When people think of careers, they often think of how much money they can make by attaining a degree in a certain field. Doctors and lawyers always seem to be high up on the list.
But, what many people don’t consider is where they’re launching their career, and that can have a huge impact on ones professional success.
Location can shape the professional opportunities available to a person, how and when those opportunities will be offered and what sort of salary you can command depending on your profession.
No matter what your profession is, if you are starting your career path in an area with a slow economy, you’ll likely garner far less in wages than you expect and actually fall short of your full potential.
In fact, according to Money, studies have shown that your salary after college can affect what you make for the rest of your career.
But, it’s not all bad news! With a little bit of research and planning you can figure just where the best places are to launch a career.
Starting your career path in a location that is pegged as perfect for growth and stimulus can certainly give you the ability to strive towards that six-figure salary, or whatever goal you’ve set for yourself in your given profession.
To compile the following list, Money sifted through a database of 2,400 towns and ranked the 10 best places in the United States to launch a career.
The database that Money used includes towns in the United States that have a targeted population of 10,000 to 100,000 people. The places selected, which were limited to one per state, also meet certain other thresholds in the categories of economic health, public safety and diversity.
1. Carmel, Indiana
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 11.6%
2. Allen, Texas
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 17%
3. Brentwood, Tennessee
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 12.3%
4. Olive Branch, Mississippi
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 11.8%
5. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 4.4%
6. Lone Tree, Colorado
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 7.9%
7. St. Peters, Missouri
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 10.2%
8. Orem, Utah
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 12.5%
9. Dickinson, North Dakota
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 8.9%
10. Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Projected job growth, 2016-2021: 6.1%