In the midst of a challenging job market for young professionals in the United States, a turnaround is on the horizon for 2026, according to a survey by job search and employee review site Glassdoor. Recent graduates with up to four years of work experience are expected to see stronger wage growth next year.
Wage growth varies by location, as noted by researchers at Glassdoor. While emerging cities may not offer the highest salaries compared to places like New York or San Francisco, these cities are experiencing the fastest wage growth with lower living costs.
According to Glassdoor’s survey, here are the top ten cities with the fastest early career wage growth rates since 2020:
1. Provo, Utah
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 7.0%
– Average wage in 2025: $61,164
– Fastest growing job categories: Research and science, product and project management, human resources
2. Boise, Idaho
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.5%
– Average wage in 2025: $60,876
– Fastest growing job categories: Healthcare, technical and manufacturing, business
3. Orlando, Florida
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.4%
– Average wage in 2025: $55,782
– Fastest growing job categories: Technical and manufacturing, research and science, customer service and support
4. Charleston, South Carolina
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.3%
– Average wage in 2025: $59,100
– Fastest growing job categories: Healthcare, sales, technical and manufacturing
5. Austin, Texas
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.2%
– Average wage in 2025: $71,808
– Fastest growing job categories: Customer service and support, law, research and science
6. Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.2%
– Average wage in 2025: $62,970
– Fastest growing job categories: Customer service and support, consulting, marketing
7. Rochester, New York
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.2%
– Average wage in 2025: $58,513
– Fastest growing job categories: Healthcare, engineering, sales
8. Denver, Colorado
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.1%
– Average wage in 2025: $73,711
– Fastest growing job categories: Consulting, customer service and support, product and project management
9. Richmond, Virginia
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.1%
– Average wage in 2025: $63,071
– Fastest growing job categories: Finance and accounting, sales, product and project management
10. Tucson, Arizona
– Annual growth rate since 2020: 5.1%
– Average wage in 2025: $59,975
– Fastest growing job categories: Engineering, healthcare, retail and food services
This article references CNBC’s report.