New ‘Best Cities for Jobs in 2026’ list includes Huntsville

Huntsville just landed on a recent list of the best U.S. cities in which to find a job this year. Financial wellness publication WalletHub compiled the post and published it this week.

Keep reading to check out where Huntsville ranks.

Huntsville ranks among best places to find a job this year

Huntsville came in at no. 10 on the WalletHub list.

In order to determine the best job markets in the U.S., WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions: “Job Market” and “Socio-economics,” which are then evaluated using more than 30 relevant metrics.

Here’s how Huntsville ranked in some of those metrics:

• 20^th – Job Opportunities
• 55^th – Employment Growth
• 1^st – Unemployment Rate
• 78^th – Monthly Average Starting Salary
• 43^rd – Median Annual Income*
• 19^th – Housing Affordability
• 33^rd – Avg. Work & Commute Time

Overall, the 10 best cities to find a job this year are:

1. Scottsdale, AZ
2. Columbia, MD
3. Portland, ME
4. South Burlington, VT
5. Pittsburgh, PA
6. Orlando, FL
7. Plano, TX
8. Washington, DC
9. Austin, TX
10. Huntsville, AL

Mobile was the only other Alabama city to make the top 100, coming in at 98th.

“It’s important to look at more than just the number of jobs available or the unemployment rate when determining the best place to find employment. Quality matters just as much as quantity, from the average salaries and benefits to job security and overall satisfaction.

There are plenty of secondary factors to take into account as well, from how easy a city makes commuting to jobs to whether it’s a good place for raising a family or engaging in recreational activities outside of work.”

_{Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst}

Read the full WalletHub report HERE.

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