Having a steady job is essential for the well-being of a functional, grown-up individual. And if you truly love the job that you do, then you have found one of the key ingredients for achieving happiness. But, what if you’re not satisfied with the job opportunities that the city (or even the state) that you’re currently living in is providing? Then maybe it’s time to move to greener pastures. After all, 2018 saw the largest number of American citizens quitting their jobs since 2001. Then, there’s also a lucrative wage increase for all the people who have left their old jobs and found employment somewhere else. This increase averages at 15 percent, which is definitely not a small thing. With that in mind, read on for some of the best US cities for job hunters.
The most populated city in New England
For starters, we can begin with Boston, Massachusetts, the most populous place in New England and one of the oldest cities in the United States of America. Boston offers many job opportunities, but various socioeconomic factors bring its appeal down a notch (remember, there’s no perfect city when it comes to job opportunities!). These socioeconomic factors include things such as high rent prices and a slightly longer time that it takes to commute to work.
Still, Boston is definitely one of the best US cities for job hunters. The minimum wage in Boston is 12 dollars per hour. This figure makes the capital of Massachusetts one of the most appealing cities in the United States. That is because 12 dollars per hour is a very good minimum wage when compared to other cities. Besides that, the income people earn in Boston is generally a lot higher than the average. This city will especially be attractive to people who work in the tourism industry, which is greatly developed in Boston. If you do decide to look for a job in Boston, you should think hard about finding the right movers in Massachusetts.
The City by the Bay
Next, we have San Francisco. If you thought that Boston’s 12 dollars per hour minimum wage was pretty good, wait till you hear that, in San Francisco, workers earn a minimum wage of 15 dollars per hour! This makes San Francisco one of the best US cities for job hunters when it comes to minimum wage. City by the Bay can also boast that it has the best job growth in the country. Apart from that, wages themselves are also steadily rising.
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the many things that are worth admiring in San Francisco.
On the downside, the cost of living in San Francisco is very high. So high, actually, that according to some researches it is the second most expensive city in the USA! If you don’t get a well-paid job there right away, you can still get by if you find someone to live with and share the expenses. Thanks to the great minimum wage, this is a good solution until you get a job that pays better. That’s when you’ve hit the jackpot, due to a great income that jobs in San Francisco generally provide. Also, along with Boston, San Francisco is one of the best cities for millennials.
A city with a rich industrial history will attract plenty of job seekers
Then, there’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known as an industrial city, nicknamed the City of Steel, Pittsburgh is also one of the leading cities in the United States when it comes to manufacturing glass, petroleum, electronics and aluminum. Apart from that, companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Google and Facebook all have their branches there. Thanks to the developed industry and the presence of such companies there, Pittsburgh can be considered one of the best cities in US for job hunters.
The disadvantages of living in Pittsburgh are not job-related, but have more to do with nasty weather there. If you’re the kind of person who likes sunshine and warm weather, then Pittsburgh is probably not for you. The bad weather is due to the fact that Pittsburgh is surrounded by mountain ranges. Another thing that might trouble a person who likes sunshine is the absence of any kind of ’’sand + water’’ environment in Pittsburgh. You’d have to drive for two hours to reach Lake Erie if you’re into that kind of thing.
The Windy City is among the best US cities for job hunters
The fourth on our list of best cities in US for job hunters is Chicago. The Windy City in the state of Illinois has one of the largest gross domestic products (GDP) in the world. For those of you who are not acquainted with GDP, that is the market value of all the goods and services produced in a certain timeframe in one area. Together with the fact that Chicago is also a major force in finance, telecommunications, commerce and technology markets, this makes the Windy City a great place to look for a job. And in case you’re moving there from another town, Chicago is also known for its great moving companies.
The Windy City is one of the strongest forces in many areas.
The downsides? Not many. The thing that people mostly seem to be about complaining about when it comes to Chicago concerns bad traffic. Of course, that is not surprising when it comes to living in a big city. However, the traffic in Chicago is so bad that, according to one research, the residents of the Windy City spend about 26 percent more time in traffic than what is considered to be normal. That amounts to a lot of time spent stuck in traffic without much to do. If you’re looking to get precise moving estimate online when moving to or from Chicago, don’t forget to check whether the amount of gas that is used will greatly influence the price (or maybe it won’t have any influence at all).
A desert party town
Finally, Scottsdale, Arizona is the fifth best US city for job hunters that we will mention in this article. While the minimum wage there is relatively low when compared to the other cities that we have talked about (11 dollars per hour), various socioeconomic factors are making Scottsdale appealing for all the job seekers in US. These include good job security and a fine pay when compared to the cost of living. Scottsdale is also a great city for people who like to party, with people seeing it as desert twin brother (or sister) of Miami Beach.
However, many people have complained that Scottsdale is a city of snobs. Many of its residents are described as being ’’fake’’. Not the kind of warmhearted people who wear their hearts on their sleeve, but rather insincere folks who want to impress you with their material possessions. And of course, being in Arizona means that it’s very hot in Scottsdale. If you dislike hot weather, or even worse, if you can’t stand the heat at all, then Scottsdale is definitely not for you.
If you like the desert, then Scottsdale, Arizona is the right city for you!
Another five great US cities for job hunters are:
- Columbia, Maryland
- Orlando, Florida
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Portland, Maine, and
- Plano, Texas
With these 10 cities in total, everyone should be able to find just the right city for themselves. However, maybe you’re having a hard time finding the right city because you’re bored of living in the USA, and are looking for a change? In that case, check out our guide on the top ten best places in the world to start over.
To conclude
We hope that you’ll able to find a job that you love doing, and that you’ll be able to do it in a city which exactly suits your tastes and needs. Of course, that’s not always possible. However, if you look for a job opening in some of the best US cities for job hunters, there’s a good chance that you’ll eventually find the right place. Best of luck!
