Looking For A Job This Summer? This Is Where To Move

For job seekers, the summer of 2024 offers more than part-time/seasonal employment. It also provides opportunities to launch professional careers — especially for young adults and recent college graduates.

The Best Places for Summer Jobs 2024 report, published by WalletHub, shows that amid persistent labor shortages in the U.S., many employers across the country are very eager to hire this summer.

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The report “compared the relative strength of more than 180 markets in the U.S. across 21 key indicators of employment outlook, affordability and downtime-friendliness.”

Source: WalletHub

Other metrics used in the study ranged from the median income of part-time workers, availability of summers jobs, and commuter-friendliness of jobs.

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The data shows that the availability and quality of summer jobs are not uniform across the country, with certain cities standing out as better locations for young job seekers.

Best Places to Get a Summer Job

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Youth Job Market Rank	Social Environment & Affordability Rank
1	Columbia, MD	63.12	1	33
2	Scottsdale, AZ	60.90	2	7
3	Rapid City, SD	57.62	5	21
4	Portland, ME	56.92	10	8
5	Orlando, FL	56.20	9	13
6	South Burlington, VT	55.94	3	102
7	St. Petersburg, FL	55.13	6	43
8	Charleston, SC	55.00	4	101
9	Fort Lauderdale, FL	54.37	13	18
10	Pearl City, HI	54.03	8	58
11	Tampa, FL	53.52	14	38
12	Charleston, WV	53.49	11	53
13	Richmond, VA	52.96	15	47
14	Peoria, AZ	52.70	7	105
15	St. Louis, MO	52.08	29	14
16	Virginia Beach, VA	51.41	17	54
17	Chandler, AZ	51.04	19	61
18	Salt Lake City, UT	50.72	16	74
19	Chesapeake, VA	50.69	12	133
20	Wilmington, DE	50.55	44	11
21	Sioux Falls, SD	50.48	32	40
22	Buffalo, NY	50.47	38	26
23	Juneau, AK	50.17	39	35
24	Cape Coral, FL	50.14	25	62
25	Tempe, AZ	50.00	26	55
26	Seattle, WA	49.96	82	4
27	Yonkers, NY	49.91	33	48
28	Cincinnati, OH	49.79	52	17
29	Grand Rapids, MI	49.64	28	63
30	Las Vegas, NV	49.43	69	9
31	Minneapolis, MN	49.31	57	19
32	Huntington Beach, CA	49.01	49	36
33	Newport News, VA	48.62	18	141
34	Overland Park, KS	48.57	31	84
35	Jacksonville, FL	48.55	45	51
36	Bismarck, ND	48.32	27	110
37	Norfolk, VA	48.25	20	142
38	St. Paul, MN	48.16	46	57
39	Warwick, RI	48.12	34	90
40	Cheyenne, WY	48.10	30	100
41	Plano, TX	47.89	21	145
42	Pittsburgh, PA	47.73	61	45
43	Glendale, AZ	47.66	37	91
44	Henderson, NV	47.61	59	49
45	Gilbert, AZ	47.49	23	149
46	Colorado Springs, CO	47.44	70	30
47	Pembroke Pines, FL	47.44	22	161
48	Denver, CO	47.42	96	10
49	Casper, WY	47.13	35	123
50	Kansas City, MO	47.12	55	68
51	Rochester, NY	47.11	87	12
52	Mesa, AZ	47.09	53	73
53	Garden Grove, CA	47.04	66	37
54	Burlington, VT	46.88	36	118
55	Madison, WI	46.78	51	82
56	Boise, ID	46.68	65	56
57	Little Rock, AR	46.68	41	108
58	Missoula, MT	46.68	40	111
59	Austin, TX	46.59	76	42
60	Atlanta, GA	46.55	68	52
61	Tulsa, OK	46.46	54	93
62	Cleveland, OH	46.44	58	78
63	Nashua, NH	46.39	43	117
64	Spokane, WA	46.37	86	24
65	Chattanooga, TN	45.86	48	127
66	West Valley City, UT	45.84	47	129
67	Jersey City, NJ	45.80	93	27
68	Miami, FL	45.73	85	44
69	Omaha, NE	45.56	94	29
70	Phoenix, AZ	45.20	103	25
71	Washington, DC	45.15	145	2
72	Tacoma, WA	45.14	102	20
73	Reno, NV	45.09	108	22
74	Billings, MT	45.07	99	34
75	Raleigh, NC	44.84	63	119
76	Grand Prairie, TX	44.77	24	181
77	Akron, OH	44.72	75	79
78	Glendale, CA	44.70	72	89
79	Portland, OR	44.62	137	6
80	Des Moines, IA	44.56	71	94
81	Vancouver, WA	44.35	80	83
82	Huntington, WV	44.16	56	158
83	Durham, NC	44.14	50	163
84	San Francisco, CA	43.95	163	1
85	Baltimore, MD	43.84	90	69
86	Fremont, CA	43.82	92	67
87	Fargo, ND	43.74	78	114
88	Nashville, TN	43.69	79	116
89	Huntsville, AL	43.61	62	157
90	Tucson, AZ	43.58	134	15
91	Albuquerque, NM	43.58	114	39
92	Irving, TX	43.50	42	174
93	Oklahoma City, OK	43.45	84	107
94	Milwaukee, WI	43.35	95	77
95	Lewiston, ME	43.20	74	138
96	Nampa, ID	43.07	67	151
97	Charlotte, NC	42.95	77	140
98	Port St. Lucie, FL	42.86	81	134
99	Newark, NJ	42.72	100	87
100	Knoxville, TN	42.70	88	119
101	Dover, DE	42.56	60	173
102	Columbia, SC	42.34	73	160
103	Salem, OR	42.31	128	41
104	San Antonio, TX	42.26	101	95
105	Toledo, OH	42.21	106	80
106	Honolulu, HI	42.19	170	3
107	Fort Wayne, IN	42.07	83	146
108	Boston, MA	41.59	146	28
109	Garland, TX	41.58	64	179
110	Oakland, CA	41.54	138	46
111	Detroit, MI	41.52	98	128
112	Columbus, OH	41.51	122	71
113	Lincoln, NE	41.39	136	59
114	Cedar Rapids, IA	41.32	124	72
115	Sacramento, CA	41.29	152	32
116	Indianapolis, IN	41.24	105	112
117	Springfield, MO	41.23	110	103
118	Fort Smith, AR	41.20	112	99
119	Dallas, TX	40.88	107	125
119	Long Beach, CA	40.88	132	70
121	Providence, RI	40.79	118	97
122	Santa Rosa, CA	40.73	133	66
123	Las Cruces, NM	40.50	113	121
124	Louisville, KY	40.40	130	85
125	Hialeah, FL	40.33	91	168
126	Anaheim, CA	40.28	126	96
127	North Las Vegas, NV	40.05	104	155
128	Modesto, CA	40.03	155	50
129	Anchorage, AK	39.93	147	64
130	Manchester, NH	39.88	117	135
131	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	39.87	129	98
132	Arlington, TX	39.85	89	178
133	Bakersfield, CA	39.73	141	75
134	San Diego, CA	39.70	168	16
135	Oceanside, CA	39.66	127	113
136	Fort Worth, TX	39.54	111	152
137	Houston, TX	39.51	148	65
138	Aurora, CO	39.46	115	147
139	Irvine, CA	39.45	121	139
140	Mobile, AL	39.36	123	137
141	Amarillo, TX	39.00	135	126
142	Santa Ana, CA	38.85	151	86
143	Corpus Christi, TX	38.81	116	164
144	Greensboro, NC	38.77	97	180
145	Los Angeles, CA	38.73	173	23
146	Wichita, KS	38.66	142	104
147	Winston-Salem, NC	38.66	109	170
148	Birmingham, AL	38.43	120	165
149	Gulfport, MS	38.31	131	148
150	Columbus, GA	38.24	119	167
151	Chicago, IL	38.10	181	5
152	New Orleans, LA	38.03	159	81
153	Tallahassee, FL	37.91	125	166
154	Philadelphia, PA	37.87	166	60
155	Worcester, MA	37.77	154	106
156	Lexington-Fayette, KY	37.56	139	153
157	Ontario, CA	37.48	158	109
158	New Haven, CT	37.45	149	130
159	Aurora, IL	37.31	153	132
160	Stockton, CA	36.99	164	88
161	Santa Clarita, CA	36.75	144	154
162	Fresno, CA	36.69	160	122
163	Augusta, GA	36.59	143	162
164	Montgomery, AL	36.29	140	171
165	El Paso, TX	36.22	161	131
166	Chula Vista, CA	35.83	162	136
167	Fayetteville, NC	35.78	149	169
168	Oxnard, CA	35.67	167	115
169	San Jose, CA	34.91	177	92
170	New York, NY	34.89	182	31
171	Shreveport, LA	34.80	165	150
172	Brownsville, TX	34.51	157	177
173	Lubbock, TX	34.44	156	176
174	Riverside, CA	34.26	176	124
175	Fontana, CA	34.24	179	76
176	San Bernardino, CA	34.14	172	143
177	Bridgeport, CT	32.79	175	159
178	Jackson, MS	32.77	169	175
179	Moreno Valley, CA	32.75	178	144
180	Baton Rouge, LA	31.88	174	172
181	Memphis, TN	31.74	180	156
182	Laredo, TX	29.94	171	182

Note From WalletHub: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric.

Columbia, Md., tops the list of best places for summer jobs in 2024. WalletHub reports that the city has a high number of internships and part-time job openings. Columbia also offers young adults substantial earning potential with a median income for part-time workers close to $26,900 per year. Additionally, the city boasts a low poverty rate and a high number of jobs accessible within a short commute — making it an ideal environment for young workers to gain valuable experience and financial stability.

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Following closely is Scottsdale, Ariz., which has the highest median income for part-time workers at nearly $34,000 per year. Scottsdale ranked high for its employment outlook, with a reported 28% more employers planning to add more staff rather than cut jobs. Similar to Columbia, the city ranks highly in terms of internship opportunities, adding to its appeal for young professionals.

Rapid City, S.D., ranks third, distinguished by its notable “summer employment bump,” revealing a substantial increase in job availability during the summer months. This city also offers affordable commuting options, with public transportation costs being relatively low compared to the median income. For those balancing work with social activities, Rapid City provides a conducive environment for both employment and leisure.

Plentiful summer job opportunities are not just beneficial for temporary financial security, but also for those seeking long-term career development. This summer, young adults are leveraging these opportunities to build professional skills and experience and improve their overall employability in the competitive U.S. job market.