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Photo Credit: Getty Images
It’s that time of year when college students across the country are crossing the stage to become graduates who will be entering the job market for the first time. Where they decide to do that can make a big difference and a new report reveals the cities that could make it easier.
- WalletHub’s ranking of the Best Places to Start a Career has just come out for 2026.
- They compared 182 cities across the country on 25 key metrics in the areas of Professional Opportunities and Quality of Life.
- Cities were rated on factors including the amount of entry-level jobs, average starting salary, commute time and housing affordability.
- Based on all of that, Atlanta is once again the best city to start a career. It’s the third consecutive year the Georgia city has been number one.
- Orlando holds onto its second place spot for the third year as well.
- At the bottom of the list is New York City, making it the worst city for starting a career. It’s followed by Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Detroit, Michigan.
The Top 10 Best Cities to Start A Career in 2026
(Check out the full list here)
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Orlando, Florida
- Austin, Texas
- Tampa, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Columbia, South Carolina
Source: WalletHub⠀