These are the best metros for job-seeking grads in 2026, research shows

(NEXSTAR) – What cities offer the perfect mix of salary, cost of living and opportunity?

A new study from ADP Research, which specializes in labor markets and employee performance analysis, used that exact balance to rank 53 major U.S. metros.

“This year’s results look very different than last year’s,” ADP’s Sam Adieze wrote. “None of 2025’s top four metro areas held their ground, and some of the new contenders might come as a surprise.”

In its third annual report, ADP found that Birmingham, Alabama had replaced Raleigh, North Carolina at the top of the list, a spot Raleigh had held for two years.

Anonymized payroll data showed that median wages among recent graduates (ages 20-29) in the greater Birmingham area had jumped more than 16 percent to $59,004, and the region was more affordable than all but two........

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