20 best places to start a career in 2024

Choosing where to build a career is a challenging decision, and as recent graduates enter the job market, they are looking to move to cities based not only on the job opportunities available , but factors like  housing affordability and commuter-friendliness. 

WalletHub recently ranked 182 U.S. cities to determine the best and worst places to start a career in 2024, comparing the relative market strength and overall livability. WalletHub compiled its rankings by rating each city based on 26 key metrics including the availability of entry-level jobs, the average monthly starting salary, and housing affordability.

"Transitioning out of school and into the workforce can be a difficult and stressful process, but certain cities make things a lot easier than others," Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst, said in a release. "The best cities for starting a career not only have a lot of job opportunities but also provide substantial income growth potential and satisfying work conditions. It's also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how good of a place it is for raising a family, to ensure life satisfaction outside of your career."

Read more: How to get an entry-level job in 2024 

The top city to start a career is Atlanta, with one of the highest growth rates in median household income, at around 8.9% annually. Atlanta also has several job opportunities at companies that are rated at least 4 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor, including many entry-level jobs.

Other top cities on the list are Orlando and Salt Lake City. Orlando has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, as well as the second-highest number of entry-level job openings per capita. Salt Lake City has one of the highest job growth rates, at around 2.3% annually.

The worst city to start a career in is New York, with the fewest entry-level jobs per-capita and the least affordable housing options. Other cities at the bottom of the list include Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Pembroke Pines, Florida. 

Read more: 10 best and worst companies for entry level employees 

"Besides a reasonable cost of living, I see graduates increasingly selecting cities that are close to friends and family, which I think is a post-pandemic driver of career decision-making that was common in some cultures and parts of the world but is now rather widespread," Matthew T. Hora, associate professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in a release. 

Read more about the best places to start a career in 2024.