This Maine City Named One of the Best to Start a Career in the U.S.

When starting your career, sometimes you don’t have a choice as to where. Well, this Maine city is apparently one of the best in the country!

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Maine is the perfect place to start a career. In fact, our Pine Tree State attracts folks 'from away' every year. Unlike the hustle and bustle of bigger, more populated states like New York or California, Maine offers a smooth start without the intense competition.

Here in Maine, you can establish yourself and gain experience before deciding whether to move on to bigger markets or just to stay and enjoy what Maine has to offer.

But what does it mean for a city to be one of the best to start a career in?

The personal finance website WalletHub recently conducted a study to determine the 'Best & Worst Places to Start a Career' in 2024. To assist recent college graduates in identifying the best cities for launching their careers, WalletHub compared over 180 U.S. cities.

The analysis was based on 26 key metrics, including factors such as the availability of entry-level jobs, the average monthly starting salary, and housing affordability. These metrics were used to evaluate both the market strength and overall livability of each city.

So, of all the cities in the U.S. that WalletHub examined, which city in Maine is one of the best to start your career in?

In WalletHub’s 2024 study on the 'Best & Worst Places to Start a Career,' Maine’s largest and most populated city, Portland, ranked 6th overall among more than 180 cities in the U.S.

Additionally, Portland ranked 11th in 'Professional Opportunities' and 10th in 'Quality of Life.'

In contrast, New York, New York, ranked last at 182nd, making it the worst place to start a career this year. This highlights how Portland, and Maine at large, offers better career opportunities and quality of life compared to larger markets like New York.