Best job markets in the US

Best job markets in the US

The demand for different career paths and qualifications varies widely from place to place, often depending on local economic features, including geography, infrastructure, politics, culture and resources. Similarly, what makes one job market more appealing than others can depend on a job-hunter’s financial and familial circumstances. Not only does the presence of jobs and a high income count, but many households rely on health insurance, the possibility for income growth, a short enough commute to allow work-life balance, or even remote work in full.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 348 U.S. cities based on six metrics from the latest Census Bureau data to help households determine which job markets might be most suitable for their financial goals.

• The job market in Bend, OR ranks number one. Bend residents reflected a combination of relatively low unemployment (3.1%) and high income growth at 44.2% over three years. At the same time, work is accessible and flexible for many, with and an average commute time of 16 minutes, while 26.9% work remotely.

• Over three years, average worker earnings in Richmond, VA increased by 50%. Ranking third best job market overall, Richmond saw the median earnings for workers grow from $31,072 in 2019 to $46,443 in 2023, a climb of 49.4%.

• Olathe, KS boasts the lowest unemployment rate. Olathe, KS clocked an unemployment rate of just 1.27% for 2023, compared to a studywide median of 4.45%. The median earnings for workers ranked in the top quartile at $50,868, but income growth since then was particularly slow at 11% between 2020 and 2023.

• The job market in Santa Clara, CA offers the most health insurance coverage. 88.6% of workers in Santa Clara have private health insurance through their employer. This helps the city rank for sixth-best job market overall. On the opposite side of this metric, less than half of workers in three cities don’t have health insurance through their employer: Paterson, NJ; Santa Maria, CA; and Bridgeport, CT.

• Workers in Boulder, CO have a particularly good work-life balance. Despite ranking 309th for the job market overall due to relatively low income, low income growth, and high unemployment, Boulder ranks second when considering just median commute times (19.3 minutes) and remote work (25.4% of workers).

Top 20 Best Job Markets

1. Bend, Oregon

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.16%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $51,382

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 42.74%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,830

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 44.22%

• Median commute time in minutes: 16

• Percent of workers who work from home: 26.89%

• Number of remote workers: 15,883

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 75.35%

1. Richmond, Virginia

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.80%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $73,138

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 37.75%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,718

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 49.47%

• Median commute time in minutes: 21.6

• Percent of workers who work from home: 15.81%

• Number of remote workers: 20,613

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 77.40%

1. Seattle, Washington

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 4.17%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $46,443

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 33.92%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,461

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 35.99%

• Median commute time in minutes: 25.5

• Percent of workers who work from home: 26.87%

• Number of remote workers: 132,724

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 85.49%

1. Bellevue, Washington

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 4.29%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $76,228

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 30.30%

• Median monthly housing costs: $2,155

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 32.43%

• Median commute time in minutes: 25.4

• Percent of workers who work from home: 24.59%

• Number of remote workers: 21,082

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 87.08%

1. Carmel, Indiana

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 2.27%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $101,038

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 28.19%

• Median monthly housing costs: $2,551

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 21.49%

• Median commute time in minutes: 22.8

• Percent of workers who work from home: 27.75%

• Number of remote workers: 15,989

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 86.21%

1. Santa Clara, California

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 4.24%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $90,384

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 39.05%

• Median monthly housing costs: $2,941

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 40.97%

• Median commute time in minutes: 23.9

• Percent of workers who work from home: 16.51%

• Number of remote workers: 13,540

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 88.63%

1. Cary, North Carolina

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.50%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $47,203

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 30.29%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,116

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 23.13%

• Median commute time in minutes: 23

• Percent of workers who work from home: 27.96%

• Number of remote workers: 27,469

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 86.63%

1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 2.36%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $56,858

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 28.37%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,861

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 29.89%

• Median commute time in minutes: 18

• Percent of workers who work from home: 9.26%

• Number of remote workers: 10,956

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 81.36%

1. Westminster, Colorado

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 1.69%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $70,711

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 39.28%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,785

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 37.73%

• Median commute time in minutes: 26.9

• Percent of workers who work from home: 19.35%

• Number of remote workers: 13,356

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 80.50%

1. Sunnyvale, California

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.45%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $111,905

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 32.30%

• Median monthly housing costs: $3,012

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 31.12%

• Median commute time in minutes: 23.8

• Percent of workers who work from home: 15.33%

• Number of remote workers: 14,543

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 86.92%

1. Austin, Texas

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.95%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $36,585

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 38.36%

• Median monthly housing costs: $966

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 34.97%

• Median commute time in minutes: 23.2

• Percent of workers who work from home: 26.54%

• Number of remote workers: 166,315

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 81.24%

1. Wichita Falls, Texas

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 2.51%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $68,390

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 31.69%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,875

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 39.65%

• Median commute time in minutes: 14.4

• Percent of workers who work from home: 7.58%

• Number of remote workers: 3,658

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 69.88%

1. Scottsdale, Arizona

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 2.97%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $57,183

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 32.90%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,828

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 28.38%

• Median commute time in minutes: 22.7

• Percent of workers who work from home: 26.52%

• Number of remote workers: 34,047

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 78.82%

1. St. Louis, Missouri

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 4.69%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $59,986

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 26.40%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,793

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 34.47%

• Median commute time in minutes: 21.8

• Percent of workers who work from home: 13.30%

• Number of remote workers: 21,751

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 79.55%

1. Nashville, Tennessee

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.13%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $50,304

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 37.09%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,555

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 38.37%

• Median commute time in minutes: 24.7

• Percent of workers who work from home: 17.81%

• Number of remote workers: 73,091

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 78.90%

1. Chandler, Arizona

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 2.77%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $50,854

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 35.87%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,567

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 30.60%

• Median commute time in minutes: 24.8

• Percent of workers who work from home: 22.55%

• Number of remote workers: 35,558

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 81.95%

1. Durham, North Carolina

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.17%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $36,282

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 36.98%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,113

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 35.58%

• Median commute time in minutes: 22

• Percent of workers who work from home: 19.24%

• Number of remote workers: 33,185

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 78.65%

1. Columbia, Missouri

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.37%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $46,270

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 36.81%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,018

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 35.03%

• Median commute time in minutes: 16.5

• Percent of workers who work from home: 10.33%

• Number of remote workers: 7,380

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 80.55%

1. Denver, Colorado

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 3.74%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $60,250

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 37.56%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,886

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 37.66%

• Median commute time in minutes: 25.7

• Percent of workers who work from home: 24.78%

• Number of remote workers: 111,924

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 77.10%

1. Washington, District of Columbia

• Unemployment rate, 2023: 5.26%

• Median earnings for workers, 2023: $60,409

• Housing costs as a percentage of income: 30.76%

• Median monthly housing costs: $1,919

• Income growth, 2020 to 2023: 36.19%

• Median commute time in minutes: 30.4

• Percent of workers who work from home: 25.73%

• Number of remote workers: 104,626

• Percent of workers with private health insurance through their employer: 80.81%

Data and Methodology

For this SmartAsset study, 348 cities with 100,000 or greater population for which data was available were considered. All data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2023. Six main categories evaluating different aspects of a city’s job market were considered, with commute time and remote work each receiving a half-weighting:

• Unemployment rate: Average for the year 2023.

• Income to housing payment ratio: Median housing payments were compared to the median income to gauge the relative quality of local incomes.

• Commute time: For workers not working from home, this measures the median minutes spent in transit to work.

• Remote work: The percent of workers working remotely.

• Healthcare: The percent of employed people who have private health insurance, i.e. health insurance through their employer.

• Income growth: This is the three-year growth in median income between 2020 and 2023.

This story was produced by SmartAsset and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.