Over a quarter of Americans (28.5%) would move for a job, according to a survey by jobs and recruiting site Glassdoor. But before you pack up the moving van, it's important to consider where you might go. To help workers identify the places to live that will offer the most employment opportunities, Glassdoor has identified the 25 Best Cities for Jobs in 2018.
The site made its list by weighing three factors equally: how easy it is to get a job, how affordable it is to live there, and how satisfied employees are working there. Glassdoor then combined those factors to assign a City Score (on a scale of 1 to 5) to each municipality. It also shared each city's median pay for employees, median home value, job satisfaction rating, and number of current job openings.
In a press release, Glassdoor economic research analyst Amanda Stansell said:
In today's labor market, highly skilled job seekers are in an incredible position to find top jobs no matter where they live. But, the popularity of many major metropolitan hubs might be overshadowing the potential benefits of several midsize cities like Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. While several of the cities highlighted in this report might fly under the radar, many are experiencing booming local economies, complete with a healthy dose of new job prospects and strong home affordability.
Moving for work is about more than just the job. Image source: Getty Images.
Glassdoor's 25 best cities for jobs
- Pittsburgh
- City score (out of 5): 4.7
- Job openings: 91,849
- Median base salary: $46,500
- Job satisfaction rating (out of 5): 3.2
- Median home value: $141,300
- St. Louis
- City score: 4.3
- Job openings: 75,061
- Median base salary: $48,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
- Median home value: $161,400
- Indianapolis
- City score: 4.3
- Job openings: 55,344
- Median base salary: $45,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $152,800
- Cincinnati
- City score: 4.2
- Job openings: 61,320
- Median base salary: $45,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
- Median home value: $160,900
- Hartford, Connecticut
- City score: 4.2
- Job openings: 40,978
- Median base salary: $55,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
- Median home value: $227,600
- Boston
- City score: 4.2
- Job openings: 211,602
- Median base salary: $62,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
- Median home value: $455,600
- Memphis, Tennessee
- City score: 4.2
- Job openings: 26,022
- Median base salary: $43,900
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $133,100
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- City score: 4.2
- Job openings: 49,003
- Median base salary: $50,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $255,000
- Cleveland
- City score: 4.2
- Job openings: 44,385
- Median base salary: $46,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.2
- Median home value: $141,100
- Detroit
- City score: 4.1
- Job openings: 88,993
- Median base salary: $50,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
- Median home value: $154,900
- Kansas City, Missouri
- City score: 4.1
- Job openings: 57,362
- Median base salary: $48,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $181,400
- Washington
- City score: 4.1
- Job openings: 239,832
- Median base salary: $64,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.6
- Median home value: $399,500
- Birmingham, Alabama
- City score: 4.1
- Job openings: 24,864
- Median base salary: $42,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $139,100
- Chicago
- City score: 4.1
- Job openings: 271,947
- Median base salary: $54,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $220,400
- Columbus, Ohio
- City score: 4.1
- Job openings: 54,711
- Median base salary: $47,500
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.3
- Median home value: $182,200
- Louisville, Kentucky
- City score: 4.0
- Job openings: 29,495
- Median base salary: $42,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $155,200
- Baltimore
- City score: 4.0
- Job openings: 93,092
- Median base salary: $50,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $264,800
- Philadelphia
- City score: 4.0
- Job openings: 173,717
- Median base salary: $50,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $228,100
- Atlanta
- City score: 4.0
- Job openings: 145,356
- Median base salary: $50,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $204,600
- Oklahoma City
- City score: 4.0
- Job openings: 27,186
- Median base salary: $38,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
- Median home value: $142,400
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- City score: 3.9
- Job openings: 102,664
- Median base salary: $53,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $261,300
- San Francisco
- City score: 3.9
- Job openings: 193,262
- Median base salary: $80,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.6
- Median home value: $953,600
- Seattle
- City score: 3.9
- Job openings: 137,990
- Median base salary: $64,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.5
- Median home value: $492,700
- Richmond, Virginia
- City score: 3.9
- Job openings: 34,802
- Median base salary: $47,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $223,200
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- City score: 3.9
- Job openings: 55,030
- Median base salary: $48,000
- Job satisfaction rating: 3.4
- Median home value: $195,800
Consider all factors
Moving for a job is about more than just taking a work opportunity. You have to figure in all the positives and negatives of the city you'll be moving to. A big raise isn't as meaningful if your cost of living increases dramatically. Conversely, if you move from a big city to a smaller one, your costs might go down, making a lateral salary move a de facto raise.
Remember that your life is more than your job. Don't move just for a work opportunity -- move if the total opportunity stands a good chance of improving your overall quality of life.
