In Ames, Iowa, jobs are plentiful and workers can anticipate years of earning potential, especially later into their careers.
The city ranked first in SmartAsset’s list of the top cities for career opportunities, based on factors including median income, income growth with age, housing costs, changes in total employment, and unemployment rates.
Greeley, Colo., Provo, Utah, Fargo, N.D., and Detroit round out the top five spots. Aside from Detroit, all cities in the top 25 are relatively small.
The Midwest contains five of our top 10 best cities for career opportunities. These cities tend to offer a mix of affordability and good employment prospects. The downside is that average workers in the Midwest do not make quite as much as workers elsewhere.