Despite the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) impacting many industries, there are still strong demands for labor in certain fields. As a new batch of university graduates is about to enter the workforce, what are the best entry-level jobs?
Personal finance website WalletHub recently evaluated 108 entry-level positions based on factors such as average starting salary, potential for growth, job risk factor, and compiled a list of the best entry-level jobs.
Analyst Chip Lupo from WalletHub mentioned, “Entry-level jobs may not necessarily be the lifelong career you intend to stick with, but finding a position with the potential for long-term growth is undoubtedly a wise move.”
According to WalletHub’s ranking, here are the top 15 best entry-level jobs for 2026:
1) Hardware Engineer I
2) Engineer I
3) Certified Nursing Assistant
4) Software Engineer I
5) Safety Representative I
6) Safety Technician I
7) Electrical Engineer I
8) Operations Research Analyst I
9) Environment, Health, and Safety Engineer I
10) Electronics Engineer I
11) Training Specialist I
12) Benefits Analyst I
13) Designer I – Web
14) Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
15) Market Research Analyst I
According to WalletHub’s list, here are the top five categories of jobs that are least suitable for entry-level job seekers in 2026, where occupational hazard is one of the influencing factors in the ranking:
1) Computer Numeric Control Machine Programmer I
2) Boilermaker I
3) Automotive Mechanic I
4) Emergency Dispatcher
5) Welder I
WalletHub researchers believe that Hardware Engineer is the best choice for entry-level job seekers, as “among the 100+ occupation types we researched, Hardware Engineer positions rank 17th in job openings, average starting salary is second highest, making it one of the highest paying entry-level career choices.”
Furthermore, Hardware Engineers typically do not require any work experience to find employment, and their work hours per week usually do not exceed 40 hours. Additionally, the median annual salary for Hardware Engineers is close to $157,000.
Researchers also found that the second preferred option for entry-level job seekers is Engineer (any discipline). This is because Engineers have more job opportunities, usually do not require practical experience, with a starting annual salary of nearly $80,000 and a median annual salary averaging around $117,000.
The third-ranked Certified Nursing Assistant has significant advantages in job stability. WalletHub’s research indicates a strong demand for these roles, with an unemployment rate of only 2.9%, and average weekly working hours typically not exceeding 40 hours. Due to the nature of nursing work involving close interaction with people, the likelihood of being replaced by AI is relatively low.
This information is for general reference only. Epoch Times does not provide advice on investments, taxes, legal matters, financial planning, employment, real estate planning, or other personal finance recommendations.