Highest Paying Cities for Young Workers (2024)
Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan, is the No. 1 smallest metro on our list of the best-paying cities for young workers with an adjusted median income of $36,240. The No. 1 midsize metro on our list is Akron, Ohio, with an adjusted median income of $33,186. For the top 10 large metros in our list, the average adjusted salary for workers 24 years old or younger is $30,372.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
UPDATED: Sep 29, 2024
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UPDATED: Sep 29, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Millennials are now the largest generation in the U.S. labor force, and the oldest members of Gen Z (post-millennials) have just reached working age. This influx of younger generations into the workforce has sparked new employment trends, especially when it comes to worker mobility. This article is about the 10 best-paying cities for young workers.
Luckily for this new wave of workers, it’s a job seeker’s market. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the unemployment rate among young people has been steadily declining since 2010, the height of the Great Recession. Among 16- to 24-year-olds, the unemployment rate for the second quarter of 2019 was 8.3 percent (down from 19 percent at the end of 2009). With the unemployment rate for young adults at a historic low, now is a great time to land a new job.
Even though young adults are major drivers of the labor force, their earnings tend to be low. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, people under age 25 earn significantly less than older, more experienced workers.
Nationwide, workers under age 25 earn a median salary of $25,700, roughly half of what workers ages 35-44, 45-54, and over 55 make. However, median salaries vary considerably across locations. Especially when accounting for the cost of living differences, some cities offer far more in compensation to those just starting out in their careers.
Although big cities have historically attracted droves of recent graduates, the high costs of living in places like New York City, Washington D.C, and San Francisco make it hard for young people to afford rent while also paying off student loans and enjoying the city life. Fortunately, there are alternatives with robust job markets, competitive wages, and lower living costs.
To find the best-paying metro areas for young people, researchers at AutoInsurance.org analyzed the latest earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Median earnings for each metro were adjusted up or down based on the relative cost of living in that metro in order to get a comparable metric of purchasing power across locations.
In highly expensive cities, like New York, cost-of-living adjusted earnings are lower than actuals; whereas, in highly affordable cities, such as Knoxville, cost-of-living adjusted earnings are boosted up.
Only metro areas with over 100,000 people were included in the analysis. Additionally, metro areas were grouped into the following cohorts based on population size:
- Small metros: 100,000-350,000
- Midsize metros: 350,000-1,000,000
- Large: more than 1,000,000
Overall, cities in the Midwest tend to pay young workers the highest wages when taking the cost of living into account. Here are the U.S. metro areas with the highest adjusted median earnings for full-time workers under the age of 25.
Best Paying Cities for Young People
| Small Metros | Earnings | Midsize Metros | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Niles-Benton Harbor, Ml | $36,240 | 1. Akron, OH | $33,186 |
| 2. Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $35,842 | 2. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,155 |
| 3. Eau Claire, Wl | $35,516 | 3. Visalia-Porterville, CA | $31,949 |
| 4. Midland, TX | $34,895 | 4. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $31,570 |
| 5. Mansfield, OH | $34,884 | 5. Fort Wayne, IN | $31,425 |
| 6. Muskegon, Ml | $34,443 | 6. Reading, PA | $31,088 |
| 7. Greenville, NC | $34,130 | 7. Kalamazoo-Portage, Ml | $30,939 |
| 8. Rockford, IL | $33,898 | 8. Reno, NV | $30,364 |
| 9. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $33,898 | 9. Lafayette, LA | $29,680 |
| 10. Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,557 | 10. Eugene, OR | $29,448 |
In addition to the rankings in this article, we’ll cover the following topics in the frequently asked questions section:
- The best cities for young professionals in 2020
- The best places to live in your 20s
- The best cities to make a living
- The best places to run away to and start over
And before we jump into the ranking of the 10 best large metros for young workers, we know that if you’re here on this page, you’re likely interested in auto insurance as well.
You can head over to our best auto insurance companies page where we compare auto insurance companies from all around the country.
If you live in one of the best-paying cities for young workers and are ready to start searching for rates right away, just enter your ZIP code into our free online quote comparison tool. It’ll give you the best rates for your demographic information and area.
Now, let’s get to our ranking.
The 10 Best-Paying Large Metros for Young People
From Connecticut to Nebraska, here are your top 10.
#10 – Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $29,470
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $30,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $57,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 31.5%
- Cost of living: 2% above average
Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, is also known as the “Insurance Capital of the World.” Insurance giant Aetna is headquartered there while a number of other big insurance companies, including Prudential Financial, Lincoln National Corporation, and Travelers, also have operations in Hartford.
Plus, a new technology innovation hub—focusing on insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing—opened recently in Hartford that is expected to create 1,000 new jobs.
For entertainment, Hartford offers residents a plethora of activities such as the Connecticut Science Museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and sporting events at the XL Center. Hartford is also conveniently located about two hours away from other large Northeast cities like New York and Boston.
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#9 – Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $29,517
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $33,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $63,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 31.7%
- Cost of living: 12% above average
The Boston metropolitan area is home to some of the top universities in the world, including Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University, and Wellesley College. The proximity to these world-class institutions has attracted a number of think tanks and nonprofits to the area. Many young people move to the Boston area for college and stay after graduation.
Even when adjusted for the city’s high cost of living, the median salary for young workers is still higher than the national median of $25,700. Besides plenty of well-paying jobs, young Boston residents enjoy the city’s museums, art galleries, restaurants, and professional sports.
#8 – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $29,517
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $33,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $60,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 31.7%
- Cost of living: 12% above average
The Pacific Northwest metropolitan area of Seattle is well known as a technology hub. While it has the highest cost of living of all the metros on this list (tied with Boston), the metro area attracts young people with plenty of high-paying jobs, especially in the tech sector. Washington also has no state income tax, which helps to offset the area’s high cost of living.
A number of Fortune 500 companies including Amazon, Starbucks, and Nordstrom, are headquartered in or near Seattle. In their spare time, young Seattle residents can visit art museums, hike in the nearby Cascade Mountains, and explore the city’s vibrant nightlife.
#7 – Cleveland-Elyria, OH
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $29,933
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $27,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $48,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 31.2%
- Cost of living: 10% below average
Young people living in the Cleveland metro area have ample job opportunities in the healthcare and biotech sectors. Most notably, Cleveland is home to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the country’s best hospitals and the largest private employer in the city.
A number of biotech start-ups also call Cleveland home, and the city’s tech czar has been busy recruiting tech companies to downtown Cleveland.
Young professionals will also find it easier to pay off college debt here since Cleveland’s cost of living is 10 percent below the national average. Outside of the office, Cleveland residents can enjoy activities like visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, attending sporting events, and hiking through the Cleveland Metroparks.
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#6 – Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $30,090
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $30,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $50,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 31.6%
- Cost of living: average
One of the oldest cities in the U.S., Providence was once a major manufacturing hub. Today the health care, education, financial, and tourism sectors have replaced manufacturing as the main drivers of the economy. The area’s colleges and universities (including Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design) attract a large student population, many of whom stay after graduation and find well-paying jobs. Young professionals living in Providence can enjoy Waterplace Park, try different restaurants on downtown’s Thayer Street, and explore numerous art galleries.
#5 – Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $30,366
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $29,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $50,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 33.7%
- Cost of living: 5% below average
A relatively low cost of living combined with plenty of high-earning jobs make Milwaukee an attractive place for young people to call home. Companies headquartered in the Milwaukee metro area include A.O. Smith, Harley-Davidson, and Kohl’s Department Stores.
While Milwaukee residents must brave the long, cold winters, they also embrace their summers, celebrating nearly every summer weekend with festivals and cultural events. Young Milwaukeeans can also take advantage of sailing, windsurfing, and kite surfing on Lake Michigan.
#4 – Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $30,435
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $28,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $46,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 35.0%
- Cost of living: 8% below average
The Indianapolis metro area’s economy has shifted away from its manufacturing backbone as new sectors have established themselves. More specifically, Indy’s large population of young people can find well-paying jobs in the area of biotechnology, life sciences branch, and healthcare sectors.
Young Indy residents will also appreciate the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, an eight-mile pedestrian/bike path that connects downtown to other areas and provides easy access to restaurants, shops, and public art. An added bonus is that the dollar goes far in Indianapolis since the cost of living is 8 percent below the national average.
#3 – Pittsburgh, PA
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $30,851
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $29,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $50,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 28.7%
- Cost of living: 6% below average
Pittsburgh boasts a cost of living that is 6 percent below the national average. Once known for coal and steel, the area’s economy is now driven by the technology, health care, finance, and education sectors. Young adults may first come to the area to attend one of several prominent universities (including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon), but well-paying jobs should entice many to stay and call Pittsburgh their permanent home. Outside of the office, Pittsburgh residents can explore the city’s many bridges, river sports, and museums.
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#2 – Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $31,111
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $28,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $48,000
- Proportion of population under 25: 34.4%
- Cost of living: 10% below average
Over one-third of Cincinnati’s population is under age 25. This large proportion of young people enjoy high median earnings and the cost of living well below the national average. Major industries in the region include healthcare, aviation, and education. There is no shortage of things to do, either. Cincinnati has a number of breweries, including Rhinegeist Brewery, MadTree Brewing, and Braxton Brewing Company. Residents of all ages can also enjoy free outdoor concerts and shows at Riverbend Music Center or the historic Music Hall.
#1 – Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (adjusted): $32,432
- Median earnings for full-time workers under 25 (unadjusted): $30,000
- Median earnings for all full-time workers (unadjusted): $45,800
- Proportion of population under 25: 35.4%
- Cost of living: 8% below average
The Omaha metro area claims the number one spot on the list of best-paying cities for young people, with an adjusted median income of $32,432 per year. A large number of young people call Omaha home—over 35 percent of the area’s population is under the age of 25.
The largest employers of the metro region are Offutt Air Force Base and Alegent Health. Several Fortune 500 companies, including Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific, are also headquartered in Omaha. This charming Midwest city offers numerous music venues, art museums, and trendy restaurants.
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Complete Rankings of 259 Metro Areas
Now, the moment you’ve probably been waiting for if your metro area hasn’t been featured in any of the lists above. We have four tables in this section:
- Large metros (53 surveyed)
- Midsize metros (83 surveyed)
- Small metros (122 surveyed)
- All metros (259 in total)
Let’s start with the large metros, as this was the sample set we used for our main ranking.
Large Metros
data here: https://infogram.com/1p7vedygw2eg2kizn2eqy92xmys1pz0gvd?live
| Rank | Metro | Adjusted Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for All Workers | Population Under 25 | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | $32,432 | $30,000 | $45,800 | 35.4% | -8% |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $31,111 | $28,000 | $48,000 | 34.4% | -10% |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,851 | $29,000 | $50,000 | 28.7% | -6% |
| 4 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | $30,435 | $28,000 | $46,000 | 35.0% | -8% |
| 5 | Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | $30,366 | $29,000 | $50,000 | 33.7% | -5% |
| 6 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $30,090 | $30,000 | $50,000 | 31.6% | Average |
| 7 | Cleveland-Elyria, OH | $29,933 | $27,000 | $48,000 | 31.2% | -10% |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29,517 | $33,000 | $60,000 | 31.7% | +12% |
| 9 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $29,517 | $33,000 | $63,000 | 31.7% | +12% |
| 10 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $29,470 | $30,000 | $57,000 | 31.5% | +2% |
| 11 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,381 | $28,000 | $43,100 | 33.9% | -5% |
| 12 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,373 | $26,700 | $45,000 | 32.6% | -9% |
| 13 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $29,354 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 33.6% | +2% |
| 14 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $29,228 | $28,000 | $50,000 | 32.2% | -4% |
| 15 | Raleigh, NC | $29,106 | $28,000 | $51,000 | 34.4% | -4% |
| 16 | Austin-Round Rock, TX | $28,856 | $29,000 | $50,000 | 34.7% | +1% |
| 17 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $28,463 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 32.5% | +5% |
| 18 | Birmingham-Hoover, AL | $28,153 | $25,000 | $44,000 | 32.9% | -11% |
| 19 | Richmond, VA | $28,096 | $27,000 | $48,000 | 32.5% | -4% |
| 20 | Salt Lake City, UT | $27,851 | $27,600 | $45,000 | 38.9% | -1% |
| 21 | Rochester, NY | $27,800 | $27,300 | $47,000 | 32.3% | -2% |
| 22 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $27,502 | $36,000 | $76,000 | 32.2% | +31% |
| 23 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,442 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 35.7% | -9% |
| 24 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | $27,397 | $26,000 | $45,000 | 30.9% | -5% |
| 25 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $27,352 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 32.0% | -9% |
| 26 | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $27,344 | $35,000 | $70,000 | 29.2% | +28% |
| 27 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $27,282 | $25,400 | $46,200 | 34.3% | -7% |
| 28 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $27,281 | $29,000 | $51,000 | 32.3% | +6% |
| 29 | Columbus, OH | $27,086 | $25,000 | $49,800 | 34.8% | -8% |
| 30 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $27,079 | $28,000 | $50,000 | 33.6% | +3% |
| 31 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $26,652 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 33.8% | -6% |
| 32 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $26,549 | $27,000 | $50,000 | 31.3% | +2% |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $26,288 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 34.6% | -5% |
| 34 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $26,261 | $25,000 | $43,000 | 32.4% | -5% |
| 35 | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $26,203 | $25,600 | $45,000 | 34.9% | -2% |
| 36 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $25,845 | $30,600 | $65,000 | 33.3% | +18% |
| 37 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $25,826 | $25,000 | $47,000 | 35.4% | -3% |
| 38 | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | $25,744 | $25,100 | $40,000 | 33.4% | -3% |
| 39 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $25,432 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 33.9% | -2% |
| 40 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $25,424 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 37.2% | -6% |
| 41 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $25,278 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 29.3% | -1% |
| 42 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25,164 | $23,000 | $42,000 | 36.1% | -9% |
| 43 | Jacksonville, FL | $25,157 | $24,000 | $42,000 | 32.9% | -5% |
| 44 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $24,950 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 36.9% | Average |
| 45 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $24,627 | $26,400 | $57,000 | 32.2% | +7% |
| 46 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | $24,590 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 35.2% | -2% |
| 47 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $24,582 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 37.4% | +2% |
| 48 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $24,530 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 31.9% | +22% |
| 49 | Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $24,510 | $25,000 | $50,000 | 34.1% | +2% |
| 50 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $23,063 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 29.9% | +8% |
| 51 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $22,388 | $24,000 | $43,000 | 37.7% | +7% |
| 52 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $22,203 | $26,000 | $45,500 | 33.3% | +17% |
| 53 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $21,552 | $25,000 | $50,000 | 34.2% | +16% |
Midsize Metros
data here: https://infogram.com/1p7vedygw2eg2kizn2eqy92xmys1pz0gvd?live
| Rank | Metro | Adjusted Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for All Workers | Population Under 25 | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akron, OH | $33,186 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 32.5% | -10% |
| 2 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,155 | $31,000 | $50,000 | 35.3% | -7% |
| 3 | Visalia-Porterville, CA | $31,949 | $30,000 | $37,000 | 42.6% | -6% |
| 4 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $31,570 | $37,600 | $62,000 | 33.1% | +19% |
| 5 | Fort Wayne, IN | $31,425 | $28,000 | $40,000 | 36.3% | -11% |
| 6 | Reading, PA | $31,088 | $30,000 | $46,000 | 33.4% | -4% |
| 7 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $30,939 | $28,000 | $45,000 | 37.2% | -10% |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $30,364 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 32.1% | -1% |
| 9 | Lafayette, LA | $29,680 | $26,000 | $40,000 | 35.7% | -12% |
| 10 | Eugene, OR | $29,448 | $28,800 | $41,000 | 32.4% | -2% |
| 11 | Springfield, MA | $29,424 | $28,600 | $50,000 | 32.6% | -3% |
| 12 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,195 | $26,100 | $41,000 | 31.7% | -11% |
| 13 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | $29,126 | $27,000 | $45,000 | 36.1% | -7% |
| 14 | Wichita, KS | $29,115 | $26,000 | $40,200 | 36.5% | -11% |
| 15 | Worcester, MA-CT | $28,958 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 31.9% | +4% |
| 16 | Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | $28,921 | $26,000 | $40,000 | 33.5% | -10% |
| 17 | Syracuse, NY | $28,836 | $28,000 | $46,000 | 34.1% | -3% |
| 18 | Mobile, AL | $28,802 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 34.7% | -13% |
| 19 | Springfield, MO | $28,736 | $25,000 | $38,000 | 35.8% | -13% |
| 20 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $28,637 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 31.4% | -13% |
| 21 | Toledo, OH | $28,506 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 34.6% | -12% |
| 22 | Salisbury, MD-DE | $28,249 | $25,000 | $43,800 | 29.1% | -12% |
| 23 | Winston-Salem, NC | $28,185 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 32.7% | -11% |
| 24 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $28,141 | $28,000 | $45,000 | 38.7% | Average |
| 25 | Dayton, OH | $28,090 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 32.9% | -11% |
| 26 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | $27,964 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 38.9% | -11% |
| 27 | Jackson, MS | $27,716 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 35.6% | -10% |
| 28 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,594 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 35.1% | -9% |
| 29 | Ogden-Clearfield, UT | $27,513 | $26,000 | $48,000 | 41.4% | -6% |
| 30 | Montgomery, AL | $27,497 | $24,500 | $40,000 | 34.5% | -11% |
| 31 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | $27,027 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 30.6% | -8% |
| 32 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,975 | $23,900 | $40,000 | 35.1% | -11% |
| 33 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $26,882 | $25,000 | $35,000 | 32.0% | -7% |
| 34 | Anchorage, AK | $26,877 | $29,000 | $54,000 | 36.0% | +8% |
| 35 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $26,786 | $24,000 | $43,000 | 35.1% | -10% |
| 36 | Ocala, FL | $26,519 | $24,000 | $36,000 | 26.8% | -10% |
| 37 | Columbia, SC | $26,172 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 35.7% | -8% |
| 38 | Lancaster, PA | $26,052 | $26,000 | $46,000 | 34.3% | Average |
| 39 | Baton Rouge, LA | $25,918 | $24,000 | $48,000 | 37.0% | -7% |
| 40 | Knoxville, TN | $25,901 | $23,000 | $40,000 | 32.0% | -11% |
| 41 | York-Hanover, PA | $25,880 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 31.3% | -3% |
| 42 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $25,845 | $26,000 | $52,000 | 32.6% | +1% |
| 43 | Boise City, ID | $25,478 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 35.6% | -6% |
| 44 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $25,375 | $22,000 | $36,000 | 30.7% | -13% |
| 45 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $25,316 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 32.7% | -5% |
| 46 | New Haven-Milford, CT | $25,271 | $28,000 | $55,000 | 31.8% | +11% |
| 47 | Modesto, CA | $25,178 | $24,700 | $44,100 | 38.4% | -2% |
| 48 | Colorado Springs, CO | $25,100 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 36.4% | Average |
| 49 | Albuquerque, NM | $25,078 | $24,000 | $41,000 | 33.2% | -4% |
| 50 | Fresno, CA | $25,078 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 40.1% | -4% |
| 51 | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | $25,025 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 23.7% | Average |
| 52 | Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $25,000 | $30,000 | $54,000 | 33.0% | +20% |
| 53 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $24,948 | $24,000 | $44,000 | 32.2% | -4% |
| 54 | Provo-Orem, UT | $24,768 | $24,000 | $46,000 | 52.2% | -3% |
| 55 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $24,756 | $22,800 | $45,000 | 37.5% | -8% |
| 56 | El Paso, TX | $24,691 | $22,000 | $35,000 | 40.5% | -11% |
| 57 | Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | $24,582 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 24.8% | +2% |
| 58 | Huntsville, AL | $24,472 | $22,000 | $49,000 | 33.3% | -10% |
| 59 | Ann Arbor, MI | $24,287 | $24,700 | $55,000 | 39.0% | +2% |
| 60 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $24,134 | $23,000 | $37,000 | 26.6% | -5% |
| 61 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $23,681 | $22,900 | $38,000 | 26.2% | -3% |
| 62 | Santa Rosa, CA | $23,563 | $29,100 | $52,000 | 28.9% | +24% |
| 63 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $23,460 | $24,000 | $50,000 | 28.3% | +2% |
| 64 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $23,411 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 33.1% | -10% |
| 65 | Corpus Christi, TX | $23,241 | $21,800 | $40,000 | 35.0% | -6% |
| 66 | Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | $23,095 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 30.0% | -13% |
| 67 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $23,063 | $25,000 | $52,000 | 30.0% | +8% |
| 68 | Salinas, CA | $23,041 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 38.0% | +9% |
| 69 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $22,967 | $19,200 | $30,000 | 42.8% | -16% |
| 70 | Bakersfield, CA | $22,917 | $22,000 | $40,000 | 40.8% | -4% |
| 71 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $22,863 | $23,000 | $48,000 | 31.3% | +1% |
| 72 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $22,810 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 39.8% | +10% |
| 73 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $22,704 | $22,000 | $48,500 | 31.6% | -3% |
| 74 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $22,619 | $19,000 | $30,300 | 45.5% | -16% |
| 75 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $22,548 | $20,000 | $35,000 | 34.9% | -11% |
| 76 | Asheville, NC | $22,462 | $20,800 | $37,400 | 27.7% | -7% |
| 77 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $22,203 | $26,000 | $50,000 | 34.4% | +17% |
| 78 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $21,898 | $21,000 | $42,000 | 27.5% | -4% |
| 79 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $21,649 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 27.9% | -3% |
| 80 | Trenton, NJ | $21,505 | $24,000 | $56,000 | 34.2% | +12% |
| 81 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $21,411 | $26,700 | $48,000 | 31.9% | +25% |
| 82 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | $19,587 | $18,000 | $35,000 | 25.5% | -8% |
| 83 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $19,502 | $18,000 | $39,000 | 33.0% | -8% |
Small Metros
data here: https://infogram.com/1p7vedygw2eg2kizn2eqy92xmys1pz0gvd?live
| Rank | Metro | Adjusted Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for All Workers | Population Under 25 | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | $36,240 | $32,000 | $40,000 | 31.0% | -12% |
| 2 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $35,842 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 30.3% | -16% |
| 3 | Eau Claire, WI | $35,516 | $32,000 | $45,000 | 35.5% | -10% |
| 4 | Midland, TX | $34,895 | $35,000 | $55,000 | 39.0% | Average |
| 5 | Mansfield, OH | $34,884 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 31.0% | -14% |
| 6 | Muskegon, MI | $34,443 | $30,000 | $42,000 | 33.2% | -13% |
| 7 | Greenville, NC | $34,130 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 41.9% | -12% |
| 8 | Rockford, IL | $33,898 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 32.4% | -12% |
| 9 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $33,898 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 41.8% | -12% |
| 10 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,557 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 38.2% | -11% |
| 11 | Lima, OH | $32,710 | $28,000 | $42,000 | 34.5% | -14% |
| 12 | Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | $31,840 | $27,000 | $37,500 | 32.9% | -15% |
| 13 | Iowa City, IA | $31,813 | $30,000 | $52,000 | 43.6% | -6% |
| 14 | Lincoln, NE | $31,694 | $29,000 | $42,000 | 39.3% | -9% |
| 15 | Topeka, KS | $31,603 | $28,000 | $42,000 | 33.3% | -11% |
| 16 | Norwich-New London, CT | $31,434 | $32,000 | $58,000 | 31.2% | +2% |
| 17 | Saginaw, MI | $31,321 | $27,500 | $43,500 | 30.8% | -12% |
| 18 | Lynchburg, VA | $31,285 | $28,000 | $40,400 | 34.1% | -11% |
| 19 | Jefferson City, MO | $30,703 | $24,900 | $40,000 | 33.2% | -19% |
| 20 | Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | $30,501 | $28,000 | $33,700 | 24.3% | -8% |
| 21 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $30,468 | $28,000 | $41,000 | 37.1% | -8% |
| 22 | Jackson, TN | $30,414 | $25,000 | $35,000 | 35.9% | -18% |
| 23 | Bellingham, WA | $30,364 | $30,000 | $50,000 | 35.0% | -1% |
| 24 | Yuba City, CA | $30,021 | $29,000 | $45,000 | 36.4% | -3% |
| 25 | Springfield, OH | $29,988 | $26,000 | $42,000 | 33.0% | -13% |
| 26 | Roanoke, VA | $29,967 | $27,000 | $44,000 | 29.0% | -10% |
| 27 | Pittsfield, MA | $29,683 | $29,000 | $47,000 | 27.8% | -2% |
| 28 | Rocky Mount, NC | $29,586 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 32.8% | -16% |
| 29 | Monroe, LA | $29,577 | $25,200 | $36,000 | 36.9% | -15% |
| 30 | Lawrence, KS | $29,508 | $27,000 | $47,000 | 41.5% | -9% |
| 31 | Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | $29,345 | $26,000 | $37,000 | 35.7% | -11% |
| 32 | Muncie, IN | $29,070 | $25,000 | $42,000 | 39.6% | -14% |
| 33 | Amarillo, TX | $28,939 | $27,000 | $39,400 | 36.2% | -7% |
| 34 | Johnstown, PA | $28,835 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 29.1% | -13% |
| 35 | Columbia, MO | $28,793 | $26,000 | $42,000 | 41.0% | -10% |
| 36 | Barnstable Town, MA | $28,653 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 23.7% | +5% |
| 37 | Monroe, MI | $28,448 | $26,400 | $50,000 | 30.1% | -7% |
| 38 | Sheboygan, WI | $28,396 | $25,500 | $39,000 | 31.8% | -10% |
| 39 | Harrisonburg, VA | $28,217 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 41.1% | -11% |
| 40 | Jackson, MI | $28,185 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 31.2% | -11% |
| 41 | Decatur, IL | $28,103 | $24,000 | $44,000 | 33.6% | -15% |
| 42 | Wichita Falls, TX | $28,090 | $25,000 | $35,000 | 38.8% | -11% |
| 43 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,053 | $25,500 | $44,500 | 46.9% | -9% |
| 44 | Charleston, WV | $27,842 | $24,000 | $41,800 | 29.7% | -14% |
| 45 | Utica-Rome, NY | $27,807 | $26,000 | $40,000 | 32.3% | -7% |
| 46 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,716 | $25,000 | $37,000 | 40.0% | -10% |
| 47 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $27,716 | $25,000 | $43,000 | 33.9% | -10% |
| 48 | Lebanon, PA | $27,662 | $26,500 | $42,000 | 32.3% | -4% |
| 49 | Morgantown, WV | $27,563 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 37.1% | -9% |
| 50 | St. George, UT | $27,368 | $26,000 | $38,000 | 36.6% | -5% |
| 51 | Olympia-Tumwater, WA | $27,264 | $29,200 | $52,000 | 31.9% | +7% |
| 52 | Ithaca, NY | $26,822 | $28,700 | $49,500 | 43.0% | +7% |
| 53 | Dover, DE | $26,795 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 35.3% | -7% |
| 54 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $26,795 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 48.7% | -7% |
| 55 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $26,775 | $23,000 | $40,000 | 32.5% | -14% |
| 56 | Houma-Thibodaux, LA | $26,608 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 35.1% | -10% |
| 57 | Goldsboro, NC | $26,498 | $23,000 | $33,000 | 35.3% | -13% |
| 58 | Kankakee, IL | $26,316 | $25,000 | $42,000 | 34.1% | -5% |
| 59 | Ocean City, NJ | $26,316 | $27,500 | $55,000 | 26.7% | +5% |
| 60 | State College, PA | $26,265 | $27,000 | $47,000 | 41.6% | +3% |
| 61 | Gainesville, GA | $25,989 | $23,000 | $37,100 | 36.8% | -12% |
| 62 | Redding, CA | $25,907 | $25,000 | $42,000 | 30.3% | -4% |
| 63 | Napa, CA | $25,890 | $32,000 | $55,000 | 31.0% | +24% |
| 64 | Yakima, WA | $25,890 | $24,000 | $38,000 | 40.8% | -7% |
| 65 | Wilmington, NC | $25,862 | $24,000 | $42,000 | 32.0% | -7% |
| 66 | East Stroudsburg, PA | $25,800 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 31.4% | -3% |
| 67 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $25,779 | $24,000 | $46,000 | 44.4% | -7% |
| 68 | Glens Falls, NY | $25,720 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 27.4% | -3% |
| 69 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $25,714 | $27,000 | $49,700 | 34.0% | +5% |
| 70 | Fort Collins, CO | $25,611 | $26,200 | $50,000 | 35.9% | +2% |
| 71 | Merced, CA | $25,586 | $24,000 | $38,000 | 42.4% | -6% |
| 72 | Springfield, IL | $25,584 | $23,000 | $47,000 | 32.5% | -10% |
| 73 | Fayetteville, NC | $25,561 | $22,800 | $33,000 | 39.9% | -11% |
| 74 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $25,499 | $23,000 | $40,900 | 34.4% | -10% |
| 75 | Wausau, WI | $25,471 | $23,000 | $42,000 | 30.9% | -10% |
| 76 | Pueblo, CO | $25,439 | $23,200 | $40,000 | 32.8% | -9% |
| 77 | Medford, OR | $25,336 | $24,500 | $40,000 | 30.6% | -3% |
| 78 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $25,290 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 32.0% | -5% |
| 79 | Punta Gorda, FL | $25,236 | $24,100 | $37,700 | 17.6% | -5% |
| 80 | Waco, TX | $25,082 | $22,900 | $38,000 | 40.0% | -9% |
| 81 | Odessa, TX | $25,052 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 42.2% | -4% |
| 82 | Prescott, AZ | $24,974 | $24,000 | $39,800 | 23.5% | -4% |
| 83 | Bend-Redmond, OR | $24,950 | $25,000 | $44,400 | 28.2% | Average |
| 84 | Bloomington, IN | $24,865 | $23,000 | $41,000 | 43.9% | -8% |
| 85 | Yuma, AZ | $24,862 | $22,500 | $35,000 | 38.0% | -10% |
| 86 | Burlington, NC | $24,467 | $21,800 | $40,000 | 33.7% | -11% |
| 87 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | $24,262 | $23,000 | $35,000 | 30.8% | -5% |
| 88 | Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | $24,254 | $26,000 | $50,000 | 32.3% | +7% |
| 89 | Owensboro, KY | $24,205 | $21,300 | $40,000 | 33.8% | -12% |
| 90 | Decatur, AL | $24,038 | $20,000 | $36,000 | 32.3% | -17% |
| 91 | Lubbock, TX | $24,009 | $22,400 | $37,000 | 42.9% | -7% |
| 92 | Joplin, MO | $23,991 | $20,800 | $37,000 | 34.2% | -13% |
| 93 | Binghamton, NY | $23,884 | $23,000 | $45,000 | 33.7% | -4% |
| 94 | Spartanburg, SC | $23,756 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 34.2% | -12% |
| 95 | El Centro, CA | $23,490 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 39.9% | -11% |
| 96 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $23,429 | $22,000 | $37,000 | 38.9% | -6% |
| 97 | Santa Fe, NM | $23,303 | $23,000 | $40,000 | 26.8% | -1% |
| 98 | Chico, CA | $23,303 | $23,000 | $40,900 | 35.8% | -1% |
| 99 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | $23,277 | $25,000 | $53,000 | 34.1% | +7% |
| 100 | Florence, SC | $23,229 | $20,000 | $35,000 | 33.2% | -14% |
| 101 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $22,727 | $29,000 | $58,000 | 35.6% | +28% |
| 102 | Laredo, TX | $22,624 | $20,000 | $31,000 | 46.3% | -12% |
| 103 | Racine, WI | $22,186 | $20,700 | $52,000 | 33.1% | -7% |
| 104 | Grand Junction, CO | $22,151 | $20,800 | $45,000 | 34.2% | -6% |
| 105 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $22,026 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 30.5% | -9% |
| 106 | San Angelo, TX | $21,949 | $20,500 | $35,000 | 36.6% | -7% |
| 107 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $21,930 | $20,000 | $35,000 | 24.3% | -9% |
| 108 | Bloomington, IL | $21,668 | $20,000 | $54,000 | 40.1% | -8% |
| 109 | Erie, PA | $21,575 | $20,000 | $42,000 | 32.6% | -7% |
| 110 | Tyler, TX | $21,277 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 36.1% | -6% |
| 111 | Gainesville, FL | $21,231 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 41.2% | -6% |
| 112 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $21,164 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 33.5% | -6% |
| 113 | Flagstaff, AZ | $21,031 | $20,800 | $40,000 | 42.3% | -1% |
| 114 | Wenatchee, WA | $20,747 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 35.4% | -4% |
| 115 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $20,690 | $18,000 | $32,000 | 20.7% | -13% |
| 116 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $20,385 | $18,000 | $40,000 | 38.2% | -12% |
| 117 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $20,261 | $17,100 | $36,000 | 41.3% | -16% |
| 118 | Las Cruces, NM | $20,067 | $18,000 | $33,000 | 40.4% | -10% |
| 119 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $19,608 | $20,000 | $45,000 | 32.6% | +2% |
| 120 | Bangor, ME | $19,418 | $18,700 | $41,000 | 29.5% | -4% |
| 121 | Gadsden, AL | $17,011 | $14,000 | $35,000 | 30.6% | -18% |
| 122 | Madera, CA | $16,967 | $16,000 | $38,000 | 38.4% | -6% |
All Metros
| Rank | Metro | Adjusted Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for Workers Under 25 | Earnings for All Workers | Population Under 25 | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | $36,240 | $32,000 | $40,000 | 31.0% | -12% |
| 2 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $35,842 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 30.3% | -16% |
| 3 | Eau Claire, WI | $35,516 | $32,000 | $45,000 | 35.5% | -10% |
| 4 | Midland, TX | $34,895 | $35,000 | $55,000 | 39.0% | Average |
| 5 | Mansfield, OH | $34,884 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 31.0% | -14% |
| 6 | Muskegon, MI | $34,443 | $30,000 | $42,000 | 33.2% | -13% |
| 7 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $34,130 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 29.4% | -12% |
| 8 | Greenville, NC | $34,130 | $30,000 | $40,000 | 41.9% | -12% |
| 9 | Rockford, IL | $33,898 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 32.4% | -12% |
| 10 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $33,898 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 41.8% | -12% |
| 11 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,557 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 38.2% | -11% |
| 12 | Akron, OH | $33,186 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 32.5% | -10% |
| 13 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,155 | $31,000 | $50,000 | 35.3% | -7% |
| 14 | Lima, OH | $32,710 | $28,000 | $42,000 | 34.5% | -14% |
| 15 | Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | $32,432 | $30,000 | $45,800 | 35.4% | -8% |
| 16 | Visalia-Porterville, CA | $31,949 | $30,000 | $37,000 | 42.6% | -6% |
| 17 | Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | $31,840 | $27,000 | $37,500 | 32.9% | -15% |
| 18 | Iowa City, IA | $31,813 | $30,000 | $52,000 | 43.6% | -6% |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $31,694 | $29,000 | $42,000 | 39.3% | -9% |
| 20 | Topeka, KS | $31,603 | $28,000 | $42,000 | 33.3% | -11% |
| 21 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $31,570 | $37,600 | $62,000 | 33.1% | +19% |
| 22 | Norwich-New London, CT | $31,434 | $32,000 | $58,000 | 31.2% | +2% |
| 23 | Fort Wayne, IN | $31,425 | $28,000 | $40,000 | 36.3% | -11% |
| 24 | Saginaw, MI | $31,321 | $27,500 | $43,500 | 30.8% | -12% |
| 25 | Lynchburg, VA | $31,285 | $28,000 | $40,400 | 34.1% | -11% |
| 26 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $31,111 | $28,000 | $48,000 | 34.4% | -10% |
| 27 | Reading, PA | $31,088 | $30,000 | $46,000 | 33.4% | -4% |
| 28 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $30,939 | $28,000 | $45,000 | 37.2% | -10% |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,851 | $29,000 | $50,000 | 28.7% | -6% |
| 30 | Jefferson City, MO | $30,703 | $24,900 | $40,000 | 33.2% | -19% |
| 31 | Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | $30,501 | $28,000 | $33,700 | 24.3% | -8% |
| 32 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $30,468 | $28,000 | $41,000 | 37.1% | -8% |
| 33 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | $30,435 | $28,000 | $46,000 | 35.0% | -8% |
| 34 | Jackson, TN | $30,414 | $25,000 | $35,000 | 35.9% | -18% |
| 35 | Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | $30,366 | $29,000 | $50,000 | 33.7% | -5% |
| 36 | Bellingham, WA | $30,364 | $30,000 | $50,000 | 35.0% | -1% |
| 37 | Reno, NV | $30,364 | $30,000 | $45,000 | 32.1% | -1% |
| 38 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $30,090 | $30,000 | $50,000 | 31.6% | Average |
| 39 | Yuba City, CA | $30,021 | $29,000 | $45,000 | 36.4% | -3% |
| 40 | Springfield, OH | $29,988 | $26,000 | $42,000 | 33.0% | -13% |
| 41 | Roanoke, VA | $29,967 | $27,000 | $44,000 | 29.0% | -10% |
| 42 | Cleveland-Elyria, OH | $29,933 | $27,000 | $48,000 | 31.2% | -10% |
| 43 | Pittsfield, MA | $29,683 | $29,000 | $47,000 | 27.8% | -2% |
| 44 | Lafayette, LA | $29,680 | $26,000 | $40,000 | 35.7% | -12% |
| 45 | Rocky Mount, NC | $29,586 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 32.8% | -16% |
| 46 | Monroe, LA | $29,577 | $25,200 | $36,000 | 36.9% | -15% |
| 47 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29,517 | $33,000 | $60,000 | 31.7% | +12% |
| 48 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $29,517 | $33,000 | $63,000 | 31.7% | +12% |
| 49 | Lawrence, KS | $29,508 | $27,000 | $47,000 | 41.5% | -9% |
| 50 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $29,470 | $30,000 | $57,000 | 31.5% | +2% |
| 51 | Eugene, OR | $29,448 | $28,800 | $41,000 | 32.4% | -2% |
| 52 | Springfield, MA | $29,424 | $28,600 | $50,000 | 32.6% | -3% |
| 53 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,381 | $28,000 | $43,100 | 33.9% | -5% |
| 54 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,373 | $26,700 | $45,000 | 32.6% | -9% |
| 55 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $29,354 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 33.6% | +2% |
| 56 | Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | $29,345 | $26,000 | $37,000 | 35.7% | -11% |
| 57 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $29,228 | $28,000 | $50,000 | 32.2% | -4% |
| 58 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,195 | $26,100 | $41,000 | 31.7% | -11% |
| 59 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | $29,126 | $27,000 | $45,000 | 36.1% | -7% |
| 60 | Wichita, KS | $29,115 | $26,000 | $40,200 | 36.5% | -11% |
| 61 | Raleigh, NC | $29,106 | $28,000 | $51,000 | 34.4% | -4% |
| 62 | Muncie, IN | $29,070 | $25,000 | $42,000 | 39.6% | -14% |
| 63 | Worcester, MA-CT | $28,958 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 31.9% | +4% |
| 64 | Amarillo, TX | $28,939 | $27,000 | $39,400 | 36.2% | -7% |
| 65 | Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | $28,921 | $26,000 | $40,000 | 33.5% | -10% |
| 66 | Austin-Round Rock, TX | $28,856 | $29,000 | $50,000 | 34.7% | +1% |
| 67 | Syracuse, NY | $28,836 | $28,000 | $46,000 | 34.1% | -3% |
| 68 | Johnstown, PA | $28,835 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 29.1% | -13% |
| 69 | Mobile, AL | $28,802 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 34.7% | -13% |
| 70 | Columbia, MO | $28,793 | $26,000 | $42,000 | 41.0% | -10% |
| 71 | Springfield, MO | $28,736 | $25,000 | $38,000 | 35.8% | -13% |
| 72 | Barnstable Town, MA | $28,653 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 23.7% | +5% |
| 73 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $28,637 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 31.4% | -13% |
| 74 | Toledo, OH | $28,506 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 34.6% | -12% |
| 75 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $28,463 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 32.5% | +5% |
| 76 | Monroe, MI | $28,448 | $26,400 | $50,000 | 30.1% | -7% |
| 77 | Sheboygan, WI | $28,396 | $25,500 | $39,000 | 31.8% | -10% |
| 78 | Salisbury, MD-DE | $28,249 | $25,000 | $43,800 | 29.1% | -12% |
| 79 | Harrisonburg, VA | $28,217 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 41.1% | -11% |
| 80 | Winston-Salem, NC | $28,185 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 32.7% | -11% |
| 81 | Jackson, MI | $28,185 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 31.2% | -11% |
| 82 | Birmingham-Hoover, AL | $28,153 | $25,000 | $44,000 | 32.9% | -11% |
| 83 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $28,141 | $28,000 | $45,000 | 38.7% | Average |
| 84 | Decatur, IL | $28,103 | $24,000 | $44,000 | 33.6% | -15% |
| 85 | Richmond, VA | $28,096 | $27,000 | $48,000 | 32.5% | -4% |
| 86 | Wichita Falls, TX | $28,090 | $25,000 | $35,000 | 38.8% | -11% |
| 87 | Dayton, OH | $28,090 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 32.9% | -11% |
| 88 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,053 | $25,500 | $44,500 | 46.9% | -9% |
| 89 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | $27,964 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 38.9% | -11% |
| 90 | Salt Lake City, UT | $27,851 | $27,600 | $45,000 | 38.9% | -1% |
| 91 | Charleston, WV | $27,842 | $24,000 | $41,800 | 29.7% | -14% |
| 92 | Utica-Rome, NY | $27,807 | $26,000 | $40,000 | 32.3% | -7% |
| 93 | Rochester, NY | $27,800 | $27,300 | $47,000 | 32.3% | -2% |
| 94 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $27,716 | $25,000 | $37,000 | 40.0% | -10% |
| 95 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $27,716 | $25,000 | $43,000 | 33.9% | -10% |
| 96 | Jackson, MS | $27,716 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 35.6% | -10% |
| 97 | Lebanon, PA | $27,662 | $26,500 | $42,000 | 32.3% | -4% |
| 98 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $27,594 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 35.1% | -9% |
| 99 | Morgantown, WV | $27,563 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 37.1% | -9% |
| 100 | Ogden-Clearfield, UT | $27,513 | $26,000 | $48,000 | 41.4% | -6% |
| 101 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $27,502 | $36,000 | $76,000 | 32.2% | +31% |
| 102 | Montgomery, AL | $27,497 | $24,500 | $40,000 | 34.5% | -11% |
| 103 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $27,442 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 35.7% | -9% |
| 104 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | $27,397 | $26,000 | $45,000 | 30.9% | -5% |
| 105 | St. George, UT | $27,368 | $26,000 | $38,000 | 36.6% | -5% |
| 106 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $27,352 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 32.0% | -9% |
| 107 | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $27,344 | $35,000 | $70,000 | 29.2% | +28% |
| 108 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $27,282 | $25,400 | $46,200 | 34.3% | -7% |
| 109 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $27,281 | $29,000 | $51,000 | 32.3% | +6% |
| 110 | Olympia-Tumwater, WA | $27,264 | $29,200 | $52,000 | 31.9% | +7% |
| 111 | Columbus, OH | $27,086 | $25,000 | $49,800 | 34.8% | -8% |
| 112 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $27,079 | $28,000 | $50,000 | 33.6% | +3% |
| 113 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | $27,027 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 30.6% | -8% |
| 114 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,975 | $23,900 | $40,000 | 35.1% | -11% |
| 115 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $26,882 | $25,000 | $35,000 | 32.0% | -7% |
| 116 | Anchorage, AK | $26,877 | $29,000 | $54,000 | 36.0% | +8% |
| 117 | Ithaca, NY | $26,822 | $28,700 | $49,500 | 43.0% | +7% |
| 118 | Dover, DE | $26,795 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 35.3% | -7% |
| 119 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $26,795 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 48.7% | -7% |
| 120 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $26,786 | $24,000 | $43,000 | 35.1% | -10% |
| 121 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $26,775 | $23,000 | $40,000 | 32.5% | -14% |
| 122 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $26,652 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 33.8% | -6% |
| 123 | Houma-Thibodaux, LA | $26,608 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 35.1% | -10% |
| 124 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $26,549 | $27,000 | $50,000 | 31.3% | +2% |
| 125 | Ocala, FL | $26,519 | $24,000 | $36,000 | 26.8% | -10% |
| 126 | Goldsboro, NC | $26,498 | $23,000 | $33,000 | 35.3% | -13% |
| 127 | Kankakee, IL | $26,316 | $25,000 | $42,000 | 34.1% | -5% |
| 128 | Ocean City, NJ | $26,316 | $27,500 | $55,000 | 26.7% | +5% |
| 129 | Tucson, AZ | $26,288 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 34.6% | -5% |
| 130 | State College, PA | $26,265 | $27,000 | $47,000 | 41.6% | +3% |
| 131 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $26,261 | $25,000 | $43,000 | 32.4% | -5% |
| 132 | Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $26,203 | $25,600 | $45,000 | 34.9% | -2% |
| 133 | Columbia, SC | $26,172 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 35.7% | -8% |
| 134 | Lancaster, PA | $26,052 | $26,000 | $46,000 | 34.3% | Average |
| 135 | Gainesville, GA | $25,989 | $23,000 | $37,100 | 36.8% | -12% |
| 136 | Baton Rouge, LA | $25,918 | $24,000 | $48,000 | 37.0% | -7% |
| 137 | Redding, CA | $25,907 | $25,000 | $42,000 | 30.3% | -4% |
| 138 | Knoxville, TN | $25,901 | $23,000 | $40,000 | 32.0% | -11% |
| 139 | Napa, CA | $25,890 | $32,000 | $55,000 | 31.0% | +24% |
| 140 | Yakima, WA | $25,890 | $24,000 | $38,000 | 40.8% | -7% |
| 141 | York-Hanover, PA | $25,880 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 31.3% | -3% |
| 142 | Wilmington, NC | $25,862 | $24,000 | $42,000 | 32.0% | -7% |
| 143 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $25,845 | $26,000 | $52,000 | 32.6% | +1% |
| 144 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $25,845 | $30,600 | $65,000 | 33.3% | +18% |
| 145 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $25,826 | $25,000 | $47,000 | 35.4% | -3% |
| 146 | East Stroudsburg, PA | $25,800 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 31.4% | -3% |
| 147 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $25,779 | $24,000 | $46,000 | 44.4% | -7% |
| 148 | Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | $25,744 | $25,100 | $40,000 | 33.4% | -3% |
| 149 | Glens Falls, NY | $25,720 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 27.4% | -3% |
| 150 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $25,714 | $27,000 | $49,700 | 34.0% | +5% |
| 151 | Fort Collins, CO | $25,611 | $26,200 | $50,000 | 35.9% | +2% |
| 152 | Merced, CA | $25,586 | $24,000 | $38,000 | 42.4% | -6% |
| 153 | Springfield, IL | $25,584 | $23,000 | $47,000 | 32.5% | -10% |
| 154 | Fayetteville, NC | $25,561 | $22,800 | $33,000 | 39.9% | -11% |
| 155 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $25,499 | $23,000 | $40,900 | 34.4% | -10% |
| 156 | Boise City, ID | $25,478 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 35.6% | -6% |
| 157 | Wausau, WI | $25,471 | $23,000 | $42,000 | 30.9% | -10% |
| 158 | Pueblo, CO | $25,439 | $23,200 | $40,000 | 32.8% | -9% |
| 159 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $25,432 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 33.9% | -2% |
| 160 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $25,424 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 37.2% | -6% |
| 161 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $25,375 | $22,000 | $36,000 | 30.7% | -13% |
| 162 | Medford, OR | $25,336 | $24,500 | $40,000 | 30.6% | -3% |
| 163 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $25,316 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 32.7% | -5% |
| 164 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $25,290 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 32.0% | -5% |
| 165 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $25,278 | $25,000 | $41,000 | 29.3% | -1% |
| 166 | New Haven-Milford, CT | $25,271 | $28,000 | $55,000 | 31.8% | +11% |
| 167 | Punta Gorda, FL | $25,236 | $24,100 | $37,700 | 17.6% | -5% |
| 168 | Modesto, CA | $25,178 | $24,700 | $44,100 | 38.4% | -2% |
| 169 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25,164 | $23,000 | $42,000 | 36.1% | -9% |
| 170 | Jacksonville, FL | $25,157 | $24,000 | $42,000 | 32.9% | -5% |
| 171 | Colorado Springs, CO | $25,100 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 36.4% | Average |
| 172 | Waco, TX | $25,082 | $22,900 | $38,000 | 40.0% | -9% |
| 173 | Albuquerque, NM | $25,078 | $24,000 | $41,000 | 33.2% | -4% |
| 174 | Fresno, CA | $25,078 | $24,000 | $40,000 | 40.1% | -4% |
| 175 | Odessa, TX | $25,052 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 42.2% | -4% |
| 176 | North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | $25,025 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 23.7% | Average |
| 177 | Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $25,000 | $30,000 | $54,000 | 33.0% | +20% |
| 178 | Prescott, AZ | $24,974 | $24,000 | $39,800 | 23.5% | -4% |
| 179 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $24,950 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 36.9% | Average |
| 180 | Bend-Redmond, OR | $24,950 | $25,000 | $44,400 | 28.2% | Average |
| 181 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $24,948 | $24,000 | $44,000 | 32.2% | -4% |
| 182 | Bloomington, IN | $24,865 | $23,000 | $41,000 | 43.9% | -8% |
| 183 | Yuma, AZ | $24,862 | $22,500 | $35,000 | 38.0% | -10% |
| 184 | Provo-Orem, UT | $24,768 | $24,000 | $46,000 | 52.2% | -3% |
| 185 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $24,756 | $22,800 | $45,000 | 37.5% | -8% |
| 186 | El Paso, TX | $24,691 | $22,000 | $35,000 | 40.5% | -11% |
| 187 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $24,627 | $26,400 | $57,000 | 32.2% | +7% |
| 188 | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | $24,590 | $24,000 | $45,000 | 35.2% | -2% |
| 189 | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $24,582 | $25,000 | $48,000 | 37.4% | +2% |
| 190 | Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | $24,582 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 24.8% | +2% |
| 191 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $24,530 | $30,000 | $55,000 | 31.9% | +22% |
| 192 | Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $24,510 | $25,000 | $50,000 | 34.1% | +2% |
| 193 | Huntsville, AL | $24,472 | $22,000 | $49,000 | 33.3% | -10% |
| 194 | Burlington, NC | $24,467 | $21,800 | $40,000 | 33.7% | -11% |
| 195 | Ann Arbor, MI | $24,287 | $24,700 | $55,000 | 39.0% | +2% |
| 196 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | $24,262 | $23,000 | $35,000 | 30.8% | -5% |
| 197 | Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | $24,254 | $26,000 | $50,000 | 32.3% | +7% |
| 198 | Owensboro, KY | $24,205 | $21,300 | $40,000 | 33.8% | -12% |
| 199 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $24,134 | $23,000 | $37,000 | 26.6% | -5% |
| 200 | Decatur, AL | $24,038 | $20,000 | $36,000 | 32.3% | -17% |
| 201 | Lubbock, TX | $24,009 | $22,400 | $37,000 | 42.9% | -7% |
| 202 | Joplin, MO | $23,991 | $20,800 | $37,000 | 34.2% | -13% |
| 203 | Binghamton, NY | $23,884 | $23,000 | $45,000 | 33.7% | -4% |
| 204 | Spartanburg, SC | $23,756 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 34.2% | -12% |
| 205 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $23,681 | $22,900 | $38,000 | 26.2% | -3% |
| 206 | Santa Rosa, CA | $23,563 | $29,100 | $52,000 | 28.9% | +24% |
| 207 | El Centro, CA | $23,490 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 39.9% | -11% |
| 208 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $23,460 | $24,000 | $50,000 | 28.3% | +2% |
| 209 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $23,429 | $22,000 | $37,000 | 38.9% | -6% |
| 210 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $23,411 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 33.1% | -10% |
| 211 | Santa Fe, NM | $23,303 | $23,000 | $40,000 | 26.8% | -1% |
| 212 | Chico, CA | $23,303 | $23,000 | $40,900 | 35.8% | -1% |
| 213 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | $23,277 | $25,000 | $53,000 | 34.1% | +7% |
| 214 | Corpus Christi, TX | $23,241 | $21,800 | $40,000 | 35.0% | -6% |
| 215 | Florence, SC | $23,229 | $20,000 | $35,000 | 33.2% | -14% |
| 216 | Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | $23,095 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 30.0% | -13% |
| 217 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $23,063 | $25,000 | $40,000 | 29.9% | +8% |
| 218 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $23,063 | $25,000 | $52,000 | 30.0% | +8% |
| 219 | Salinas, CA | $23,041 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 38.0% | +9% |
| 220 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $22,967 | $19,200 | $30,000 | 42.8% | -16% |
| 221 | Bakersfield, CA | $22,917 | $22,000 | $40,000 | 40.8% | -4% |
| 222 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $22,863 | $23,000 | $48,000 | 31.3% | +1% |
| 223 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $22,810 | $25,000 | $45,000 | 39.8% | +10% |
| 224 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $22,727 | $29,000 | $58,000 | 35.6% | +28% |
| 225 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $22,704 | $22,000 | $48,500 | 31.6% | -3% |
| 226 | Laredo, TX | $22,624 | $20,000 | $31,000 | 46.3% | -12% |
| 227 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $22,619 | $19,000 | $30,300 | 45.5% | -16% |
| 228 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $22,548 | $20,000 | $35,000 | 34.9% | -11% |
| 229 | Asheville, NC | $22,462 | $20,800 | $37,400 | 27.7% | -7% |
| 230 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $22,388 | $24,000 | $43,000 | 37.7% | +7% |
| 231 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $22,203 | $26,000 | $45,500 | 33.3% | +17% |
| 232 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $22,203 | $26,000 | $50,000 | 34.4% | +17% |
| 233 | Racine, WI | $22,186 | $20,700 | $52,000 | 33.1% | -7% |
| 234 | Grand Junction, CO | $22,151 | $20,800 | $45,000 | 34.2% | -6% |
| 235 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $22,026 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 30.5% | -9% |
| 236 | San Angelo, TX | $21,949 | $20,500 | $35,000 | 36.6% | -7% |
| 237 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $21,930 | $20,000 | $35,000 | 24.3% | -9% |
| 238 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $21,898 | $21,000 | $42,000 | 27.5% | -4% |
| 239 | Bloomington, IL | $21,668 | $20,000 | $54,000 | 40.1% | -8% |
| 240 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $21,649 | $21,000 | $40,000 | 27.9% | -3% |
| 241 | Erie, PA | $21,575 | $20,000 | $42,000 | 32.6% | -7% |
| 242 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $21,552 | $25,000 | $50,000 | 34.2% | +16% |
| 243 | Trenton, NJ | $21,505 | $24,000 | $56,000 | 34.2% | +12% |
| 244 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $21,411 | $26,700 | $48,000 | 31.9% | +25% |
| 245 | Tyler, TX | $21,277 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 36.1% | -6% |
| 246 | Gainesville, FL | $21,231 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 41.2% | -6% |
| 247 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $21,164 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 33.5% | -6% |
| 248 | Flagstaff, AZ | $21,031 | $20,800 | $40,000 | 42.3% | -1% |
| 249 | Wenatchee, WA | $20,747 | $20,000 | $40,000 | 35.4% | -4% |
| 250 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $20,690 | $18,000 | $32,000 | 20.7% | -13% |
| 251 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $20,385 | $18,000 | $40,000 | 38.2% | -12% |
| 252 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $20,261 | $17,100 | $36,000 | 41.3% | -16% |
| 253 | Las Cruces, NM | $20,067 | $18,000 | $33,000 | 40.4% | -10% |
| 254 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $19,608 | $20,000 | $45,000 | 32.6% | +2% |
| 255 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | $19,587 | $18,000 | $35,000 | 25.5% | -8% |
| 256 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $19,502 | $18,000 | $39,000 | 33.0% | -8% |
| 257 | Bangor, ME | $19,418 | $18,700 | $41,000 | 29.5% | -4% |
| 258 | Gadsden, AL | $17,011 | $14,000 | $35,000 | 30.6% | -18% |
| 259 | Madera, CA | $16,967 | $16,000 | $38,000 | 38.4% | -6% |
Methodology: Determining the Best-Paying Cities for Young Workers
The data on the median earnings for full-time workers under 25, median earnings for all full-time workers, and the proportion of the population under age 25 is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (ACS PUMS). The cost of living index is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Regional Price Parity dataset for 2017.
Median earnings for each metro were adjusted based on the cost of living index for that metro. Earnings in expensive cities were adjusted down to reflect lower purchasing power while earnings in relatively affordable cities were adjusted up to reflect higher purchasing power.
Metro areas are ranked by the cost-of-living adjusted median earnings for full-time workers under the age of 25.
Only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 people were included in the analysis. Additionally, metro areas were grouped into the following cohorts based on population size:
- Small metros: 100,000-350,000
- Midsize metros: 350,000-1,000,000
- Large: more than 1,000,000
Only large metros are included in the above countdown. Now that you know the best cities for young workers, are you ready to compare rates? No matter what age you are, if you own a car and plan to drive it, you need auto insurance.
Whether you live in one of the best cities for young workers or not, inserting your ZIP code into our online quote generator will help you find the best rates for you, dependent on your demographic information, driving record, and area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest-paying cities for young workers?
The highest paying cities for young workers in 2023 include Niles-Benton Harbor, Michigan; Akron, Ohio; and various cities in the Midwest.
Why are young workers’ earnings typically low?
Young workers generally earn less compared to more experienced individuals, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Are there affordable alternatives to big cities for young workers?
Yes, there are alternatives with robust job markets, competitive wages, and lower living costs, such as cities in the Midwest.
How were the best-paying cities for young workers determined?
The rankings were based on median earnings adjusted for the cost of living in each metro area, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
What industries and attractions do these cities offer?
The highlighted cities have various industries such as insurance, technology, healthcare, biotech, and more. They also offer cultural attractions, museums, restaurants, and outdoor activities.
How does where you live affect your car insurance rate?
Where you live can impact your car insurance rate due to factors like local crime rates, traffic congestion, and the likelihood of accidents or theft in your area. Insurance companies consider these factors when determining premiums.
Can I find auto insurance information for these cities?
You can visit our best auto insurance companies page to compare auto insurance companies nationwide. You can also use our online quote comparison tool by entering your ZIP code to find rates specific to your area.
How can a young driver save money on car insurance?
Young drivers can save money on car insurance by maintaining a clean driving record, taking defensive driving courses, choosing a safe and reliable vehicle, and comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
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