The ranking evaluates 182 cities, including the 150 most populous, across two key dimensions: the job market and socioeconomics. WalletHub assessed these dimensions using 31 metrics, including job opportunities, employment growth, average monthly starting salary and average commute time.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions. The personal finance company calculated each city’s overall score using a weighted average of all metrics.
Best cities for jobs in 2025:
- Scottsdale, Ariz. — 67.04
- Pittsburgh, Pa. — 66.48
- Columbia, Md. — 66.38
- South Burlington, Vt. — 65.33
- Portland, Maine — 64.29
- Charleston, S.C. — 61.72
- Chandler, Ariz. —61.13
- Washington, D.C. — 61.07
- Tempe, Ariz. — 61.03
- Orlando, Fla. — 60.95
Worst cities for jobs:
- Memphis, Tenn. — 40.77
- Detroit, Mich. — 41.44
- San Bernardino, Calif. — 42.41
- Augusta, Ga. — 42.60
- Baton Rouge, La. — 42.71
- Gulfport, Miss. — 43.13
- Bakersfield, Calif. — 43.51
- Huntington, W. Va. — 43.76
- Stockton, Calif. — 44.17
- Shreveport, La. — 44.36
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