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Which is the best US city to start a career? It’s not New York City or San Francisco

The list determined the best city in the US to start a career based on several parameters, including affordable housing and job growth.

Updated on: May 20, 2025, 08:40:19 IST
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With graduation season in full swing in the US, a list by WalletHub about the "Best & Worst Places to Start a Career" in the US has surprised the internet. It claims that the title goes to Atlanta, Georgia. The list ranked 182 cities using several parameters, such as job growth, affordable housing, average commute, starting salary, and more, to find where each American city stands.

The report about the best American cities to start a career comes amid the graduation season in the US. (Pixabay)
The report about the best American cities to start a career comes amid the graduation season in the US. (Pixabay)

Which are the best cities?

The survey says, "Atlanta is the best place to start a career, boasting one of the highest growth rates in the median household income, at around 8.2% annually. The median annual household income in Atlanta is already pretty high as well, at nearly $85,400.”

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It further claims this city is perfect for those looking forward to starting their business. The survey added that on Glassdoor, an anonymous review website of workplaces, most companies based in Atlanta are rated 4 out of 5, with a high satisfaction rate.

Orlando in Florida bagged the title of the second-best city for starting a career, and the third-best city is Tampa, also in Florida.

Which cities were at the bottom of the list?

Pearl City in Hawaii is at the bottom of the list. New York ranked 179th among the 182 cities. As for San Francisco, this California city claimed the 51st position on the list.

What makes a city the best?

“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. 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,” Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo said.

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“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,” Lupo added.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More

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