We ranked the 50 largest U.S. job markets by entry-level pay (the BLS 25th percentile wage) adjusted for local prices with BEA data. San Jose, Seattle, Portland, Denver and Boston lead; Kansas City is the top low-cost pick.
- We used the 25th percentile wage for all jobs in each metro as the entry-level pay benchmark, then adjusted it for local prices with BEA regional price parities.
- San Jose and Seattle lead even after adjusting for their high prices: entry-level pay there stretches about 18% to 20% further than the national benchmark of $37,590.
- Kansas City is the only low-cost metro in the top 10, because prices there are about 7% below the national average.
- Atlanta, Austin and Tampa, which appear on many “best cities” lists, land near or below the national benchmark on this measure.
- To compare two offers in different cities, divide each salary by the city’s price parity and multiply by 100.
In this article
The best paying cities for entry-level jobs in 2026, once you adjust pay for local prices, are San Jose, Seattle, Portland, Denver and Boston, followed by Washington, DC, San Francisco, Kansas City, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Sacramento. We ranked the 50 largest U.S. job markets using the newest federal wage data (BLS, May 2025) and federal price data (BEA, 2024).
What are the best paying cities for entry-level jobs?
Here are the top 10 among the 50 metro areas with the most jobs. “Adjusted pay” is what the entry-level benchmark is worth in national-average dollars.
| Rank | Metro area | Entry-level pay (25th percentile) | Price parity (U.S. = 100) | Adjusted pay | Median pay, all jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $49,800 | 110.4 | $45,100 | $84,050 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $49,160 | 111.1 | $44,240 | $72,610 |
| 3 | Portland, OR-WA | $45,320 | 105.4 | $42,990 | $60,690 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,460 | 105.8 | $42,980 | $62,320 |
| 5 | Boston, MA-NH | $45,850 | 108.3 | $42,350 | $66,620 |
| 6 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,990 | 108.9 | $41,320 | $71,060 |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $47,280 | 115.6 | $40,900 | $74,260 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,600 | 92.5 | $40,630 | $50,820 |
| 9 | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | $41,830 | 104.8 | $39,910 | $59,320 |
| 10 | Sacramento, CA | $42,450 | 106.7 | $39,800 | $59,750 |
| United States | $37,590 | 100.0 | $37,590 | $50,980 |
Wages are annual figures for May 2025 from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data tool. Price parities are 2024 values from the BEA regional price parities release of February 19, 2026. Metro names are shortened; each one covers the full metropolitan statistical area.
How we ranked the cities
Most “best cities” lists mix survey scores, rent estimates and opinion. We used two federal datasets and one simple formula, so you can check every number.
- Pick the job markets. We included every metro area with at least 500,000 jobs in the OEWS May 2025 estimates. That gives 50 metros, from New York (9.5 million jobs) down to Buffalo (about 535,000).
- Measure entry-level pay. OEWS does not publish wages by experience level. The BLS OEWS FAQ explains that a percentile wage is a boundary: the 25th percentile is the pay that a quarter of workers earn less than. We used the 25th percentile annual wage for all occupations as the benchmark for what lower-paid and newer workers earn locally.
- Adjust for prices. BEA’s regional price parities (RPPs) show each metro’s price level as a percentage of the national level. We divided the entry-level wage by the RPP and multiplied by 100.
- Rank by adjusted pay. The higher the adjusted figure, the further a typical entry-level paycheck goes in that metro.
Limits to keep in mind: The 25th percentile covers all workers, including people in lower-paid occupations who are not new, so it is a benchmark, not a starting salary. OEWS wages exclude overtime and nonproduction bonuses but include tips and commissions (BLS technical notes). RPPs measure prices for goods, housing, utilities and other services, so state and local income taxes need a separate check.
The 10 best paying cities for entry-level workers, one by one
1. San Jose, California
San Jose has the highest entry-level benchmark of any large metro: $49,800 a year, and even the 10th percentile is $41,590. Prices are 10.4% above the national level, so adjusted pay is $45,100. The catch is housing: BEA’s housing price parity for San Jose is 211.9, more than double the national level, so a shared apartment or a longer commute is common for new workers.
2. Seattle, Washington
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro pays $49,160 at the 25th percentile, almost as much as San Jose, with similar overall prices (RPP 111.1). It is a much larger job market, with about 2.1 million jobs, and its housing parity (151.3) is far lower than the Bay Area’s.
3. Portland, Oregon
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro, which reaches into southwest Washington, pays $45,320 at the 25th percentile with prices only 5.4% above average. That combination puts it third. Its housing parity (125.1) is the lowest of the five West Coast metros in the top 10.
4. Denver, Colorado
Denver’s entry-level benchmark is $45,460 and its RPP is 105.8, giving adjusted pay of $42,980, essentially tied with Portland. Median pay across all jobs is $62,320, so the step up from entry level is also strong.
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston pays $45,850 at the 25th percentile, the highest outside the West Coast. Prices are 8.3% above average and housing is expensive (parity 148.4), which pulls it to fifth after adjustment.
6. Washington, DC
The DC metro has a $44,990 entry-level benchmark and a $71,060 median, the fourth-highest median of any large metro. That wide gap means pay rises quickly once you move past entry-level roles, which matters if you plan to stay a few years.
7. San Francisco, California
San Francisco-Oakland pays $47,280 at the 25th percentile, but it also has the highest price level in the top 10 (RPP 115.6). After adjustment it drops from third in raw pay to seventh.
8. Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas
Kansas City is the value pick. Its raw entry-level benchmark ($37,600) is almost exactly the national figure, but prices are 7.5% below average and housing is 13% below (parity 86.6). That is enough to beat much bigger metros once you adjust.
9. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
The Twin Cities pay $41,830 at the 25th percentile with prices 4.8% above average. With about 1.95 million jobs, it is one of the largest labor markets in the Midwest.
10. Sacramento, California
Sacramento’s $42,450 benchmark and 106.7 price parity put it 10th. Housing costs are well below the Bay Area’s (parity 130.2 versus 194.7 in San Francisco and 211.9 in San Jose).
Just outside the top 10 are Louisville, Cleveland, Columbus, Hartford and Buffalo. All five have entry-level pay close to the national figure and prices 3% to 7% below it, except Hartford, where both are slightly higher.
Where Atlanta, Austin and Tampa rank
These three cities top many “best places to start a career” lists, which usually weigh job growth, affordability and lifestyle. On pay alone, the federal data tells a different story.
| Metro | Entry-level pay | Price parity | Adjusted pay | Rank of 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $38,230 | 98.1 | $38,980 | 20 |
| Atlanta, GA | $37,030 | 100.1 | $37,010 | 40 |
| Tampa, FL | $36,670 | 100.9 | $36,350 | 43 |
Austin looks better higher up the pay scale. Its median wage ($56,950) adjusted for prices ranks eighth of 50, so graduates who start in professional roles may do well there even though the 25th percentile is near the national level.
Atlanta and Tampa are large, growing job markets with prices close to the national average, but their entry-level pay sits slightly below the national benchmark. They can still be good places to start a career; they are just not among the best paying ones by this measure.
Entry-level pay for common first jobs by city
The all-jobs benchmark hides big differences between occupations. This table shows the 25th percentile wage for four common first jobs in selected metros. Use it to see what the lower end of the pay range looks like for your field.
| Metro | Accountants and auditors | Customer service representatives | Registered nurses | Software developers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $96,430 | $48,180 | $165,050 | $173,650 |
| Seattle | $80,880 | $46,060 | $104,540 | $132,800 |
| Denver | $78,130 | $42,990 | $85,390 | $123,640 |
| Boston | $79,990 | $42,760 | $94,870 | $131,880 |
| Kansas City | $63,910 | $36,870 | $77,910 | $97,560 |
| Austin | $68,250 | $36,640 | $81,540 | $104,000 |
| Atlanta | $68,510 | $35,710 | $82,500 | $104,640 |
| Tampa | $62,570 | $36,830 | $79,250 | $100,450 |
| United States | $67,020 | $36,870 | $80,330 | $105,210 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Two patterns stand out. Nurses in the California metros earn far more than elsewhere, even after adjusting for prices. And for accountants and software developers, Atlanta and Austin pay close to the national level while costing about the same as the national average, so they are solid but not top-paying options. If you are still deciding on a field, our guide to entry-level job types compares the main paths.
How to compare job offers in different cities
You can apply the same method to your own offers in two minutes.
- Find each metro’s price parity in the BEA RPP table.
- Divide each salary by the RPP, then multiply by 100.
- Compare the results. The higher number buys more.
Worked example: a $55,000 offer in Seattle (RPP 111.1) is worth about $49,490 in national-average dollars ($55,000 ÷ 111.133 × 100). A $48,000 offer in Kansas City (RPP 92.5) is worth about $51,870 ($48,000 ÷ 92.543 × 100). The smaller offer goes further.
Then check two things the RPP leaves out. First, taxes: state and local income taxes change take-home pay, so run both offers through a take-home pay calculation. Second, your own costs: if you will live with family, have student loans, or need a car, your budget may differ a lot from the average. Once you know what an offer is really worth, our offer negotiation scripts help you ask for more.
- Look up the 25th percentile and median for your occupation in your target metro, not just the all-jobs figure.
- Adjust each offer for the metro’s price parity.
- Estimate take-home pay after state and local taxes.
- Price out rent near the office, since housing parities vary far more than overall prices.
- Compare how far median pay sits above entry-level pay; a big gap means faster raises if you stay.
How Careerscape can help
Careerscape is a U.S. staffing and recruiting firm that recruits across many industries and metro markets. You can browse open jobs by city, or check pay for 450+ roles in our free Salary Guide before you negotiate.
Frequently asked questions
What city has the highest entry-level pay?
Among the 50 largest U.S. job markets, San Jose, California, has the highest entry-level pay benchmark: a 25th percentile wage of $49,800 in May 2025, per BLS OEWS data. It stays first after adjusting for prices, at $45,100 in national-average dollars, although housing there costs more than twice the national level.
What is the best city for new grads on a budget?
Kansas City is the strongest low-cost option in our ranking. Its entry-level pay is about the national figure, but overall prices are 7.5% below average and housing is 13% below, which lifts it to eighth of 50. Louisville, Cleveland and Columbus follow closely, with low prices and entry-level pay near the national benchmark.
Is $50,000 a good starting salary?
It depends on the city and the field. Nationally, $50,000 is above the 25th percentile wage for all jobs ($37,590) and just below the median ($50,980), per BLS May 2025 data. In Kansas City it is worth about $54,000 in national-average dollars; in San Francisco it is worth about $43,250.
Why aren’t Atlanta and Tampa in the top 10?
Their entry-level pay is slightly below the national benchmark, and their prices are close to average, so adjusted pay ranks 40th (Atlanta) and 43rd (Tampa) of 50. Lists that rank them highly usually weigh job growth, lifestyle or rent rather than pay alone.
Does cost of living include taxes?
BEA’s regional price parities measure prices: goods, housing, utilities and other services. They are not a tax measure, and state and local income taxes vary a lot from place to place. Adjust each offer for prices first, then estimate take-home pay after taxes as a second step.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS data tool, May 2025 estimates (metro and national wages by occupation)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025 (released May 15, 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS frequently asked questions
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS technical notes
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis: Regional price parities by state and metro area (2024, released February 19, 2026)