If you’re looking for a city that offers a robust job market and promising income growth, don’t overlook mid-sized metro areas like Nashville or Omaha.
Both are in the top 10 U.S. cities for earnings and employment, according to a new report from Checkr, an HR technology company.
Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Census Bureau, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Checkr ranked the 100 largest U.S. cities based on employment opportunity and earning potential.
Checkr calculated the employment opportunity score for each city based on unemployment rate, labor force growth, labor force size and percentage of jobs open. To calculate the earning potential score, they analyzed each city’s real per capita personal income, 10-year income growth and the percentage of households earning more than $200,000.
Sam Radbil, research and content strategist at Checkr, says that mid-sized cities were “the big winners” based on their study, challenging the “standard big city domination” of jobs and wages.
“The geography of opportunity is shifting,” he says. “If you’re earning a good wage in a mid-sized city like Madison or Des Moines or Raleigh, your money might go further — even if you’re earning less.”
Based on Checkr’s data, these are the top 10 U.S. cities for job opportunities and earning potential.
1. Raleigh, NC
Raleigh is part of North Carolina’s “Research Triangle,” a tech and science hub that encompasses North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“The Research Triangle opens up a ton of opportunities in health care and education, so it’s always going to be popular for jobs there,” Radbil says.
2. Nashville, TN
Job growth has been “huge” in both Nashville and Austin, Radbil says.
Beyond the city’s country music fame, Nashville is now known for its strong health-care, education and logistics sectors.
3. Austin, TX
Due to the influx of tech companies, Austin offers plenty of high-paying jobs, according to Radbil. However, the city’s growing cost of living can quickly eat into those salaries.
“The quality of life is great, but it’s super expensive to live and to rent and to buy a home,” he says.
4. Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City has been steadily growing in both “popularity and population,” Radbil says.
The city has gained traction as a hub for tech and finance, resulting in a thriving job market.
5. Portland, ME
“When it comes to Portland, Maine, affordability is huge,” Radbil says. The city is becoming popular with remote workers, who enjoy its relatively low rent and housing costs.
6. Denver, CO
Wages and job opportunities are both steadily increasing in Denver, and despite rising housing costs, Radbil says it’s still not a “terribly expensive place” to live.
7. Omaha, NE
According to Radbil, Omaha has seen an influx of businesses moving to the city, which boosted its job market and wages. Still, the city remains “very, very affordable” in terms of living costs, he says.
8. Charlotte, NC
Charlotte’s labor force has grown by upwards of 10% in the last 5 years, Radbil says.
“There’s a lot of financial business in Charlotte, which continues to draw people to that area as well,” he says.
9. Charleston, SC
Charleston boasts a growing job market in the finance, health-care and tech industries.
It also offers promising pay: according to Radbil, the percentage of people making over $200,000 in Charleston is on the rise.
10. Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis may not be as glamorous as a coastal city, but it offers a stable job market and reasonable cost of living, Radbil says.
“The Midwest provides a good business climate and good earning potential,” he says.
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