Searching for a summer job might seem daunting, but with the right research to help you along, you very well might find an ideal work opportunity, one that will add to your bottom line as well as your ever-growing resume of experience. We used ZipRecruiter data to identify the best cities in the United States for summer jobs, to help pinpoint the places where even short-term employment can lead to long-term career gains.
Big Cities, Big Chances for Working
It probably isn’t a surprise that some of America’s best summer job openings are found in some of America’s biggest cities. With huge populations and the massive summer tourism influxes that happen in our flagship metropolises, it’s only natural that jobs follow.
New York City ranks as the number one place in all of the U.S.A. for possible employment during the summer months, with paid-work opportunities ranging from jobs in the arts and recreation sectors, to positions in manufacturing, healthcare, retail, hospitality, finance, and beyond. The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is a city-sponsored initiative for youth ages 14 to 24 that provides jobs for up to six weeks in July and August; to participate in the program, you must be a New York City resident. But out-of-towners shouldn’t despair of finding temporary work in the Big Apple. Short-term jobs abound during the bustling summer months here.
Other major American cities that rank high on our top ten list of best cities for summer employment are Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles. In our nation’s capital, job seekers will do well to search out government agencies, which often have summer openings. Tourism numbers have been skyrocketing in D.C. recently and hitting record highs, which lends itself to plenty of possibilities for short-term summer work.
San Francisco is also a place with city-funded job initiatives for summer job seekers of a certain age (16 to 24) via its Mayor’s Youth Jobs program (which actually operates year round). Entry-level positions in customer service, retail, sales, food service, office support, maintenance, and hospitality are all offered here.
Smaller Places, Excellent Opportunities
Interestingly enough, it isn’t only the huge megalopolises that rank in our list of best cities for summer jobs. Summerville, South Carolina is right in the mix, with its small-town charm (46,000 residents) and big-time summer influx of tourists. Located in the Low Country near Charleston, this city was settled in the 1700s and became known as “The Flower Town in the Pines.” It has been famous for its healing trees and beautiful architecture for generations. Summer jobs here tie into the massive tourist influx that happens every spring and summer, beginning during the azalea bloom in spring and lasting until the last family heads home as summer wanes.
Mundelein, Illinois, is another spot for excellent summer job possibilities. Located north of Chicago with a population of 32,000, this small city boasts over 700 businesses that keep job seekers smiling. The town ranks fourth on our list of best cities for summer jobs because of ongoing business incentives and a dedication to keeping the downtown area vibrant, especially during the summer months when all kinds of festivals and events require workers to go off without a hitch.
Pick Your Place
From east to west, north to south, the best American cities to find summer employment encompass a wide range of places and urban environments for job seekers. Here are the top ten cities with the best opportunities for finding summer employment (and gaining work experience too), as ranked by ZipRecruiter:
- New York, NY
- Washington D.C.
- San Francisco, CA
- Mundelein, IL
- San Jose, CA
- Summerville, SC
- Chicago, IL
- Boston, MA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Berkeley, CA
