America’s 10 Best Cities For Career Opportunities, 2018

Ames, Iowa — home to Iowa State University — topped SmartAsset‘s list as the number one city for career opportunities in 2018, thanks to the lowest unemployment rate.

Included in the top 10 were Provo, Utah, Pocatello, Idaho, Greeley, Colo., Huntsville, Ala., Logan, Utah, Lafayette, Ind., Wausau, Wis., Spartanburg, S.C., and Dayton, Ohio.

America’s ten best cities for career opportunities, 2018:

10. Dayton, Ohio
Unemployment rate: 3.7%
Annual employment growth: 2.2%
Median income: $36,010
Early to late career income growth: 15.4%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 11.65

9. Spartanburg, S.C.
Unemployment rate: 2.6%
Annual employment growth: 2.8%
Median income: $33,160
Early to late career income growth: 14.2%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 8.09

8. Wausau, Wis.
Unemployment rate: 2.5%
Annual employment growth: 2.5%
Median income: $35,540
Early to late career income growth: 20.0%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 1.87

7. Lafayette, Ind.
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
Annual employment growth: 3.1%
Median income: $34,220
Early to late career income growth: 18.0%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 4.41

6. Logan, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.5%
Annual employment growth: 2.4%
Median income: $30,530
Early to late career income growth: 42.5%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 9.27

5. Huntsville, Ala.
Unemployment rate: 3.0%
Annual employment growth: 2.8%
Median income: $38,070
Early to late career income growth: 37.7%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 6.29

4. Greeley, Colo.
Unemployment rate: 2.4%
Annual employment growth: 3.8%
Median income: $37,400
Early to late career income growth: 18.9%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 8.22

3. Pocatello, Idaho
Unemployment rate: 2.6%
Annual employment growth:3.5%
Median income: $31,460
Early to late career income growth: 33.6%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 7.03

2. Provo, Utah
Unemployment rate: 2.7%
Annual employment growth: 4.0%
Median income: $32,900
Early to late career income growth: 41.3%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 16.39

1. Ames, Iowa
Unemployment rate: 1.5%
Annual employment growth: 2.4%
Median income: $38,360
Early to late career income growth: 55.4%
Career counselors and higher education teachers per 1,000 workers: 5.49