The 10 U.S. cities where pay for young workers is rising the fastest, says new research

It’s been a tough job market for young professionals, but there’s some good news for 2026: New grads with up to four years’ work experience are expected to see stronger wage growth next year, according to Glassdoor research.

In other words, early-career workers who can secure a job are likely to have more spending power, at a rate surpassing 2020 levels — the last time wage growth kept pace with inflation.

Wage growth will vary depending on the location. While rising cities may not offer the biggest paychecks compared to places like New York or San Francisco, they’re seeing the fastest wage growth and offer a lower cost of living, Glassdoor researchers note.

These are the top 10 cities for early-career wage growth since 2020, according to Glassdoor research:

Annual growth since 2020: 7.0%