The 10 best U.S. cities for finding a summer job

Summer is here — and as temperatures climb, so does the demand for seasonal workers.

A continuing labor shortage and imminent spike in travel demand has left employers desperate to hire, with many increasing wages for lifeguards, camp counselors and amusement park attendants, among other positions. 

This summer’s job prospects are especially strong for teenagers and young adults: New research from the Drexel University Center for Labor Markets and Policy projects that the employment rate for 16- to 19-year-olds this summer will reach 32.8%, the highest rate in 15 years. 

Some places, however, offer better seasonal opportunities than others — at least according to a new report from WalletHub, which identifies the best U.S. cities for summer jobs. 

To determine the list, the personal finance website compared 182 cities, including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, across two key dimensions: the youth job market, along with the social environment and affordability of each location. 

More than 20 metrics were used, including the median income of part-time workers, the number of summer job openings, access to public transportation and Covid-19 vaccination rates, and metrics were weighted differently. To calculate the overall score, each city’s weighted average across all metrics was used.

Here are the 10 best U.S. cities for summer jobs, according to WalletHub: 

Total score: 60.02

Youth job market ranking: 1

Social environment and affordability ranking: 16

Total score: 59.44

Youth job market ranking: 2

Social environment and affordability ranking: 13

Total score: 58.44 

Youth job market ranking: 7

Social environment and affordability ranking: 8

Total score: 58.22 

Youth job market ranking: 3

Social environment and affordability ranking: 24

Total score: 56.76 

Youth job market ranking: 5

Social environment and affordability ranking: 23

Total…