Categories: NewsTexas

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

Source: |CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Source: Daderot|CC0

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

Source: Paul Leiby, Joseph Elliot, Alphageekpa, Bwmoll3, and Spikerogan|CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Source: |GFDL

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.

View Comments

  • Best city for city managers to end their career and bank all day long, at the taxpayers expense. Best city for endless road projects that disrupt lives and impact discharge into the river and heritage trees. Best city for upstart developers to bring projects not compatible with pre existing neighborhoods. Best city to tax those on fixed income and/or retired out of their homes. Best city for city workers who by sheer attrition rise to the top of management chain of command because they know how the system is played while passing over truly qualified. We have some great city workers who have left our community for failure of leadership at the highest level. How many city workers have left for other communities for public service or private opportunities under the iron fist of Bert? To many.

    • Then MOVE! Seriously. You don't like that you live in a college town? Fine, you don't need to stay here. There are plenty of other towns nearby that don't have the constant stream of issues you claim. So, convince your parents to let you sell their house and move. -- Robert Holeman

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