The best cities for job seekers in 2018

Unemployment is currently lower than it has been in 17 years. Obviously, that means jobs are out there, but your town might not necessarily be the most booming place in the U.S. right now. Sometimes you have to pull up stakes and move to the zip code where the right job for you is waiting. According to a recent study, there are particular U.S. cities that are most benefiting from the current unemployment low. Here are the 10 best cities for job seekers in 2018 so far.

1. San Jose, CA

San Jose is the U.S.’s top destination for job seekers. While the unemployment rate in San Jose is no different from that of San Francisco (at 3.3%), at almost $79,000, the average annual salary beats SF’s by nearly $10,000. Techies flock to San Jose-based companies such as Apple, Facebook, Cisco, and Google. Major employers such as the County of Santa Clara and Stanford University can also share some responsibility for San Jose’s status as the best city for job seekers in the entire United States of America.

2. San Francisco, CA

The job market in California’s Bay Area is currently at an all-time high, with an unemployment rate of 3.3% and an average salary rate of more than $69,000. Those big money makers are doing well in San Fran’s tourist, health care, education, and biotech industries.

3. Boston, MA

On the opposite coast is Boston, the third best city for job seekers on this list. As the country’s center of higher education, those in that field are well employed in Boston. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are some of the city’s most prolific employers, so East Coasters in the health industry may want to do their job searches in Bean Town. Average annual salaries are well above the national average at more than $64,000.

4. San Diego, CA

And we're back to The Golden State—a bit further down south is where California’s medical and education professionals congregate, largely because San Diego is the home of the University of California and such healthcare companies as Sharp and Kaiser Permanente. Salaries are healthy and unemployment has been in steady decline since 2010. There’s no evidence that trend will be shifting so far in 2018.

5. Los Angeles, CA

A little further up the coast, Los Angeles continues to be one of the nation’s biggest destinations for job seekers. Anyone who dreams of breaking into the entertainment industry can still set their sites on L.A., however the city’s healthcare and personal care industries are also robust. The police department is also a top employer. Salaries tend to be low, but Los Angeles in unmatched in terms of employees finding a satisfying balance between life in and out of the workplace.

6. Minneapolis, MN

If you’re in the personal care industry but prefer snow to sun, you may want to migrate to Minneapolis. Jobs in business, finance, and tech are also plentiful in Minneapolis. Among the city’s biggest employers are Target, 3M, and Allina Health System.

7. Sacramento, CA

By now, you’ve likely noticed a serious trend that may inspire you to shout “California, here I come,” as half of the 10 best cities for job seekers reside there. In Sacramento, the personal care and construction industries are among the city’s fastest-growing ones. Sacramento also scores points for its strong salaries and its employees’ tendency to strike a strong balance between life in and outside of work.

8. Miami, FL

Job security and employee satisfaction are high, down south in Miami. And it isn’t just because of all that sun. The tourism industry is strong as more than 27 million people travelled to the city in 2016 alone. As a major port, Miami is also the place to be for those in the trade and manufacturing industries. The city’s construction boom also makes it ripe for those in architecture, real estate, and of course, construction. Salaries tend to be on the low side, but job security is currently higher in Miami than anywhere else in the country.

9. Seattle, WA

Seattle is where it’s at for those in the tech industry. In fact, nearly 7% of all jobs in the Emerald City are in tech, and companies such as Amazon, Boeing, and Microsoft are doing much of the hiring. While one is not especially likely to advance in her or his job in Seattle, salaries are among the highest in the nation.

10. Washington, D.C.

That other Washington all the way on the side of the country is also rich in opportunities at this moment, as one of the most dramatic up-and-comers is Washington, D.C. While opportunities in the nation’s capital had been limited for some time, they have really opened up recently. The federal government and the public school system are the city’s biggest employers and offer some of its highest salaries. While jobs are plentiful in D.C., salaries are on the lower side, especially for those in the public sector, but it does rank highly for job security and promotions.