71
| 179
| 167
|
4
| Augusta, GA
| 42.6
| 178
| 174
|
3
| San Bernardino, CA
| 42.41
| 175
| 173
|
2
| Detroit, MI
| 41.44
| 176
| 178
|
1
| Memphis, TN
| 40.77
| 174
| 182
|
