Thousands of students every year are faced with a choice. It’s choosing where to live and where to work for the first time. It must meet several criteria: provide a living wage, a chance to grow and advance in your career, and low competition per job.
Cities that are good for living and first jobs are judged on their overall unemployment rate, job growth rate and wage growth, and the cost of living in the city.
These indicators are worth looking at as you choose your direction for the future.
Of course, many people would like to get a decent job in one of the world-famous stone jungle cities like New York or Chicago. But let’s look at other options that might fit your requirements perfectly, and a paystub will display impressive salaries for you.
- Tampa, Florida
It is the third-largest Florida city with a population of about 400,000.
To make a livable wage here, a single person must have a minimum of $30,825 per year before taxes.
As of July 3, 2022, the median annual salary for professionals working in Tampa is $84,743 a year, approximately $40.74 an hour, $1,630 per week, or $7,062 per month.
Tampa has a strong economy and a lower than the national average unemployment rate. That means you won’t be without a job. This city tops the list of cities in Florida for the number of positions. There are at least 6,000 now.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics posted a study predicting growth in Tampa at 3.1 percent a year through 2024. That’s higher than the expected growth for Florida (2.6%) and the expected national job growth rate (2.9%). However, it is much slower than the recent boom, when growth reached the 5% level.
What occupations do you need in Tampa? You can find the most significant number of job openings in:
- financial and consulting services,
- education, and health care (this area accounts for 17% of the city’s economy),
- information technology (if you develop and want to sell software development services or are cybersecurity or technical support specialist, you will find lots of opportunities here),
- science, defense, and security.
Is it an excellent place to live? This city is a good choice for graduates, young adults, and growing families. Many of Tampa’s neighborhoods are calm and safe. There’s a beach, lots of beautiful parks, and boat rides. It means that every family member can find something fun to do. You can bike, sail, hike, swim, fish, surf, etc. The climate in Tampa allows you to do this year-round. The opportunities to live and enjoy your life here are endless.
- Salt Lake City, UT
A good salary here is considered $4,2996 a year, that’s $3,583 per month, and you can live on $36,000 a year. The average salary in Salt Lake City is about $10,000 higher than the national average. The wage growth rate is up to 3.3 percent, compared to 1.1 percent nationally. The unemployment rate is only 2.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted. The most developed industries are concentrated in mining, salt production, cattle breeding, and government jobs.
For all the inputs, life in this city is relatively inexpensive. Utilities are cheaper due to the region’s coal mining, wind, and solar power.
The products you buy cost 2% less than the national average.
On top of that, even health care services will cost you 7% less than the U.S. average.
The state is working to reduce the overall tax burden for residents. You will be subject to a 5.9% to 8.7% tax rate. Salt Lake City, UT, is an excellent place to live.
- Orlando, FL
It is another city to start your career that is worth considering. It will be a cozy place to live, work, start a family, relax and have fun.
The city has inhabitants of about 300,000 people. Many parks include amusement parks, museums, lakes, beaches, cafes, bars, and restaurants.
About 23% of the city’s residents are young people between the ages of 25 and 34. And a third of the residents have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 14% have a master’s degree or higher.
The median household income is $55,183, and the minimum you can exist on is required at $3,24448. The unemployment rate is only 2.7%.
Here, businesses pay low taxes, and government interference in their organization is minimal. Consequently, companies can thrive and provide their employees with exciting and competitive wages.
- Atlanta, GA
The price of living here is a little over $38,000 a year. It is the amount you will need to provide for your actual needs for housing, food, clothing, medical care, and the like. The average family income is $68,000.
The highest salaries await you in management (about $117,561), business and financial operations ($75,135), computer technology ($99,189), architecture and engineering ($86,766), and law ($84,177).
The job market in Atlanta is quite competitive. However, the number of job openings in the city is constantly replenished. The unemployment rate is 2.6 percent.
Employment is the highest in educational services, health and welfare, housing, food service, and retail trade.
In recent years, businesses have been filled with large companies and successful entrepreneurs. More and more people are moving here. It is one of the most densely populated cities for employment. It is the No. 1 city for graduates and young professionals.
Besides the above advantages for finding your first job in Atlanta, you should note the fair prices for living in the city, the mild climate, and plenty of entertainment for you and your family within the city limits.
- Austin, Texas
And finally, we got to the city in Texas. We are going to talk about graduate opportunities in Austin.
The average salary in the city is $45,957, and high-paying top earners get an average of $71,972 a year. The town shows a low unemployment rate of just 3.2 percent, which means Austin is a good option for employment.
The most significant number of people are employed in high-tech manufacturing, computer and space technology.
The climate in the city is very mild, with comfortable temperatures in the winter.
The city’s development varies from densely populated areas with many bars, restaurants, and stores to quiet and family-oriented neighborhoods.
Many Americans consider Austin the best place to work, live and retire.