10 Best Cities for Starting Careers

The real world is offering new college grads more opportunities than it has in recent years. And some places are even more welcoming than others. We identified ten cities that promise the strongest start for careers.

Because student loans won't pay themselves, we focused on places where recent graduates are likely to land good jobs and take home above-average paychecks. Cities with high unemployment rates, both for the overall population and for people in their twenties, didn't make the cut.

We also sought out places that are friendly to young adults' budgets, based on average monthly living costs for renters. Some expensive cities still landed on the list because their thriving job markets make up for the higher costs. After all, says Dan Restuccia, of career-research firm Burning Glass Technologies, "you're generally well served to go where the jobs are, though that may mean taking on a more expensive cost of living."

Finally, to ensure that your post-collegiate life won't be all work and no play, we targeted cities with active social scenes and above-average concentrations of twentysomethings.

Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2012 American Community Survey. Payscale, a compensation-research firm, provided the median salaries of bachelor's-degree holders with up to three years of work experience in the nation's 200 largest metro areas. Living costs are from the Council for Community and Economic Research. Job-posting data is from Burning Glass Technologies, a job-market research firm. April 2014 unemployment rates for metropolitan areas, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, are not seasonally adjusted.

10. Dallas

Metro population: 6.4 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.2% (U.S.: 13.8%)

Median salary for recent college grads: $45,300 a year (for top 200 metro areas in U.S.: $42,800)

Cost of living for renters: 2.6% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 966 per 10,000 twentysomethings (U.S.: 796 per 10,000)

Including the folks in neighboring Fort Worth and Arlington, the Dallas metro area ranks as the most populous on this list, with the greatest number of twentysomethings. One reason for its popularity: the friendly job market. "Dallas's economy has been growing very rapidly," says Restuccia, of Burning Glass Technologies. "But the existing workforce has a lower educational attainment level than you'll find in, say, Boston, New York or Seattle, so it's a place that offers a lot of opportunities for new graduates."

Indeed, the area's low unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared with the nation's 5.9% as of April 2014, indicates less competition for jobs. Top private employers include American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, and AT&T and Texas Instruments, both based in Dallas.

Area costs are friendly, too. While monthly expenses for renters are slightly above average, overall living costs are about 4% below the national average. Apartment rents are particularly affordable: The average rent for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit is the lowest on this list at $818 a month, compared with the U.S. average of $893.

9. San Francisco

Metro population: 4.4 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.0%

Median salary for recent college grads: $51,600 a year

Cost of living for renters: 33.9% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,085 per 10,000 twentysomethings

New grads looking to break into the technology field must consider settling in San Francisco. Software developers are in particularly high demand in the Bay Area, with nearly 40,000 job postings seeking their skills over the past year. Especially if you're a budding entrepreneur, this great city to start a business has a lot to offer: San Francisco attracted $3.2 billion in investment funds in the first quarter of 2014, nearly double the venture capital accumulated in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley.

Even without your own next-big-start-up idea, you're likely to bring in big bucks. Entry-level grads typically earn 20.6% more than the U.S. median.

But be warned: The biggest paychecks on this list will have to cover the highest living costs. Not that you can't find many budget-friendly ways to enjoy this fun-filled city. Each week, for example, SF.FunCheap.com recommends at least 50 free or affordable events around town, such as film and food festivals, walking tours, art shows, and even the occasional free dog wash weekend. Also note: New grads hoping for a more mature scene will be pleased with the area's median age of 38.3, slightly older than the U.S. median of 37.2 and the most seasoned on this list.

8. Phoenix

Metro population: 4.2 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.3%

Median salary for recent college grads: $43,100 a year

Cost of living for renters: 4.0% below national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,074 per 10,000 twentysomethings

Not just a community of golfers and retirees, Phoenix attracts a younger crowd, too. The area's median age is a young 34.8, compared with 37.2 for the U.S. One reason young people are likely drawn to Arizona's capital is the job market. Of the nearly 240,000 online postings for jobs in Phoenix over the past year, 27% were for entry-level positions (versus 23% for all U.S. job postings), tied for the highest share on this list. Major employers in the area include Banner Health, defense contractor Raytheon and Arizona State University.

Another attractive quality of the area is its affordability. Phoenix offers renters the lowest living costs of all the cities on this list. In fact, the average two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment rents for just $843 a month, compared with $893 for the U.S. Despite these below-average costs, you're still likely to enjoy an above-average starting salary, leaving plenty of room in your budget for fun in the Valley of the Sun. Not that you'll need it. Phoenix's natural beauties, including 180 miles of desert trails that you can explore by foot, horse or bike, are free.

7. Washington, D.C.

Metro population: 5.6 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.4%

Median salary for recent college grads: $47,600 a year

Cost of living for renters: 13.8% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,066 per 10,000 twentysomethings

The District's low unemployment rate is anchored by Uncle Sam (4.5% as of April 2014, compared with 5.9% for the U.S.). But people in the private sector can launch their careers in the capital, too. The aerospace, technology and health care industries are all well represented and provide a broad range of high-paying jobs. Major nongovernment employers include defense contractor Northrop Grumman, consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, Coventry Health Care and Marriott International.

Be ready to devote a fat chunk of those big paychecks to living costs. D.C. is one of the country's most expensive cities to live in and charges the second-highest average apartment rent of all the cities on this list: a hefty $1,961 a month, compared with $893 for the U.S. But at least you can save on your entertainment budget; you won't need to spend a cent on many local attractions, such as the monuments, most of the museums and the National Zoo.

6. Boston

Metro population: 4.6 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.5%

Median salary for recent college grads: $46,500 a year

Cost of living for renters: 32.9% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,064 per 10,000 twentysomethings

Home to many renowned universities, Boston offers a healthy job market that encourages local grads to stay and new folks to come. The recent unemployment rate was just 5.0% and is projected to get even better, with a large number of new openings posted over the past year. Grads hoping to get into the science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields will find particularly good prospects. "Boston has one of the highest concentrations of STEM jobs in the country," says job-market analyst Restuccia. "The universities support a strong start-up culture in technology, as well as a number of health care industry employers."

The high local starting salaries can help you manage costs in one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in. But you still need to brace your budget: The average rent for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Boston is $1,863 a month, compared with a national average of $893. (Consider finding a roommate to split that cost.)

5. Denver

Metro population: 2.6 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.1%

Median salary for recent college grads: $44,400 a year

Cost of living for renters: 1.1% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,633 per 10,000 twentysomethings

The Mile High City offers an expanding job market for new grads. The unemployment rate for workers in their twenties is 9.7%, three percentage points better than the U.S. rate, and the number of entry-level job postings per 10,000 twentysomethings is the highest of all the cities on this list. The federal, state and local governments are among the top employers in the area. But the city's small businesses (with five to 100 employees) make a big impact as well, employing 44% of the local workforce.

Living costs for renters are slightly above average. But starting paychecks that are about 3.7% more than the national median help cover the spread. Plus, it's free to enjoy the beautiful scenery and many days of sunshine.

4. Seattle

Metro population: 3.5 million

Share of population in their twenties: 14.7%

Median salary for recent college grads: $46,600 a year

Cost of living for renters: 18.3% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,090 per 10,000 twentysomethings

Looking to get into the tech industry but can't afford the high living costs of Silicon Valley? Consider the Seattle area, where Amazon and Microsoft are headquartered and overall living costs are 30.2% and 42.5% lower than in San Jose and San Francisco, respectively. You can save even more by living about 30 miles north in Everett, Wash., where the average apartment rents for just $1,200 a month, compared with $1,643 a month in Seattle.

Beside tech, major industries include health care, clean technology and aerospace, led by Boeing. The University of Washington is another big local employer, the largest in the city proper. And if existing companies don't interest you, start your own. Seattle is one of our 10 Great Cities to Start a Business.

3. Salt Lake City

Metro population: 1.1 million

Share of population in their twenties: 16.1%

Median salary for recent college grads: $43,600 a year

Cost of living for renters: 3.8% below national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,046 per 10,000 twentysomethings

Low living costs and high pay make this an excellent starting-out city. The average apartment rent, at just $846 a month ($50 less than the national average), will put a relatively small dent in an above-average beginning salary. No wonder the local crowd is so young; the median age in the metro area is 30.9, compared with 37.2 for the U.S.

Low unemployment adds to the area's appeal. At 3.1%, the overall rate is the lowest on this list and far below the nation's 5.9%, as of April 2014. Local twentysomethings are equally fortunate, with just 8.8% out of work, compared with 12.7% of Americans in their twenties. And 27% of all the job openings posted online over the past year were in search of entry-level workers (compared with 23% for all U.S. job postings), tied for the highest share on this list. Top employers include the University of Utah, along with its hospital, and Delta Air Lines.

2. Anchorage, Alaska

Metro population: 380,789

Share of population in their twenties: 16.0%

Median salary for recent college grads: $50,100 a year

Cost of living for renters: 19.4% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,150 per 10,000 twentysomethings

Anchorage may be one of the pricier and more remote cities on this list, but its college grads are also among the best paid. The median starting salary for sheepskin holders is the second-highest of all our best cities for new grads. Plus, you won't have to pay state income or sales taxes, and you'll collect an annual dividend -- which was $900 in 2013 -- from Alaska's oil fund, if you live there the full year.

The local economy has grown steadily, adding more than 7,000 jobs since the recession, and that number should continue to rise. The number of entry-level job postings per 10,000 twentysomethings is the third-highest of all the cities on this list. Leading industries in the area include health care, hospitality, business services (ranging from legal to scientific to engineering work), transportation and, of course, oil and gas-all fields that are expected to add jobs this year, according to the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation.

1. Boulder, Colo.

Metro population: 297,218

Share of population in their twenties: 17.1%

Median salary for recent college grads: $44,200 a year

Cost of living for renters: 8.5% above national average

Entry-level job postings: 1,321 per 10,000 twentysomethings

This Colorado mountain town is tops for new grads and is especially well-suited for the crowd-averse. With the smallest population of all the cities on this list, Boulder offers intimacy without sacrificing opportunities. In fact, the unemployment rate is a favorable 4.2%, as of April 2014, compared with 5.9% for the U.S. And over the past year, the city posted the second-greatest number of entry-level job opening per 10,000 twentysomethings on this list. Major employers include the University of Colorado Boulder, IBM and Ball Aerospace.

Boulder has plenty to offer outside of work, too. At the foot of the Rocky Mountains, you can enjoy plenty of hiking, climbing and biking. For not-quite-so-active activities, downtown Boulder's Pearl Street Mall includes about 1,000 businesses, 85% of which are owned and operated by locals (offering plenty of date venues for the many singles in the area).

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Stacy Rapacon is an editor at Kiplinger.