10 Top Cities for Job Seekers in 2024 – And How Much It Costs To Live In Each

There’s been no shortage of layoffs thus far in 2024 (the tech industry has been particularly hard hit) and droves of Americans are looking for work. Some have jobs but are on the hunt for a new one. The location and cost of living matter here. Some cities are better for job seekers than others.

Which are the best cities for job seekers in 2024? 

Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, MoneyGeek analyzed 94 metropolitan areas with labor forces of at least 300,000 to find the best places for job seekers in the U.S. in 2024. MoneyGeek analyzed five key economic factors to determine their ranking: wage and job growth, unemployment rate, labor force size and housing affordability. 

These are the 10 best cities for job seekers in 2024, according to MoneyGeek’s analysis. Which job markets are booming in these metros and how much does living there cost compared to the national average?

Let’s find out.

• Total score: 87.6

Charleston is the 10th best city for job seekers, according to MoneyGeek’s analysis. Key industries in this city are aerospace, automotive, tech, defense, life sciences and logistics, as highlighted by the Charleston County Economic Development Department. 

The cost of living in Charleston is 2% below the national average and the cost of housing is 3% lower, according to PayScale.

• Total score: 88.3

Miami has several robust industries that job seekers should check out. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Miami has a growing education and health services market. So it’s a particularly great place for people hunting for jobs in those fields.

But living in Miami isn’t cheap; the cost of living is 21% higher than the national average and the cost of housing is 47% higher. Be sure to look for a job that offers competitive pay to cover these steep costs.

• Total score: 89.0

Greenville has multiple booming job sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, education, transportation and IT and innovation. In terms of cost, life in Greenville is quite reasonable.

The cost of living sits 9% lower than the national average and housing is 28% lower.

• Total score: 90.2 

North Carolina is in a good position for job growth and Raleigh should benefit. The state is projected to add more than 302,000 new jobs between 2018 and 2028, making for an annual growth rate of 0.6 percent.

Dominant industries here include healthcare and social assistance, along with the professional, scientific and technical services industry.

The cost of living in Raleigh is 4% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 2% lower.

• Total score: 91.0

Mining and logging, construction and manufacturing are a few of the booming industries in Salt Lake City.

From a big-picture perspective, this isn’t a cheap city. The cost of living in Salt Lake City is 8% higher than the national average, and the cost of housing is 22% higher.

• Total score: 91.5

In April 2024, FloridaCommerce announced that the Tampa metro area gained the second-highest number of private sector jobs in March 2024 among all metro areas. The area added 26,100 new private sector jobs as of March 2024, up 1.9%. 

FloridaCommerce noted that the industry gaining the most jobs over the year was education and health services, increasing by 14,600.

The cost of living in Tampa is right on par with the national average; however, the cost of living is 3% lower.

• Total score: 97.3

In Orlando, the 4th best city for job seekers per the analysis, you may find career opportunities with one of the city’s major employers including the Walt Disney World Resort, AdventHealth, Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando Health, Seminole State College of Florida, Lockheed Martin and the University of Central Florida.

The cost of living in Orlando is 5% higher than the national average, and the cost of housing is 11% higher.

• Total score: 97.6

Last June, FloridaCommerce announced that the Jacksonville area’s private sector jobs increased by 13,200 jobs (+1.9 percent) over the year in May 2024. In May 2024 the education and health services industry sector gained the most jobs over the year, gaining 5,800 jobs since May 2023.

So those interested in health services or education might want to take their job search to this city. 

The cost of living in Jacksonville isn’t bad: 6% lower than the national average. The cost of housing is also 6% lower.

• Total score: 98.3

The 2nd best city for job seekers is also in Florida: Cape Coral, where the cost of living isn’t terribly affordable: 9% higher than the national average, which found that the cost of housing is 18% higher.

Cape Coral is home to some large employers. There’s a big presence in the construction, finance, healthcare, media and real estate sectors, respectively.

• Total score: 100.0

Oklahoma is hands down the best city for job seekers, with a perfect score of 100, as ranked by MoneyGeek. The Greater Oklahoma City Economic Development reported that Oklahoma City has a booming aviation and aerospace sector. It also sees growth in the bioscience, energy and logistics industries.  

You’ll save money here if relocating to Oklahoma City from a pricey city. The cost of living here is 16% lower than the national average, and the cost of housing is 19% lower.