Entry-level work usually comes with the assumption of low pay. But in some cities, pay may be more than the typical wage across the state.
Recently, career support app Resume.io identified the cities with the highest-paying entry-level work in each state by looking at the pay for job postings and comparing that with median hourly pay data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Every city that qualified for the ranking — 223 of them — had at least 925 entry-level jobs.
Following are the best-paying places for entry-level jobs.
10. San Francisco
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 77.6%
It’s a good thing San Francisco offers high pay for entry-level workers, because this tech hub is not an affordable place to live — in fact, a gross income of around $126,000 is considered rent-burdened here, as we reported in “11 Places Where Earning Six Figures Isn’t Enough to Rent.”
9. Oakland, California
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 77.7%
Nearby Oakland, which sits across the bay from San Francisco, is relatively more affordable — but only compared with San Francisco, not the nation. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Oakland required a roughly $77,000 income as of 2021.
7. New Haven, Connecticut (tie)
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 78%
New Haven is not only a nice place to start a career, it’s a great place to end one. It made our list of “8 Great Places to Retire in New England.”
7. Hartford, Connecticut (tie)
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 78%
Hartford’s relatively high utility bills — close to a median $300 per month, according to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed in 2022 — make a higher entry-level wage especially welcome.
6. Lexington, Kentucky
Entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 78.2%
Lexington offers a good mix of high pay and affordable cost of living, as we reported in “10 Cities Where Renters Can Afford to Live Alone.”
5. Fort Smith, Arkansas
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 79.7%
Fort Smith is home to Ebbing Air National Guard Base and boasts “some of the lowest utility rates in the country,” according to the city government.
4. Kansas City, Kansas
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 83.1%
The Kansas side of Kansas City is smaller than the Missouri side. The largest industries in the region as a whole are health care, social assistance and retail trade.
3. Jackson, Mississippi
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 84.8%
High earners in Jackson may want to spend a little of their extra cash on a water filter. The city is known for low-quality drinking water.
2. Iowa City, Iowa
Share of entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 87.7%
Iowa City is known for jobs in medical technology, education technology, advanced manufacturing, and finance and insurance, according to Iowa City Area Development.
1. Bozeman, Montana
Entry-level jobs in this city that pay above the state median wage: 87.8%
The top employers in this Montana city include Bozeman Health, Montana State University and backpack manufacturer Mystery Ranch.
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