Top 10 States Where It's The Easiest To Start Working
South Dakota is the easiest place to start a career, with unemployment at just 2.1% and everyday costs 11% below the national average, according to an October 2026 report. With unemployment among recent college graduates climbing to 5.6%, this newly released study by software talent marketplace Lemon.io reveals the top 10 states where beginners have the best chance at landing a first job and actually affording life there.
Washington pays beginners more than any other state, with starting salaries near $51.5K and the typical worker earning around $63K a year.
Nearly 85% of young adults in Wisconsin have a job, one of the highest rates in the US.
Idaho has the most entry-level openings in the country, at 111 per 1K workers.
The research examined all 50 US states to find where beginners have the best chance at starting out in their careers. It looked at how many jobs that need no previous work experience are open compared to the size of each state’s workforce, along with typical starting pay and how far everyday costs stretch it. The report also compared unemployment rates and checked whether more young adults aged 22 to 29 have found jobs over the past two years. These figures were combined into a single score, revealing where a first job is easiest to find.
Here’s a Look at the Top 10 States Where Starting a Career is the Easiest:
State | Final Index | Starting Salary ($) | Median Annual Earnings ($ | Entry-Level Job Openings per 1K Workers | Early-Career Employment Trend (Percentage Points) |
South Dakota | 100 | 38.9K | 47.1K | 103 | 1.14 |
Idaho | 79 | 36.9K | 48K | 111 | -0.15 |
Washington | 73 | 51.5K | 63K | 106 | 0.22 |
North Dakota | 73 | 41.2K | 52.5K | 95 | 2.15 |
Arizona | 64 | 41.8K | 50.1K | 107 | 0.84 |
Colorado | 63 | 46.6K | 59.8K | 105 | -2.43 |
Wisconsin | 61 | 40.4K | 50.3K | 98 | 2.25 |
Mississippi | 57 | 31.4K | 40.1K | 103 | 1.91 |
Iowa | 57 | 37.7K | 48.5K | 98 | 0.71 |
Wyoming | 56 | 38.6K | 50.3K | 101 | -1.05 |
You can access the complete research findings here.
1. South Dakota
Entry-level job openings: 103 per 1K workers
Starting salary: $38.9K
Unemployment rate: 2.1%
Cost of living: 11% below the national average
Young adults with a job: 81.9% of those aged 22 to 29
South Dakota is the best state to start a career. Employers here are expected to open around 54K beginner jobs a year, and none of them ask for previous experience. Unemployment is also at 2.1%, the lowest in the country, so those openings land in a market where nearly everyone who wants a job has one. A first paycheck starts near $38.9K, and with living costs about 11% below the national average, it covers rent and groceries more easily than in most states.
2. Idaho
Idaho comes second with the most job opportunities. The companies here post entry-level jobs at a rate of 111 per 1K workers, the highest in the country. That works out to roughly 100K positions a year that need no previous experience. Day-to-day life also costs around 4.5% less than the national average, so a starting salary of $36.9K goes far. For a first-time job seeker, that means more options to choose from and a lower bill to cover.
3. Washington
Washington takes third place by paying beginners the most in the country. A first job there starts near $51.5K, about $12.5K more than in South Dakota, and the typical worker earns around $63K a year. Everyday costs do run 7% above the national average, but that bigger paycheck is what makes them manageable. Beginners also have plenty to choose from, with employers expected to open about 432K entry-level jobs a year.
4. North Dakota
North Dakota comes next on the list. The share of adults aged 22 to 29 who have a job climbed from 82.4% to 84.6% in two years, one of the three highest in the country. Unemployment stands at 2.6%, again among the three lowest, so people just starting are joining a workforce where jobs are easy to hold on to. A first salary of $41.2K comes in higher than in South Dakota or Idaho, and living costs about 11% below the national average leave more of it in a beginner’s pocket.
5. Arizona
Arizona rounds out the top five by pairing a large job market with prices close to the national average. Employers are expected to open nearly 373K entry-level jobs a year, at 107 per 1K workers, the second-highest rate in the top 10 after Idaho. A first job starts near $41.8K, almost $5K more than in Idaho, and everyday costs run just 1% above the national average. The share of 22- to 29-year-olds with a job also moved up, from 76.9% to 77.8%, in a state that keeps adding beginner roles.
A Senior Talent Sourcer From Lemon.io Commented on the Findings:
“Hiring for new graduates looks better than it did a year ago. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found in its spring 2026 survey that employers plan to hire 5.6% more new graduates this year, a reversal from the 2.4% drop they expected last fall. Companies with more than 5K employees plan the biggest increase, at 8.7%. Large employers tend to hire in several locations at once, which can widen the map for beginners willing to relocate. Competition for each opening is still tough, so a clear application, a few relevant projects and a short list of target employers will matter more than sending out hundreds of resumes.”
