Starting Your Career? These Midwest Cities Are Best (and Worst)

Graduating soon? WalletHub ranks 180+ U.S. cities for career-friendliness based on jobs, salaries, and affordability. See which Midwest cities topped and flopped on the list.

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Where to Begin Your Career: Best vs. Worst Cities

With graduation season underway and employers planning to hire 7.3% more grads from the Class of 2025 than in 2024, WalletHub has released its latest report on the Best & Worst Places to Start a Career. The personal finance site compared over 180 U.S. cities using 25 key metrics from entry-level job availability and starting salaries to housing affordability and quality of life to help recent grads launch their careers in the best possible location.

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Key Findings from WalletHub’s 2025 Career Report

Durham, North Carolina, tops the list for the highest monthly average starting salary when adjusted for cost of living, nearly three times higher than Juneau, Alaska, which ranks lowest. Columbia, Maryland, leads in median household income, also adjusted for cost of living, coming in at 3.4 times higher than Detroit, which sits at the bottom. Workforce diversity is strongest in Oxnard, California, at 2.3 times greater than in New Haven, Connecticut, the least diverse city. Meanwhile, Rapid City, South Dakota, boasts the lowest unemployment rate at 6.3 times lower than Detroit, which ranks last in that category.

Prefer to stay close to home? Here are the top Midwest cities!

Several Midwest cities rank among the best places to launch a career. With strong job markets, affordable living, and growing industries, these cities offer recent graduates opportunity and stability to start strong without having to move far from family or familiar surroundings.

St. Louis, MO leads the regional pack at #14, followed by Knoxville, TN (#19) and Cincinnati, OH (#27). Nashville, TN, also makes a strong showing at #39, while Indianapolis, IN, lands at #65, making them smart picks for recent grads looking to stay closer to home.

In the Bluegrass State, Louisville and Lexington-Fayette stand out as the best places to start a career.

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State by State Breakdown

Source: WalletHub

“Transitioning out of school and into the workforce can be difficult and stressful, but certain cities make things easier than others. The best cities for starting a career not only have a lot of job opportunities but also provide substantial income growth potential and satisfying work conditions. It’s also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how good of a place it is for raising a family, to ensure life satisfaction outside of your career.” Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

SOURCE: WalletHub