Glassdoor releases 2016 top 25 best cities for jobs

Glassdoor recently announced its annual findings on which cities are best set up for job seekers. A number of well-known areas made the list, like San Francisco, California coming in at No. 2, and Boston, Massachusetts, at No. 4. Some lesser-known places like Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Hartford, Connecticut, also made the cut at No. 10 and 25, respectively.

Without further ado, here's a couple of highlights on the best cities in the U.S. for job seekers:

San Francisco, CA - No. 2
The Golden Gate City seems to be a perennial contender on Glassdoor's list. It moved up ten spots from No. 12 to No. 2 after an $18,000 increase in median base salary, which now rests at $88,000. San Francisco is home to year-round sunny weather, multiple major technology companies and a sub 4 percent unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job seekers will continue to find ample opportunities in the area. Three major sectors have seen year-over-year growth upwards of 4 percent - information, business and professional services, and education and health services, the source reported.

Boston, MA - No. 4
Boston was recently picked as the new headquarters location for General Electric, according to The Wall Street Journal. It has a number of opportunities available in the health care industry, as well as technology and finance.

The city's median base salary jumped $11,500 in the last year and now sits at $67,500, Glassdoor reported. BLS data shows it has supported a 4 percent unemployment rate for a number of months now, and has sustained strong growth rates in the education and health services and financial activities sector, at 2.8 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN - No. 9
What can't be said about the twin cities? The Minneapolis-St. Paul region jumped seven spots from last year's ranking up to No. 9. Part of this stems from the 17,000 new jobs created, and the $13,000 increase in base median salary, which now rests at $65,000, according to Glassdoor.

Nearly 65,000 jobs are currently available, making the area a viable option for job seekers. Back in October of 2015 it sported a 2.9 percent unemployment rate, though that's risen slightly to 4 percent as of latest BLS data. The leisure and hospitality, education and health, and financial sectors all have upwards of 2.5 percent hiring growth.

Detroit, MI - No. 12
This is Detroit's first year on the "Best Cities for Jobs" list, and it beat out some stiff competition. A recent article of ours highlighted the high job growth and low unemployment rate the region is currently experiencing. Glassdoor reported the median base salary now stands at $61,500, and the average home value at just $123,000. The region is quickly becoming a hotspot to settle down in, due to the high salaries and affordable housing.

Indianapolis, IN - No. 16
Indianapolis jumped up three spots from last year's list, thanks in large part to a hefty increase in median base salary and new job opportunities. This figure now sits at $56,000, up $12,000 from the year before. There are currently 39,000 employment openings, according to Glassdoor.

"For so many reasons, Indianapolis is a great city to live and work in," says Shannon Weaver, Regional Director of Beacon Hill Technologies in Indianapolis. "Minimal traffic, low cost of living, above average wages, excellent public schools, and state property taxes are capped at 1% of the assessed value of a person's home, all of which makes this a phenomenal place to stretch your dollar and raise a family. Industries across the spectrum are represented here, including a number of technology companies. And, to top it all off, Indianapolis is a tourist's dream because you can travel to over eight states in less than 5 hours by car."

The unemployment rate in the city currently sits at 5 percent, though it has flirted with the 4 percent mark in the past year. The education and health services, and trade, transportation and utilities sectors have seen the most employment growth, at 3.4 and 4 percent, respectively.

Pittsburgh, PA - No. 19
Pittsburgh barely made the list last year at No. 24, though vast improvements in job listings and average salary have bumped it up five spots. The base median salary in the region grew roughly $14,000 up to $57,000, and there are currently 20,000 more job opportunities than last year, now at 50,000 total, Glassdoor reported.

The region is experiencing massive growth in its leisure and hospitality sector, as it now has 5.7 percent employment growth on the year, according to the BLS.

Atlanta, GA - No. 24
Atlanta fell from the No. 17 spot in 2015, but it wasn't due to issues with its economy. Since last year, the city has added 25,000 new job opportunities for a total of nearly 95,000. Its average base salary also grew to $60,000, up $11,000 from last year.

The city has featured 3 percent or greater job growth in a number of industries - leisure and hospitality, educational and health services, professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities, and manufacturing, according to the BLS.

Glassdoor creates its list based on a number of factors - economic growth, living conditions and even how current employees rate their jobs. This list represents some of the best options available to job seekers right now, and it isn't a coincidence that Beacon Hill Staffing has branches in many of these locations. Take a moment to research which cities provide the best opportunities in your field - you may be surprised at how many there are.

The BH Marketing Team