The Places With Well-paying Jobs For College Grads
College grads who start twitching whenever an older adult asks them “so, what’s next?” might want to consider moving to Birmingham, AL.
At a time when many companies have dialed back entry-level job postings, Birmingham has the most favorable employment conditions for young people with a college diploma among large metro areas, according to a report published this week by payroll firm ADP.
Hiring hubs
ADP ranked 53 metro areas based on hiring momentum for young college grads, wages, and affordability:
- Birmingham earned the top spot due to strong job growth and its median annual wage jumping 16% from last year. Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL, followed due to hiring growth, while the greater San Jose area in California rose to third, thanks to local tech companies hiring high earners.
- San Francisco joined New York City in the top 10—both buoyed by relatively solid hiring and high pay, despite the stratospheric cost of living.
Meanwhile, Raleigh, NC, lost its top spot from the last two years, moving down to fourth place. Phoenix plunged from 8th place to 22nd.
Big picture: Though there are signs that entry-level hiring is rebounding, it’s still rough out there. Unemployment for young degree holders jumped to 5.6% at the end of 2025, up from 4.8% a year before, per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.—SK
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