*LIST* The Best & Worst Places To Start A Career

As new college grads get ready to enter the job market for the first time, location can make a huge difference. Some areas offer more of what these young professionals are looking for and a new report from WalletHub highlights where they are.

• Their list of the Best and Worst Places to Start a Career in 2025 has just come out.
• They ranked 182 U.S. cities on 25 key metrics to help recent college graduates find the best spot to start their careers.
• WalletHub rated cities on everything from housing affordability to the average monthly starting salary to the availability of entry-level jobs.
• So, where is the best city for young go-getters kicking off their professional life? Topping the list is Atlanta, Georgia, which is number one for professional opportunities and fifth for quality of life.
• Austin, Texas, fourth overall, is number one for quality of life.
• At the bottom of the list is Pearl City, Hawaii, landing in last place for professional opportunities and 144th for quality of life.

The 10 Best Cities To Start A Career

1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Orlando, Florida
3. Tampa, Florida
4. Austin, Texas
5. Miami, Florida
6. Charleston, South Carolina
7. Richmond, Virginia
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
9. Columbia, South Carolina
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The 10 Worst Cities To Start A Career

1. Pearl City, Hawaii
2. Bridgeport, Connecticut
3. Oxnard, California
4. New York, New York
5. Detroit, Michigan
6. Shreveport, Louisiana
7. Santa Clarita, California
8. Newark, New Jersey
9. Toledo, Ohio
10. Moreno Valley, California

Source: WalletHub⠀
photo: Getty