2017’s Best & Worst Cities for Jobs

Are you in the market for a new job and thinking about not only the job itself but where to find the best opportunity? WalletHub, the personal finance website, can help you narrow down the country’s 150 most populated cities to determine which one may offer you the greatest chance for employment success.


We all don’t live where the best job options may exist for the field we are in, where the salaries are the highest, or the chance for job growth is the greatest. That is why a move to a new city may be a smart decision for better career opportunity, advancement, and pay.

WalletHub analyzed these 150 cities by using 23 key indicators of job market attractiveness. As per the site, “Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job seekers.” By comparing key indicators like the most job opportunities, the highest employment growth, monthly median starting salary, unemployment rates, median annual income, commute time, daily work hours, housing costs, and other relevant job-related factors, WalletHub’s expert team determined 2017’s best and worst cities for jobs.

Which cities came out on top?

The 5 best as per WalletHub are, starting with #1:

Scottsdale, AZ

Plano, TX

Orlando, FL

Sioux Falls, SD

San Francisco, CA

Orlando boasts the most job opportunities of all the cities compared.

The 5 worst cities are, starting with the overall worst:

Detroit, MI

Fresno, CA

Bakersfield, CA

Newark, NJ

Buffalo, NY

Newark has the least affordable housing and Detroit has the lowest median annual income. Bakersfield has the highest unemployment rate.

Did your current city make the top or bottom 5? If so, do you agree with WalletHub’s assessment? For the full analysis for the 150 cities studied, see the entire WalletHub report as well as the intricate methodology as to how WalletHub made their final determinations for the rankings. Would you consider a move to a new city for a job?

string(2673) "Are you in the market for a new job and thinking about not only the job itself but where to find the best opportunity? WalletHub, the personal finance website, can help you narrow down the country's 150 most populated cities to determine which one may offer you the greatest chance for employment success.


We all don't live where the best job options may exist for the field we are in, where the salaries are the highest, or the chance for job growth is the greatest. That is why a move to a new city may be a smart decision for better career opportunity, advancement, and pay. WalletHub analyzed these 150 cities by using 23 key indicators of job market attractiveness. As per the site, "Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for job seekers." By comparing key indicators like the most job opportunities, the highest employment growth, monthly median starting salary, unemployment rates, median annual income, commute time, daily work hours, housing costs, and other relevant job-related factors, WalletHub's expert team determined 2017's best and worst cities for jobs.

Which cities came out on top? The 5 best as per WalletHub are, starting with #1: Scottsdale, AZ Plano, TX Orlando, FL Sioux Falls, SD San Francisco, CA Orlando boasts the most job opportunities of all the cities compared. The 5 worst cities are, starting with the overall worst: Detroit, MI Fresno, CA Bakersfield, CA Newark, NJ Buffalo, NY Newark has the least affordable housing and Detroit has the lowest median annual income. Bakersfield has the highest unemployment rate.

Did your current city make the top or bottom 5? If so, do you agree with WalletHub's assessment? For the full analysis for the 150 cities studied, see the entire WalletHub report as well as the intricate methodology as to how WalletHub made their final determinations for the rankings. Would you consider a move to a new city for a job?"

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Funko POPs

Funko

Even if you don’t know the first thing about collectables, you know Funko POPs. Everyone does. They’re absolutely everywhere, from comic book shops to big box stores to movie theater concession stands. Many people think Funko POPs are cute, with their big black eyes and uniform features. Others think they’re creepy for pretty much the

What Is Beyoncé’s Net Worth?

Photo Credit: Instagram (Canva)

Now that she’s the fifth billionaire musician Update: August 18th 2026 Beyoncé remains a billionaire, with Forbes currently estimating her net worth at $1 billion. Since reaching billionaire status in late 2025, the superstar has continued expanding her business empire and musical legacy. In August 2026, Beyoncé became the sole owner of SirDavis after buying

The TRUTH About The Trad Wife Trend, Nara Smith, TikTok & More

Nara Smith, Lucky Blue Smith, and daughter Rumble Honey

Matthew Brookes / Oliver Peoples

Update: August 17th, 2026 TL;DR TikTok’s favourite tradwife has already welcomed her fourth child, settled into a new home, and continues to fuel the Internet’s debate around curated domesticity. Here’s what’s new with Nara Smith, why the “tradwife” trend is still evolving, and what it says about the appeal of traditional homemaking online in 2026.

Is Financial Infidelity Worse Than Regular Ol’ Cheating?

Photo by StockSnap for Pexels

Mention the word “infidelity” and the usual images are conjured up:  secret encounters in sordid motels, callers who hang up when the wrong person answers the phone, tears and harsh words when the truth comes out. A less dramatic (but increasingly common) form of betrayal is making waves: financial infidelity. What is financial infidelity? Financial

The Motherhood Penalty

Photo by Sai De Silva (Unsplash)

You Lose $20K Each Year Just For Being a Mom You may not know this, but there was a time when smoking was considered “liberated” behavior for women. There was a cigarette company Virginia Slims that was created specifically to attract female smokers during the bad old 1970s. The slogan was “You’ve come a long

Financial Red Flags To Watch Out For When Dating

Photo by Niko_Shogol for Pixabay

TL;DR: One of the biggest money red flags in dating? When your partner simply won’t talk about money. According to financial therapist Erika Wasserman, that’s the #1 issue to nail down if you want to know whether your potential future partner and your financial IQs are compatible. Why “Not Talking Money” Is More Than Awkward