Having the right credentials is crucial for any job search.
But your success also depends on where the best opportunities are.
According to a recent report from personal finance site WalletHub, landing a job is far easier in some states than in others.
WalletHub assigned each US state a score based on numerous factors, including median annual income adjusted for the cost of living, share of employees with private health insurance, and the number of workers living below the poverty line.
WalletHub also assigned each state an employment outlook score using Gallup’s job creation index. The score is based on the amount workers say their place of employment is increasing or decreasing the size of its workforce, with the highest score of 42 indicating the best employment outlook.
To read more about the study's methodology, check out the full report here.
Here are the top 15 states for finding a job:
15. Kansas
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $57,749
Unemployment rate: 4.2%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 84.1%
Employment outlook: 40
Kansas features a low statewide underemployment rate.
14. Connecticut
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $53,811
Unemployment rate: 5.1%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 82.8%
Employment outlook: 40
Connecticut has the third lowest share of workers living below the poverty line.
13. Utah
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $65,439
Unemployment rate: 3.4%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 81.8%
Employment outlook: 2
Utah features a high median annual income.
12. Vermont
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $45,078
Unemployment rate: 3.3%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 79.0%
Employment outlook: 42
Vermont comes in fourth in job satisfaction on this list.
11. Texas
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $58,663
Unemployment rate: 4.6%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 72.1%
Employment outlook: 24
Texas benefits from its high median annual income and monthly average starting salary.
10. Florida
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $47,987
Unemployment rate: 4.9%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 72.3%
Employment outlook: 9
Florida's job security and numerous nondiscrimination laws and policies give the Sunshine State a boost on this list.
9. Tennessee
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $50,355
Unemployment rate: 4.8%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 79.0%
Employment outlook: 16
Tennessee features high job security and high employment growth.
8. California
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $45,859
Unemployment rate: 5.4%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 21.06%
Employment outlook: 20
California offers a high average starting salary of $40,176 a year.
7. Massachusetts
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $50,901
Unemployment rate: 3.7%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 85.0%
Employment outlook: 9
Massachusetts boasts the highest average starting salary on the list at $43,644 a year.
6. Minnesota
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $60,823
Unemployment rate: 3.9%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 84.5%
Employment outlook: 5
Minnesota offers a high median annual income and low unemployment rate.
5. New Jersey
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $59,581
Unemployment rate: 5.0%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 81.1%
Employment outlook: 34
New Jersey boasts the fourth highest monthly average starting salary on the list at $40,404 a year.
4. South Dakota
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $49,569
Unemployment rate: 2.8%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 83.5%
Employment outlook: 24
South Dakota's ranking benefitted from its extremely low unemployment rate.
3. New Hampshire
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $56,023
Unemployment rate: 2.8%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 85.0%
Employment outlook: 31
New Hampshire has the fewest workers living below the poverty line on the list.
2. Colorado
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $59,382
Unemployment rate: 5.1%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 79.4%
Employment outlook: 16
Colorado's high median annual income and low underemployment rate propelled it to the second slot in the rankings.
1. Washington
Median annual income (adjusted for the cost of living): $57,014
Unemployment rate: 5.4%
Share of employees with private health insurance: 81.3%
Employment outlook: 5
Washington's high average starting salary of $40,560 a year and high job security allowed the state to snag the top spot on this list.