Several of the top sites are major U.S. cities and tech hubs, but if that’s not your speed, don’t fret. Some of the best job opportunities are located in small and midsize metro areas, Glassdoor reports.
To come up with its list, Glassdoor equally weighted four factors: hiring opportunity, cost of living, job satisfaction, and work-life balance.
The report also includes median pay for employees and a few in-demand jobs for each metro location. While the ranking covers all kinds of jobs across all industries, a wide variety of tech positions appear among the in-demand jobs in most of the 25 cities.
San Jose, San Francisco and Seattle claim the top three spots in the report, 25 Best Cities for Jobs for 2016. Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Oklahoma City appear in the top 10, and five other midsize cities made Glassdoor’s list for the first time: Detroit, Cleveland, San Diego, Cincinnati and Hartford.
“… for anyone considering a new job in a new city, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Many of the nation’s mid-sized cities stand out for offering some of the greatest job prospects combined with salaries that allow people to stretch their dollar further,” said Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor chief economist, in a statement.
Here’s the full list of Glassdoor’s 25 best cities for jobs.
1. San Jose, Calif.Glassdoor job score (based on a five-point scale): 4.0Number of job openings: 61,038Median base salary: $112,000Median home value: $956,500Job satisfaction rating: 3.5Work-life balance rating: 3.5Hot jobs: solutions architect, HR manager, data scientist
2. San FranciscoGlassdoor job score: 3.8Number of job openings: 121,597Median base salary: $88,000Median home value: $806,600Job satisfaction rating: 3.5Work-life balance rating: 3.5Hot jobs: data scientist, engagement manager, junior graphic designer
3. SeattleGlassdoor job score: 3.5Number of job openings: 103,124Median base salary: $85,000Median home value: $382,700Job satisfaction rating: 3.4Work-life balance rating: 3.3Hot jobs: UI-UX designer, data scientist, engagement manager
4. BostonGlassdoor job score: 3.5Number of job openings: 121,498Median base salary: $67,500Median home value: $387,400Job satisfaction rating: 3.4Work-life balance rating: 3.4Hot jobs: nurse practitioner, applications developer, sales development representative
5. Washington, D.C.Glassdoor job score: 3.4Number of job openings: 163,520Median base salary: $70,000Median home value: $364,100Job satisfaction rating: 3.4Work-life balance rating: 3.3Hot jobs: director of development, business office manager, data scientist
6. Austin, TexasGlassdoor job score: 3.3Number of job openings: 45,186Median base salary: $61,000Median home value: $247,500Job satisfaction rating: 3.4Work-life balance rating: 3.3Hot jobs: creative director, finance manager, solutions architect
7. Salt Lake CityGlassdoor job score: 3.3Number of job openings: 23,013Median base salary: $58,700Median home value: $234,400Job satisfaction rating: 3.4Work-life balance rating: 3.4Hot jobs: technical support engineer, outside sales representative, marketing coordinator
8. Raleigh-Durham, N.C.Glassdoor job score: 3.3Number of job openings: 34,660Median base salary: $62,000Median home value: $209,400Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.3Hot jobs: registered nurse, research associate, software engineer
9. Minneapolis-St. PaulGlassdoor job score: 3.0Number of job openings: 65,141Median base salary: $65,000Median home value: $219,400Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.3Hot jobs: Web designer, sales manager, business development manager
10. Oklahoma City, Okla.Glassdoor job score: 3.0Number of job openings: 20,576Median base salary: $50,000Median home value: $132,500Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: delivery driver, accountant, account executive
11. St. LouisGlassdoor job score: 2.9Number of job openings: 49,450Median base salary: $56,896Median home value: $141,900Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: software developer, office manager, Attorney
12. DetroitGlassdoor job score: 2.9Number of job openings: 59,494Median base salary: $61,500Median home value: $123,100Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: financial advisor, teller, registered nurse
13. Kansas City, Mo.Glassdoor job score: 2.8Number of job openings: 43,182Median base salary: $58,000Median home value: $147,500Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: buyer, business development manager, pharmacist
14. Columbus, OhioGlassdoor job score: 2.8Number of job openings: 36,873Median base salary: $57,000Median home value: $154,600Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: regional sales manager, senior financial analyst, process engineer
15. ClevelandGlassdoor job score: 2.8Number of job openings: 35,130Median base salary: $55,000Median home value: $125,500Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: medical technologist, marketing manager, software developer
16. IndianapolisGlassdoor job score: 2.7Number of job openings: 38,934Median base salary: $56,000Median home value: $130,200Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: account executive, pharmacist, retail store manager
17. BaltimoreGlassdoor job score: 2.7Number of job openings: 67,209Median base salary: $58,000Median home value: $244,800Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: customer service specialist, electrical engineer, restaurant manager
18. Louisville, Ky.Glassdoor job score: 2.7Number of job openings: 26,311Median base salary: $54,000Median home value: $137,500Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: program manager, outside sales representative, operations manager
19. PittsburghGlassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 50,127Median base salary: $56,896Median home value: $126,700Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: mechanical engineer, nurse practitioner, product manager
20. San AntonioGlassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 34,895Median base salary: $55,000Median home value: $150,200Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: sales manager, human resources coordinator, network engineer
21. San DiegoGlassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 45,424Median base salary: $71,323Median home value: $506,100Job satisfaction rating: 3.4Work-life balance rating: 3.3Hot jobs: marketing assistant, senior research associate, senior data scientist
22. ChicagoGlassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 170,192Median base salary: $63,000Median home value: $193,800Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.2Hot jobs: creative director, data scientist, UI-UX designer
23. CincinnatiGlassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 36,624Median base salary: $57,179Median home value: $143,400Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: phlebotomist, graphic designer, business development manager
24. AtlantaGlassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 94,925Median base salary: $60,000Median home value: $163,000Job satisfaction rating: 3.3Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: engagement manager, internal auditor, network administrator
25. Hartford, Conn.Glassdoor job score: 2.6Number of job openings: 24,590Median base salary: $68,000Median home value: $215,800Job satisfaction rating: 3.2Work-life balance rating: 3.1Hot jobs: paralegal, manufacturing engineer, business analyst
Glassdoor's report can be found here.
Glassdoor's methodology: Hiring opportunity is determined by the ratio of active job openings on Glassdoor to population data according to the U.S. Office of Management & Budget. Cost of living is determined by the ratio of median annual base salary (based on salary reports shared by local employees on Glassdoor) to median metro home value according to the Zillow Home Value Index for All Homes. Job satisfaction scores are based on company reviews shared by local employees on Glassdoor within the past year. Work-life balance scores are based on work-life balance ratings shared by local employees on Glassdoor within the past year.