Starting Your Career? Here Are the Best and Worst States

Where you launch your professional life can dramatically affect your ability to land a job, earn a competitive salary, and build savings. Entry-level roles typically pay less than positions held by seasoned professionals, making it especially important for those just starting out to choose a location that balances job availability with housing costs, whether renting or owning.

To better understand where young professionals are most likely to succeed, TopResume analyzed thousands of job postings to identify the best and worst U.S. states for entry-level workers, factoring in job availability, competition, and cost of living.

Here are the best and worst states for starting your career.

Best States

Wyoming: Wyoming tops the list with 129 entry-level jobs per 100,000 people, low competition, and an adjusted median salary of $52,163. Its low cost of living makes it ideal for new professionals seeking financial stability. Zillow reports a median home price of around $356,688 while the average rent is roughly $1,300 per month, making it accessible for those just starting their careers.

Vermont: Vermont has a relatively high number of entry-level jobs for its small population, resulting in less competition with 118 entry-level jobs per 100,000 people. However, the median salary is under $42,000. With the median home price being just over $382,000 and the average rent being about $2,075, housing is a significant consideration for those starting out their careers here.

North Dakota: A steady job market offering close to 92 entry-level positions per 100,000 people makes North Dakota an attractive state for entry-level workers. The median home price is approximately $277,556 and the average rent is around $1,100, significantly less than the national average of $2,000, helping young professionals get a strong financial start.

Alaska: Alaska provides ample entry-level opportunities, with 88 jobs per 100,000 people. Still, the low median salary of just under $42,500 can make housing, with median home prices below $376,000 and average rent around $1,800, difficult for newcomers to manage.

South Dakota: South Dakota offers about 80 entry-level jobs per 100,000 people, making it a strong state for newcomers with less competition. Housing is relatively affordable, with a median home price around $310,000 and average rent near $1,200, so people can stretch their salaries further.

Worst States

California: California ranks lowest in entry-level opportunities, with just 1.84 jobs per 100,000 people. The adjusted median salary of only $36,982 and the high cost of living make it difficult for newcomers to build financial stability. Median home prices exceed $750,000 and the average rent is $2,750, putting additional strain on entry-level incomes.

Hawaii: Hawaii combines a small job market with astronomical living costs, making it tough for new professionals to build wealth. Adjusted median salaries are low, around $24,500, median home prices are about $819,000, and rent averages $3,000, severely limiting financial mobility.

Massachusetts: Entry-level opportunities in Massachusetts are limited, and the adjusted median salary of $38,492 makes it difficult for newcomers to achieve financial stability. With median home prices around $640,000 and the average rent at $2,930, housing costs be a huge burden for those just starting their careers.

New York: New York has a highly competitive market, where only three entry-level positions are available per 100,000 people. If you are able to land a job, housing is still quite expensive. With median home prices around $502,000 and rents averaging $3,500, it can discourage young professionals from relocating.

Florida: Like New York, Florida has very high competition for entry-level positions, offering only about three per every 100,000 people. Housing costs aren’t unreasonable for a newcomer, with median home prices around $372,000 and the average rent at $2,325.