These Are the 25 Best Cities for Jobs in 2018, Glassdoor Says
Over a quarter of Americans (28.5%) would move for a job, according to a survey by jobs and recruiting site Glassdoor. But before you pack up the moving van, it's important to consider where you might go. To help workers identify the places to live that will offer the most employment opportunities, Glassdoor has identified the 25 Best Cities for Jobs in 2018.
The site made its list by weighing three factors equally: how easy it is to get a job, how affordable it is to live there, and how satisfied employees are working there. Glassdoor then combined those factors to assign a City Score (on a scale of 1 to 5) to each municipality. It also shared each city's median pay for employees, median home value, job satisfaction rating, and number of current job openings.
In a press release, Glassdoor economic research analyst Amanda Stansell said:
In today's labor market, highly skilled job seekers are in an incredible position to find top jobs no matter where they live. But, the popularity of many major metropolitan hubs might be overshadowing the potential benefits of several midsize cities like Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. While several of the cities highlighted in this report might fly under the radar, many are experiencing booming local economies, complete with a healthy dose of new job prospects and strong home affordability.
Moving for work is about more than just the job. Image source: Getty Images.
Glassdoor's 25 best cities for jobs
Pittsburgh
City score (out of 5): 4.7
Job openings: 91,849
Median base salary: $46,500
Job satisfaction rating (out of 5): 3.2
Median home value: $141,300
St. Louis
City score: 4.3
Job openings: 75,061
Median base salary: $48,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
Median home value: $161,400
Indianapolis
City score: 4.3
Job openings: 55,344
Median base salary: $45,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $152,800
Cincinnati
City score: 4.2
Job openings: 61,320
Median base salary: $45,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
Median home value: $160,900
Hartford, Connecticut
City score: 4.2
Job openings: 40,978
Median base salary: $55,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
Median home value: $227,600
Boston
City score: 4.2
Job openings: 211,602
Median base salary: $62,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
Median home value: $455,600
Memphis, Tennessee
City score: 4.2
Job openings: 26,022
Median base salary: $43,900
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $133,100
Raleigh, North Carolina
City score: 4.2
Job openings: 49,003
Median base salary: $50,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $255,000
Cleveland
City score: 4.2
Job openings: 44,385
Median base salary: $46,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.2
Median home value: $141,100
Detroit
City score: 4.1
Job openings: 88,993
Median base salary: $50,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
Median home value: $154,900
Kansas City, Missouri
City score: 4.1
Job openings: 57,362
Median base salary: $48,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $181,400
Washington
City score: 4.1
Job openings: 239,832
Median base salary: $64,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.6
Median home value: $399,500
Birmingham, Alabama
City score: 4.1
Job openings: 24,864
Median base salary: $42,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $139,100
Chicago
City score: 4.1
Job openings: 271,947
Median base salary: $54,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $220,400
Columbus, Ohio
City score: 4.1
Job openings: 54,711
Median base salary: $47,500
Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
Median home value: $182,200
Louisville, Kentucky
City score: 4.0
Job openings: 29,495
Median base salary: $42,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $155,200
Baltimore
City score: 4.0
Job openings: 93,092
Median base salary: $50,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $264,800
Philadelphia
City score: 4.0
Job openings: 173,717
Median base salary: $50,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $228,100
Atlanta
City score: 4.0
Job openings: 145,356
Median base salary: $50,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $204,600
Oklahoma City
City score: 4.0
Job openings: 27,186
Median base salary: $38,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
Median home value: $142,400
Minneapolis-St. Paul
City score: 3.9
Job openings: 102,664
Median base salary: $53,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $261,300
San Francisco
City score: 3.9
Job openings: 193,262
Median base salary: $80,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.6
Median home value: $953,600
Seattle
City score: 3.9
Job openings: 137,990
Median base salary: $64,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
Median home value: $492,700
Richmond, Virginia
City score: 3.9
Job openings: 34,802
Median base salary: $47,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $223,200
Charlotte, North Carolina
City score: 3.9
Job openings: 55,030
Median base salary: $48,000
Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
Median home value: $195,800
Consider all factors
Moving for a job is about more than just taking a work opportunity. You have to figure in all the positives and negatives of the city you'll be moving to. A big raise isn't as meaningful if your cost of living increases dramatically. Conversely, if you move from a big city to a smaller one, your costs might go down, making a lateral salary move a de facto raise.
Remember that your life is more than your job. Don't move just for a work opportunity -- move if the total opportunity stands a good chance of improving your overall quality of life.
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