Out of a job? Thinking of a career change? Before making any sudden moves, you might want to consider the job climate in your city.
The website, WalletHub.com, analyzed 150 of the most populated cities across U.S. to determine the best and worst cities for job-seekers. The results were based on 16 criteria including job openings and employment growth, median salaries, unemployment rate, commute times, and housing affordability.
The Western United States dominated much of the top 10 on WalletHub’s list. Taking the top spots were Seattle, WA and runner-up Des Moines, IA (#2). They were followed by Gilbert, AZ; Sioux Falls, SD; and our very own Fremont, CA.
Chandler, Omaha, Salt Lake City, Scottsdale, and Plano rounded out of the top 10. But numerous other California cities soon followed. San Jose came in at #13, while Santa Clarita and San Francisco earned the #15 and #20 spots respectively.
Both Fremont and San Jose benefited from high wages. Fremont has the third highest median annual income, while San Jose has the highest monthly median starting salary. San Francisco scored extra points for its sheer number of job opportunities.
Overall, Southern California didn’t fare so well. Both San Diego and Los Angeles ranked among the lowest on the job opportunity scale. San Diego came in at #79 on this list. Los Angeles settled in at #114, while the City of San Bernardino came in dead last at #150.
Read more about the best and worst cities for jobs and see a full list here.