(NewsNation) — Finding the right job isn’t just about your resume — it’s also about your ZIP code.
Financial data firm SmartAsset recently ranked 348 U.S. cities based on how desirable their job markets are. The study used Census Bureau data from 2023 — the most recent available — and factored in everything from unemployment to median earnings, wage growth, remote work opportunities and more.
Bend, Oregon, ranked first overall thanks to its relatively low unemployment (3.1%) and strong wage growth, with the median income increasing 44% from 2020 to 2023. Known for its outdoor activities, the central Oregon city also boasts a good work life-balance thanks to a brief average commute of 16 minutes and a high share of remote workers (27%).
Richmond, Virginia, secured second place and posted the highest earnings growth in the analysis, with a 50% increase in the average median income between 2020 and 2023.
SmartAsset also took health care into account and found that the job market in Santa Clara, California, offers the most coverage — 88.6% of workers had private health insurance through their employer.
If a short commute is your top priority, look no further than Wichita Falls, Texas, where the average is just 14 minutes.
10. Sunnyvale, California
- Unemployment rate: 3.45%
- Median earnings: $111,905
- 3-year income growth: 31.12%
- Percent working remotely: 15.33%
9. Westminster, Colorado
- Unemployment rate: 1.69%
- Median earnings: $70,711
- 3-year income growth: 37.73%
- Percent working remotely: 19.35%
8. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Unemployment rate: 2.36%
- Median earnings: $56,858
- 3-year income growth: 29.89%
- Percent working remotely: 9.26%
7. Cary, North Carolina
- Unemployment rate: 3.50%
- Median earnings: $47,203
- 3-year income growth: 23.13%
- Percent working remotely: 27.96%
6. Santa Clara, California
- Unemployment rate: 4.24%
- Median earnings: $90,384
- 3-year income growth: 40.97%
- Percent working remotely: 16.51%
5. Carmel, Indiana
- Unemployment rate: 2.27%
- Median earnings: $101,038
- 3-year income growth: 21.49%
- Percent working remotely: 27.75%
4. Bellevue, Washington
- Unemployment rate: 4.29%
- Median earnings: $76,228
- 3-year income growth: 32.43%
- Percent working remotely: 24.59%
3. Seattle, Washington
- Unemployment rate: 4.17%
- Median earnings: $46,443
- 3-year income growth: 35.99%
- Percent working remotely: 26.87%
2. Richmond, Virginia
- Unemployment rate: 3.80%
- Median earnings: $73,138
- 3-year income growth: 49.47%
- Percent working remotely: 15.81%
1. Bend, Oregon
- Unemployment rate: 3.16%
- Median earnings: $51,382
- 3-year income growth: 44.22%
- Percent working remotely: 26.89%