San Marcos is one of the worst cities to start your career

By Kathy Morris – Apr. 30, 2021

If you’re fresh out of college, you probably don’t want to make any rash decisions about your career.

After all, where you start your career can be the difference between making bank and 3 roommates in a crummy apartment. But on the other hand, your parents’ nagging about you getting a job has gotten so bad that you need to find one now. Don’t worry; we’ve got your back.

We analyzed thousands of cities to find the cities that offer the grimmest outlook for launching your career. Keep reading to see the cities with low job prospects, slim paychecks, and unaffordable rent.

Worst Cities For Job Seekers

1. Lauderhill, Florida
2. Newark, New Jersey
3. New Haven, Connecticut
4. Hemet, California
5. Lawrence, Massachusetts
6. Allentown, Pennsylvania
7. San Marcos, Texas
8. Savannah, Georgia
9. Detroit, Michigan
10. New Orleans, Louisiana

Unfortunately, these 10 cities offer the worst prospects to jump start your career. Some of these cities such as Detroit have a reputation for a dismal economy, but others such as Savannah may be an unexpected revelation to new job seekers.

HOW WE DETERMINED THE BEST CITIES TO START YOUR CAREER IN EACH STATE

We looked at over 2,000 cities and ranked them on the following areas:

• Median Income
• Average rent
• Unemployment

We first examined the median income to find the cities where young professionals can expect to bring home the biggest paychecks. Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy creature comforts and pay off hefty student loans which goes a long way.

However, big paychecks can come with big bills- so next we looked at average rent costs. For those just graduating college and moving to jump-start their careers, it can be a struggle to scrape together first month’s rent, last, and a security deposit. That first paycheck may not make it into their bank account for a month! The bigger the monthly rent, the worse for the tenant who has to pay it.

We then looked at average unemployment. If that first job doesn’t end up being a dream job, getting your next job is easier when you’re in a city with a strong labor market. High unemployment means more competition.

Finally, we identified the worst city in each state according to these categories. All of our data came from the most recent Census ACS.

1. LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA

Average rent: $1,238
Unemployment: 5.3
Median salary: $41,723

Lauderhill, Florida offers an uphill climb for job seekers looking to launch their careers. With a median salary of only $41,723, the hefty average rent of $1,238 is hard to make. For the cost of living, Lauderhill also offers a rather subdued social setting. Young professionals will find themselves paying for a lot of Ubers to Fort Lauderdale or Miami to maintain a healthy social life.

2. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY

Average rent: $1,085
Unemployment: 6.9
Median salary: $35,199

Newark, Newark, what a wonderful place… unless you’re a new graduate trying to get by. Newark’s relatively high average unemployment of 6.9% makes it a an employer’s job market. Landing a job doesn’t end your financial woes either; The median income in Newark is only $35,199.

3. NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

 

 

Average rent: $1,196
Unemployment: 5.7
Median salary: $42,222

New Haven is an expensive place to attempt to start your career. High costs, not only in housing but also in utilities and transportation, outstrip the national average. And sadly, the salaries simply don’t match the cost of living. The median income in Newark is only $42,222.

4. HEMET, CALIFORNIA

Average rent: $1,096
Unemployment: 6.1
Median salary: $39,726

In 4th place is Hemet, California. Hemet has won a series of unpleasant accolades in recent years, including one of the most miserable cities in the US. Judging from the numbers, Hemet can be a pretty miserable place to start your career, as well.

5. LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS

Average rent: $1,145
Unemployment: 6.2
Median salary: $44,613

Starting your career in Lawrence, Massachusetts may leave you struggling. High costs and unemployment along with low salaries, make for a terrible trifecta.

6. ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

Average rent: $1,004
Unemployment: 6.3
Median salary: $41,167

In 6th place as the worst place to start your career is Allentown, Pennsylvania. Allentown is a similar story to other cities on the list, small paychecks, high rent, and an overall less than booming job market. The cherry on top of the Allentown cake? Allentown is an hour and a half away from Philly, making it far enough away most young workers will have to contend with the social offerings in Allentown (Spoiler: They aren’t great.)

7. SAN MARCOS, TEXAS

Average rent: $1,064
Unemployment: 5.0
Median salary: $40,370

In 7th place is San Marcos, Texas. San Marcos may have proximity to San Antonio and Austin. However, the city quite simply lacks the opportunity the two bigger cities can offer young graduates.

8. SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Average rent: $1,019
Unemployment: 5.5
Median salary: $43,307

Savannah, Georgia is a picturesque city. However, despite a relatively expensive average rent of $1,019 (Or $12,228 a year), the average annual salary is only $43,307. Better get a roommate. Or two.

9. DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Average rent: $824
Unemployment: 8.5
Median salary: $30,894

Detroit, once a prominent American city and center of industry, is now a city in decline. Unsurprisingly, this economic decline makes it difficult for job seekers- particular those starting out- to flourish.

10. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

Average rent: $998
Unemployment: 4.9
Median salary: $41,604

New Orleans is a fun, splashy city. However, that doesn’t mean living and work here will be a party. In fact, job seekers starting their career will be forced to pay sky high rent on a (on average) meager salary.

THESE AREN’T RED FLAGS- BUT MAY BE YELLOW

While at a macro level these cities present more challenges than others for starting your career, ultimately your job search is your job search.

An amazing job opportunity in Newark can still be an amazing job opportunity. However, before moving to any new city, you should familiarize yourself with the cost of living– and make sure your salary is sufficient to cover them.

With that being said, you might be best off focusing the bulk of your job hunting energy on cities that offer strong prospects. But the choice is yours.

The Worst City To Start Your Career

State	City	Avg. Rent	Median Income
Alabama	Birmingham	$837	$37,375
Alaska	Womens Bay	$1,529	$41,761
Arizona	Flagstaff	$1,265	$58,748
Arkansas	Pine Bluff	$727	$34,723
California	Hemet	$1,096	$39,726
Colorado	Pueblo	$799	$40,450
Connecticut	New Haven	$1,196	$42,222
Delaware	Bear	$1,391	$35,138
Florida	Lauderhill	$1,238	$41,723
Georgia	Savannah	$1,019	$43,307
Hawaii	Hilo	$1,045	$63,283
Idaho	Caldwell	$878	$49,046
Illinois	DeKalb	$903	$45,020
Indiana	Gary	$785	$31,936
Iowa	Ames	$930	$48,105
Kansas	Kansas City	$885	$45,665
Kentucky	Covington	$714	$43,437
Louisiana	New Orleans	$998	$41,604
Maine	West Kennebunk	$1,230	$36,033
Maryland	Forest Heights	$2,138	$38,333
Massachusetts	Lawrence	$1,145	$44,613
Michigan	Detroit	$824	$30,894
Minnesota	St. Cloud	$1,119	$55,440
Mississippi	Gulfport	$860	$39,171
Missouri	Florissant	$1,034	$54,978
Montana	Missoula	$859	$47,426
Nebraska	Bellevue	$944	$65,308
Nevada	Whitney	$1,117	$49,699
New Hampshire	Manchester	$1,135	$60,711
New Jersey	Newark	$1,085	$35,199
New Mexico	Las Cruces	$788	$43,022
New York	Rochester	$848	$35,590
North Carolina	Fayetteville	$947	$45,024
North Dakota	Grand Forks	$811	$50,076
Ohio	Cleveland	$719	$30,907
Oklahoma	Lawton	$832	$47,779
Oregon	Springfield	$877	$39,432
Pennsylvania	Allentown	$1,004	$41,167
Rhode Island	Woonsocket	$912	$42,595
South Carolina	Sumter	$833	$40,662
South Dakota	Rapid City	$837	$52,351
Tennessee	Memphis	$901	$41,228
Texas	San Marcos	$1,064	$40,370
Utah	Provo	$877	$48,888
Vermont	Cavendish	$1,336	$25,850
Virginia	Richmond	$1,025	$47,250
Washington	Lakewood	$1,034	$51,972
West Virginia	Huntington	$712	$31,162
Wisconsin	Milwaukee	$858	$41,838
Wyoming	Cheyenne	$915	$64,598

This story was originally published by Zippia.