Being a small fish in a big pond like New York or LA can be tough: You’re constantly competing for only a handful of different positions, and it’s easy to get overshadowed by the millions of other go-getters who surround you on a daily basis. Luckily, there are plenty of other cities where you can fully express your inner career rock star.
“These areas stand out for offering some of the greatest job prospects along with a lower cost of living that allows more employees to live comfortably.”
Glassdoor just released the top 25 best cities for jobs based on affordability, openings, and job satisfaction—and the top contenders might surprise you. Instead of rushing off to a bigger market city—even though the buzzy new fitness boutiques may tend to land in those locales first—venturing somewhere midsize might be the more prosperous choice: Most of the cities on the list have upwards of 100,000 job openings each year.
“When it comes to finding the best city for jobs, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better,” Glassdoor chief economist Andrew Chamberlain, PhD, told Time. “These areas stand out for offering some of the greatest job prospects along with a lower cost of living that allows more employees to live comfortably.”
So, where are these magical cities that both offer cool jobs and a great places to live? Many are in the Midwest, but they’re scattered all across the country. And don’t worry, city slickers—cosmopolitan stalwarts like Washington, DC, and Chicago made the cut.
Or, you could venture to British Columbia to seek out a covetable wellness role at Lululemon’s job fair in Vancouver on September 21!
Here are the top 25 cities for aspiring #bossladies to shine.
1. Pittsburgh, PA
Job Openings: 95,399Median Base Salary: $44,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.2/5Median Home Value: $137,400
2. Indianapolis, IN
Job Openings: 80,561Median Base Salary: $43,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $138,100
3. Kansas City, MO
Job Openings: 90,649Median Base Salary: $45,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $159,400
4. Raleigh-Durham, NC
Job Openings: 65,810Median Base Salary: $50,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $228,200
5. St. Louis, MO
Job Openings: 104,725Median Base Salary: $45,600Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $148,600
6. Memphis, TN
Job Openings: 42,347Median Base Salary: $41,200Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $119,700
7. Columbus, OH
Job Openings: 78,370Median Base Salary: $45,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $162,500
8. Cincinnati, OH
Job Openings: 79,554Median Base Salary: $44,637Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $152,600
9. Cleveland, OH
Job Openings: 66,410Median Base Salary: $43,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $134,600
10. Louisville, KY
Job Openings: 49,213Median Base Salary: $40,138Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $148,600
11. Birmingham, AL
Job Openings: 40,123Median Base Salary: $38,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $133,400
12. Detroit, MI
Job Openings: 119,567Median Base Salary: $46,344Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $141,000
13. Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN
Job Openings: 151,656Median Base Salary: $52,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $247,400
14. Hartford, CT
Job Openings: 46,274Median Base Salary: $55,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $223,100
15. Oklahoma City, OK
Job Openings: 43,898Median Base Salary: $36,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $134,900
16. Washington, DC
Job Openings: 293,481Median Base Salary: $62,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.5/5Median Home Value: $382,600
17. Seattle, WA
Job Openings: 187,741Median Base Salary: $65,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.5/5Median Home Value: $447,100
18. Atlanta, GA
Job Openings: 195,021Median Base Salary: $46,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $179,900
19. Baltimore, MD
Job Openings: 123,370Median Base Salary: $48,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $261,000
20. Nashville, TN
Job Openings: 80,192Median Base Salary: $42,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $220,100
21. Milwaukee, WI
Job Openings: 63,772Median Base Salary: $46,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.2/5Median Home Value: $215,500
22. San Jose, CA
Job Openings: 106,809Median Base Salary: $100,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.5/5Median Home Value: $1,013,700
23. Chicago, IL
Job Openings: 332,546Median Base Salary: $50,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $211,200
24. Charlotte, NC
Job Openings: 78,285Median Base Salary: $45,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.3/5Median Home Value: $174,800
25. Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
Job Openings: 249,235Median Base Salary: $49,000Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.4/5Median Home Value: $211,000
This is one surprising way to get ahead in your career you probably haven’t tried yet. And the next time you need a career boost, look to your astrological sign for guidance.
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