Today’s college graduates have several terrific choices around the world for cities to call their home while starting their new career. But you don’t have to move to Amsterdam, Santiago or Sydney to make it happen – because there are several U.S. cities that top the list, as highlighted in this HubSpot article by Lindsay Kolowich.
Thankfully for all you recent college grads out there (and your parents), the job market’s looking up for folks who’ve recently gotten their diploma. More employers plan to hire recent college graduates in 2015 than in previous years, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
And for those of you about to graduate, things are looking good, too: Two-thirds of employers who responded to NACE’s “Job Outlook 2015 Spring Update” survey reported they expected to increase or maintain current hiring levels for the Class of 2016.more
Woohoo! But … where do you actually go about finding these jobs?
When college graduates decide where to move to begin their careers, they aren’t just packing up and heading in droves to the usual suspects, like New York and San Francisco. In recent years, a surprising number of cities both in the U.S. and around the world have shown they can offer more entry-level job opportunities, higher incomes, better quality of life, lower cost of living … and in some cases, all four.
We’ve scoured the web for studies, reports, and news stories to find some of the best places in the world to start a career after college graduation.
Austin is one of the top tech hubs – not just in Texas, but in the whole of the U.S. It’s home to offices of some of the country’s top employers, including Google, Apple, Facebook, Cisco Systems, eBay, Blizzard Entertainment, Samsung, and more.
“Entrepreneurs say it’s easy to start a business there, networking is top-notch, taxes are low, regulations are light, and hiring is a breeze,” writes Jose Pagliery for CNN.
But Austin isn’t just a twin of San Francisco: First of all, it has a low cost of living compared with other capital cities in the U.S. Notably, it was #1 on WalletHub’s list of cities to start a career based on quality of life, #3 for population growth percentage, and #11 for entry-level opportunities.
If you’re intrigued by a lively music and cultural scene, Austin’s friendly, funky vibe might just be the cherry on top. It’s a liberal city in an otherwise conservative state, and ranks #1 for “small business friendliness” according to a survey from Thumbtack.
For college graduates interested in public policy, government, nonprofits, and a growing startup scene, Washington D.C. is a great place to start and grow a career. Mashable gives it the #1 spot for networking opportunities. College grads will also be in great company, as almost one-third of the city’s population is between the ages of 20 and 34.
WalletHub ranked it #3 in both quality of life and professional opportunities. And according to Fortune Magazine, it has a “reasonable cost of living for a city of its size.” The well-functioning public transportation system also spans to close by Virginia and Maryland, which have even more affordable housing options.
If that hasn’t convinced you, then here’s the kicker: D.C. was named the best U.S. city for single people, scoring highest in the U.S. in “mating opportunities,” according to WalletHub. After all, with 58% of the population being single, there are plenty of fish in the sea.
The combination of plentiful entry-level opportunities for young professionals, quality of life, and a gorgeous setting makes Denver a great place for young people to live and grow their careers – especially those who love the great outdoors.
According to WalletHub, Denver is #8 on a list of 150 cities for professional opportunities for entry-level workers, and #13 for quality of life. WalletHub also found the “extraordinarily varied local economy generates lots of jobs, relatively high starting salaries, and robust income growth.”
The city’s also well known for its vibrant art scene and the virtually unlimited list of things to do outside, including skiing, snowboarding, and hiking at over a dozen nearby local mountain resorts. It has a whopping 300 days of sunshine most years, and 80 miles of trails within the city limits alone.
Houston was #1 of 150 cities on WalletHub’s list for the highest starting salaries adjusted for cost of living. In fact, the median annual income there is 3X higher than in Honolulu. And although Houston is the United States’ fourth most populous city, its real estate prices don’t reflect that, according to CNN.
The city has a great entrepreneurial business climate with little government intervention. The Atlantic called it “America’s #1 job creator” in 2013 after it became the first major city to not only regain all the jobs lost in the downturned U.S. economy, but also the first city to add more than two jobs for everyone one it lost after the crash. That’s just impressive. Its most lucrative industry? Energy, as you may have guessed, given its proximity to oil.
Raleigh is one of the smaller cities on our list, but it’s become a go-to spot for college graduates interested in financial services, software, energy, retail, and its famous “Research Triangle.” The triangle is formed by three cities: Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill – all three with major research universities. You’ll also find the 7,000-acre Research Triangle Park here, too, which is one of the best tech research and development centers in the United States.
Along with a solid economy, it’s been rated with a high quality of life (it’s accessible to both beautiful mountains and beautiful beaches) and low cost of living. Forbes named it the #1 place to raise a family in the U.S.
That’s right: Another city in Texas made the shortlist. Why? Because of its many opportunities for entry-level employment, along with a healthy balance of low cost of living, high salaries, and low unemployment, according to a study by Apartments.com and CareerBuilder.com.
Dallas is home to the headquarters for a lot of major corporations, including J.C. Penney, GameStop, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Dave & Busters, Frito-Lay, and Rolex. Its most thriving industries? Telecommunications, technology, and manufacturing. And CNN reports that startups have been flocking there because of its low taxes and minimal government interference.
With its stable economy, low cost of living, and relatively high salaries, Minneapolis has earned its place as one of the best places to start your career after college. It was named one of Fortune Magazine’s top cities for finding a job, and is host to many well known companies like Target, 3M, General Mills, Wells Fargo, and the Mayo Clinic. According to NerdWallet, “Minneapolis is young, affordable and thriving economically, making it a solid choice for recent graduates.” The most popular industries for job seekers are in marketing, banking, and retail.
If you’re into staying fit, then you’ll fit right in, as that’s something the city’s well known for. It ranked #2 in the American Fitness Index’s list of fitness cities, and more than 80% of the city’s residents say they engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day. It’s no wonder, seeing as the city’s full of parks and trails that encourage an active lifestyle.
