Are you looking for cities with the best job opportunities? Job location is one of the important things when looking for a full-time or remote job. With the job market replacing jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and creating more opportunities, many cities have the best job opportunities.
Below, we look at some of the top cities with the most job opportunities in the country. Whether your job is remote or looking for an on-site job, these cities offer excellent options, vibrant culture, and affordable cost of living.
Cities With The Most Job Opportunities
With the below cities, we look at the job market, average salary, popular careers, and average cost of living.
1. San Francisco, California
Sitting in the northern part of California, San Francisco is one of the cities with the most job opportunities. Some industries dominating this region include retail trade, banking and finance, shipping, manufacturing, health care, education, tourism, and construction. Being a home to some of the top companies like Wells Fargo, Doordash, Lyft, Chime Bank, Airbnb, Stripe, Deloitte, Accenture, SoFi, and Gensler, San Francisco is bursting with the best job opportunities.
San Francisco stacks higher in the average annual salary at $81,840 compared to the national average of $56,310. More technical jobs pay better, so if this is your area of expertise, you might want to try new jobs in San Francisco. On the flip side, the cost of rent in this city is relatively high if you compare it with other metro areas, and the rent here averages $2,343 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Public transportation is pretty accessible, and you can expect to spend an average of $98 for an adult pass per month. Additionally, the cost of food and utilities is lower than the national average, and groceries can cost you $312, while the utilities average $194.41 per month.
The culture here is diverse and progressive, so the city welcomes people from all walks of life. From The Presidio to Dolores Park, San Francisco boasts many parks offering magical views and unforgettable experiences.
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ten fortune 500 companies call Pittsburgh home, making it another city with the best job opportunities. Pittsburgh is one of the most industrialized in the nation and sits strategically in the southeast of PA. The key industries here include energy, cyber security, AI, robotics, life science and health, manufacturing, and logistics. Thanks to affordable real estate and access to top talents, many companies flock to Pittsburg, creating a thriving job market.
The average salary in Pittsburgh is $68,000, with the housing rent averaging at $1,450 per month. It also ranks the top as one of the leading destinations for first-time homebuyers, with an average home price of $166,900. Jobs like software engineering, operations, and software development are among the highest paying up to $139,000 per year.
Apart from the best job opportunities, Pittsburgh offers plenty of outdoor activities to explore. You can hike the trails, visit the museums, spend time in the parks or attend annual sports events like Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.
3. Indianapolis, Indiana
In Indiana, Indianapolis is another city seeing rapid growth in job opportunities. It is the 15th biggest city in the country with some of the biggest companies like Anthem, Vanguard Services, Eli Lilly and Company, Steak and Shake, and Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
Indianapolis’ job market rate is 2.5% higher than last year, with a forecast of 37.5% job growth over the next ten years. This job growth rate projection is higher than the national average of 33.5%. If you’re considering moving to the midwest, the City of Indianapolis might be the best place to grow your career. There are more than 150,000 new open job postings.
Some of the in-demand talent in this region include customer service representatives, retail sales associates, warehouse, food service workers, and building and maintenance general technicians.
The cost of living here in Indianapolis is eight percentage points lower than the national average. Furthermore, the housing expenses are 19% lower than the national average, with monthly house rent at $878.30 per month. It is precisely one of the most affordable cities to live in. As a worker in Indianapolis, you can earn an average base income of $65k.
Indianapolis offers more, from flush neighborhoods to miles of jaw-dropping trails and world-class cuisine to savor.
4. Detroit, Michigan
Are you a personal care aide, registered nurse, software developer, marketing specialist, medical assistant, or industrial engineer looking for a new job opportunity? Detroit, Michigan, is one of the cities soaring economically and with new job opportunities. The job gain here is 4.7% higher than the national increase of 4.6%.
In January, the Detroit metro area saw an increase in new employment by 81,000 while unemployment decreased by 40,000. This indicates an upward trend in economic growth and increased work opportunities post-pandemic. Leisure and hospitality is the leading sector with more employment opportunities post-COVID, followed by professional and business services and trade, transportation, and utilities coming in third.
Companies like Ford Motor Company, Quicken Loans, Campbell-Ewald Advertising, Ally Financial Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Michigan play a key role in the employment sector in Detroit. This means that you can find an employer paying an average of $72k per year.
The cost of living here in Detroit City is lower than in other metro areas. Renting a one-bedroom apartment will cost an average of $697, which is lower than in cities like Charlotte. The fun part about living and working in Detroit’s close-knit community and buzzing nightlife.
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Known as the home to the first chocolate factory in the country, Boston is another city booming with the best job opportunities. Some of the key industries here include education and health services, professional/business service, trade, transportation, and utilities.
Health care leads with the highest number of jobs, followed by finance & insurance and higher education. This means Boston is one of the best places to land your dream healthcare, finance, or education job.
Boston ranks at the top with an average base pay of $91,000 per year if you’re looking for a city for jobs with the highest pay. This city ranks third as one of the high-earning cities after San Jose, California. Although it costs more to live here, it is lower than in New York City.
With a world-class health care system, attractive coastal areas, rich history, and top-tier education systems, Boston can offer quality life and opportunities for career & business growth.
Best Places to Move for Remote Workers
The remote work trend continues to soar, with many people shifting from traditional office environments to their dream workplaces. This also means that cities embrace the remote work culture by creating amenities that support virtual workers.
As a remote worker, you should consider internet speed, coworking spaces, transport, safety, and cost of living. Whether you’re looking to live there for a short or longer period, below are some of the best places to move for remote workers.
6. Tulsa, Oklahoma
Did you know that Tulsa City will pay you thousands of dollars to move and work there remotely? That’s right! Tulsa is looking for remote workers to move from this diverse community in Oklahoma. You can get up to $10,000 to move to this city as a full-time or self-employed remote worker. Additionally, you will get a free desk space where you can produce the best of your work and meet other remote workers.
Tulsa balances the city life and natural environment, giving you the best of both worlds. This welcoming city also focuses on curating the best affordable apartments that are a perfect match for remote workers. You can spend your free time here attending programs and events tailored for remote workers.
7. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the hub for remote workers as the first city to offer a city-wide gigabit network. The robust and fast internet connectivity in this city is what you need to do your work hassle-free. This mid-size city balances urban life and mother nature with lush green spaces.
From the breathtaking views of Coolidge Park to the scenic Sculpture Fields, you will never run out of fun things to do off work in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
8. Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh boasts of 9.1% of its population working remotely, making this place one of the best cities for remote workers. As home to more than four thousand tech companies hiring more remote workers, this city offers excellent coworking spaces and fast internet speed.
From townhomes to urban apartments to rural homes and suburban homes, Raleigh offers plenty of options for choosing your home. The average cost of renting a house in Raleigh is $756.55 per month, lower than in major cities like San Francisco. Overall, the cost of living is 5 percent lower than the national average, making Raleigh an affordable place for remote workers.
If you’re not enjoying a hot brew of coffee at The Morning Times, you can take a morning stroll at the picturesque Moore Square.
9. Cincinnati, Ohio
Thanks to its small-town feel, vibrant community, affordable housing, and dozens of recreational facilities, Cincinnati is another popular spot for remote workers. While it is a mid-sized city, Cincinnati offers best-in-class recreational facilities like theaters, concerts, and fine dining.
There are also dozens of coworking spaces for when you don’t want to work from your home office. In addition to family-friendly amenities and spots, Cincinnati also offers an ultra-modern healthcare system boosting the quality of life.
This midwest city boasts the cost of living 8% lower than the national average.
10. Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is an inviting place for remote workers looking for warmer arid regions. While summers are the hottest in Glendale, you will enjoy brighter days throughout the year. The city is also bustling with many sporting, concerts, and festival activities.
When you need fresh produce, the Tolmachoff Farms provides the freshest food for the city of Glendale. Glendale features plenty of antique stores waiting for you to explore if you love treasure hunting.
11. Topeka, Kansas
Are you looking for another city that pays remote workers to move there? Topeka is also one of the best places to move for remote workers. Located along the Kansas River, the city of Topeka will give you up to $15k in incentives to relocate and work in the city.
The cost of living in Topeka is ten percent lower, with a single-family home costing an average of $125k. From upscale and elegant to charming and affordable neighborhoods, Topeka offers excellent options for housing.
What Remote Jobs are in Demand?
Years back, remote working was a far-fetched dream until the pandemic hit, and it became the new normal. Many companies now realize that they can do some or all of their projects remotely. Below are in-demand remote jobs you can try.
1. Medical Writer
A medical writer has an excellent understanding of medical concepts and helps pharmaceuticals and healthcare organizations create consumer information. They also focus on creating study reports, grant proposals, instruction documents, scientific articles, and medical journals.
A medical writer earns $102,603 per year on average.
2. Web Developer
With many businesses moving their operations online, there is a demand for web development skills. A web developer focuses on building websites and applications to help companies run efficiently. Most web developers work as independent remote contractors earning an average of $77,200 per year.
3. Customer Service Representatives
Customer service reps can also work remotely, and they help companies offer support to their customers. Typically, they interact with customers to answer queries, and complaints, process orders, and provide reliable information about a company’s product/service.
A customer service rep earns $35,830 per year on average.
4. Digital Marketing Specialist
A digital marketer is in demand, and their job is to promote brands online by doing market research, creating a strategy, and running marketing campaigns. On average, a digital marketing specialist can pocket $77,937 per year.
5. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant provides remote administration support like scheduling appointments:
- Booking travels.
- Making calls.
- Managing social media pages.
- Organizing emails for clients.
Remote assistants can work from anywhere and earn $67,115 on average.
Work in Your Dream City
Whether you’re fresh from college or looking to move up the ladder in your career, the cities above offer the best job opportunities for you to try. Here at Penny Calling Penny, we strive to add more resourceful job articles like this to guide you on your career path. Sign up for our email and get timely job information delivered to your inbox.
