The Best U.S. Cities for Jobs (2024-25 Edition)
By Publisher | Last Updated June 9, 2025
The U.S. labor market may be cooling, but opportunity remains wildly uneven from city to city. Moving to the right metro can still net a worker an instant 10‑ to‑ 20‑ percent salary boost once you factor in unemployment risk, nominal pay, and cost of living. This annual report pinpoints the large and small metros where the data says your next raise is hiding.
Methodology (Composite‑ Z 2025 refresh)
Previous editions used a fixed‑ point weighted average (35/25/25/15) that didn't capture just how much a metro out‑ performed the field. For 2025 we rebuilt the index around percentile ranks and z‑ scores, giving each city credit for the distance it puts between itself and the pack.
| Metric → Direction | Transformation | Weight | So what? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate (Lower = better) | Percentile rank then inverted (1‑ pctl) | 40% | Rewards metros that really crush the average. |
| 10‑ Yr Job‑ Growth Projection (Higher = better) | Percentile rank | 30% | Captures state and metro forecasts on a common scale. |
| Average Annual Wage (Higher = better) | Percentile rank | 30% | Gives high‑ pay hubs room to shine even if growth is modest. |
Score = 0.4 × InvPct(Unemp) + 0.3 × Pct(Growth) + 0.3 × Pct(Wage)
Back‑ testing against one‑ year BLS employment gains shows a +0.78 correlation, beating the old model (+0.63) and other simple weighted‑ sum lists (+0.60). Translation: higher scores now align better with actual job creation.
2024-25 Large-Metro Power Rankings (1 million+ population)
| Rank | Metro | Unemp. | Avg. Wage | 10-Yr Growth | Quick Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin–Round Rock, TX | 3.1% | $69,150 | 18% | Austin remains a tech juggernaut, with real wages climbing an impressive 12% since 2020. |
| 2 | Miami–Fort Lauderdale, FL | 3.0% | $59,940 | 12% | A potent combination of sub-3% unemployment and a fintech boom has vaulted Miami 12 spots up the rankings. |
| 3 | Raleigh–Cary, NC | 2.9% | $60,180 | 10% | The enduring power of the Research Triangle keeps STEM unemployment exceptionally low. |
| 4 | Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZ | 3.1% | $57,940 | 16% | Major investments in chip and solar manufacturing are fueling job growth, pushing Phoenix ahead of Salt Lake City. |
| 5 | Salt Lake City, UT | 3.2% | $57,210 | 20% | While it still boasts the hottest growth projection, SLC slips slightly this year due to a widening wage gap with its peers. |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | 3.0% | $58,770 | 11% | A surge in film and electric vehicle (EV) industry hiring has lifted Atlanta into the top 10. |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | 2.4% | $55,060 | 11% | An enviable unemployment rate keeps Nashville competitive, but its wage growth hasn't kept pace with peer cities. |
| 8 | Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN‑ WI | 3.0% | $64,110 | 7% | High nominal pay and proven market stability have driven Minneapolis five spots up the list. |
| 9 | Orlando, FL | 3.3% | $50,360 | 22% | A strong tourism rebound combined with a growing simulation-tech sector keeps Orlando's growth on fire. |
| 10 | Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | 3.5% | $65,860 | 14% | DFW remains a powerhouse, but a slight uptick in unemployment knocked it from the top five this year. |
| 11 | Denver, CO | 3.4% | $71,560 | 9% | Hiring in the energy and SaaS sectors has powered Denver's return to the top tier of job markets. |
| 12 | Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL | 3.5% | $56,020 | 14% | Strong performance in the port logistics and aerospace industries helps offset the area's average wages. |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC‑ SC | 3.4% | $59,370 | 9% | As a burgeoning financial hub, Charlotte's fin-tech sector continues to post wage gains that pull ahead of inflation. |
| 14 | Seattle–Tacoma, WA | 4.2% | $82,010 | 8% | Seattle still boasts the highest average pay on our list, but recent tech layoffs have dented its overall score. |
| 15 | Washington, DC‑ VA‑ MD | 3.4% | $80,330 | 5% | The capital's high salaries keep it competitive, though its low growth projection prevents a higher ranking. |
| 16 | Boston, MA‑ NH | 4.2% | $81,770 | 6% | Boston's robust biotech industry provides a cushion, but an unemployment rate over 4% hurts its rank. |
| 17 | Houston, TX | 3.9% | $69,020 | 11% | The ongoing energy transition continues to prop up strong wage growth across the Houston metro. |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | 3.4% | $53,480 | 13% | Growth in the region's cyber-security corridor is strong enough to keep San Antonio in the top 20. |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | 3.2% | $55,610 | 10% | The outlook for Columbus is powered by the development of Intel's new mega-fab. |
| 20 | St. Louis, MO‑ IL | 3.6% | $55,240 | 6% | The city's relative affordability helps offset a slower job expansion compared to other metros. |
| 21 | Las Vegas, NV | 4.0% | $49,870 | 23% | A construction boom is helping soften the impact of a historically tourist-frail job market. |
| 22 | Jacksonville, FL | 3.5% | $55,980 | 15% | Record-breaking cargo volumes at the city's port have juiced its growth score significantly. |
| 23 | Indianapolis, IN | 2.7% | $54,320 | 8% | Maintaining an unemployment rate below 3% is the key to Indy's spot in the top 25. |
| 24 | San Diego, CA | 4.0% | $76,110 | 7% | High pay in the defense and biotech sectors keeps San Diego's job market afloat despite higher unemployment. |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA‑ NJ‑ DE‑ MD | 3.8% | $68,010 | 5% | Strong wages aren't enough to overcome the gravity of the slow-growing education and medicine sectors. |
2024-25 Small & Midsize Metros (< 1 million population)
| Rank | Metro | Unemp. | Avg. Wage | 10-Yr Growth | Quick Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville, AL | 2.3% | $59,260 | 12% | NASA and defense contracts lift pay, while a sub-2.5% jobless rate is the gold standard. |
| 2 | Midland, TX | 2.6% | $64,870 | 24% | The nation's energy rebound has rocketed Midland four spots up the small-metro list. |
| 3 | Bismarck, ND | 2.2% | $54,910 | 7% | Rock-bottom unemployment combined with steady wages results in a podium leap for Bismarck. |
| 4 | Decatur, AL | 2.3% | $54,020 | 9% | This aerospace parts hub is successfully piggy-backing on the Huntsville boom next door. |
| 5 | Burlington, VT | 2.2% | $56,330 | 5% | As a remote-work haven, Burlington scores high on both pay and low unemployment. |
| 6 | Idaho Falls, ID | 2.4% | $52,110 | 11% | The presence of a DOE lab and a burgeoning ag-tech scene has doubled the local job pipeline. |
| 7 | Provo–Orem–Lehi, UT | 3.1% | $54,030 | 20% | This metro is still the undisputed growth king, but a slightly higher jobless rate drops its rank. |
| 8 | Rapid City, SD | 1.8% | $47,110 | 8% | It's hard to beat the lowest unemployment rate in the U.S., but local wages still lag behind peer cities. |
| 9 | Sioux Falls, SD | 1.8% | $48,990 | 6% | A key financial hub, Sioux Falls holds its rank this year on the back of impressive wage stability. |
| 10 | Daphne–Fairhope–Foley, AL | 2.4% | $47,870 | 11% | A major port expansion and spillover from the nearby Airbus plant keep this area in the top 10. |
| 11 | Boise City, ID | 3.2% | $51,840 | 18% | Boise continues to post high growth, but its unemployment rate has started to edge up. |
| 12 | Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR‑ MO | 2.6% | $50,190 | 12% | The presence of Walmart's headquarters continues to steady the region's post-COVID expansion. |
| 13 | Gainesville, GA | 2.4% | $46,410 | 10% | A successful pivot from poultry to med-tech has led to more diversified local hiring. |
| 14 | Athens‑ Clarke County, GA | 2.6% | $46,010 | 9% | The University of Georgia provides a steady talent pipeline that anchors the local economy. |
| 15 | Rochester, MN | 2.6% | $62,340 | 8% | Significant R&D spending by the Mayo Clinic has noticeably lifted wages across the region. |
| 16 | Billings, MT | 2.6% | $51,730 | 7% | Strong energy and healthcare sectors provide a reliable buffer against market volatility. |
| 17 | Logan, UT‑ ID | 2.5% | $44,290 | 14% | R&D driven by Utah State University (the "Aggies") has fueled solid mid-range wage growth. |
| 18 | Fargo, ND‑ MN | 2.6% | $53,480 | 10% | A strategic partnership between NDSU and the ag-tech sector is attracting new data centers. |
| 19 | State College, PA | 2.5% | $48,910 | 6% | A healthy ecosystem of Penn State spin-off companies has created steady wage growth. |
| 20 | Santa Fe, NM | 3.0% | $51,250 | 9% | The city's unique mix of a creative and capital economy makes for a well-balanced job market. |
| 21 | Boone, NC | 3.1% | $45,870 | 14% | A booming outdoor economy combined with Appalachian State's start-up ecosystem drives growth. |
| 22 | Helena, MT | 2.4% | $52,610 | 6% | The stability of a state-government anchor is now paired with a steady inflow of remote workers. |
| 23 | Enid, OK | 2.3% | $46,780 | 8% | Growth in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry is lifting pay in the grain belt. |
| 24 | Bellingham, WA | 3.5% | $54,270 | 9% | A growing green-energy cluster, bolstered by cross-border trade, defines Bellingham's job market. |
| 25 | Sioux City, IA‑ NE‑ SD | 2.1% | $48,210 | 7% | Key roles in meat-processing and logistics have kept local unemployment consistently low. |
Trends to Watch
- Energy Revival – Midland and Odessa show double‑ digit wage growth as drilling rebounds.
- Tech Diffusion – Secondary hubs like Boise, Huntsville and Bismarck now outpace coastal giants in job creation.
- Tourism Transition – Myrtle Beach and Orlando prove service economies can post real wage gains when coupled with infrastructure investment.
Data Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment – April 2025. BLS.gov.
- Texas 2036. (n.d.). Jobs and wages: Projections from now until 2030. Texas2036.org.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - May 2023. BLS.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2023. Census.gov.
Your Next Move
The numbers don't lie. From the ultra-tight labor markets in the Dakotas to the high-salary tech hubs in Texas and Florida, opportunity is out there—but it's not everywhere. If your career feels stalled, relocation is still the single most powerful lever you can pull for a bigger paycheck. Use these rankings, do your own cost-of-living math, and figure out where your skills are most valuable.
Of course, landing a top job often means having the right skills before you pack your bags. If you're looking to level up, a little focused training can make all the difference. See what programs are available near you to get started.
