Compared to millennials—who largely entered the workforce in the wake of the Great Recession—Gen Zers face a much different job market and set of economic conditions.
Wages are rising rapidly, and companies are struggling to find and retain workers. Taken together, these conditions better position Generation Z to avoid many of the financial challenges that plagued millennials when they were the same age, such as underemployment and stagnant wages.
Researchers ranked metro areas by the average annual wage adjusted for the cost of living for full-time General Zers.
Best Paying Cities for Generation Z.
Best Paying Cities for Generation Z
Image credit: djrandco / Shutterstock
Generation Z – or Gen Z for short – is the next generation of millennials who represent about 20% of the US population. The Brookings Institution definition of Generation Z is people born between 1997 and 2012, the oldest of whom is just beginning their careers. While members of Generation Z currently represent less than 5% of the full-time American workforce, that number will increase rapidly in the coming decades.
stock struggle
Generation Z will soon become a major economic force in the United States
Compared to millennials who largely entered the workforce in the wake of the Great Recession, Gen Zers face a different job market and set of economic conditions. Despite high unemployment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – something that disproportionately affects young workers – the economy has made great strides in its recovery since then, and the unemployment rate for all age groups has fallen below levels observed a decade ago. . Wages are rising Quickly, companies are struggling to Find and keep workers. Taken together, these conditions better position Generation Z to avoid many Financial ChallengesThe underemployment and stagnant wages that plagued millennials when they were the same age.
Disproportionately high unemployment rates affect younger workers
Of course, since the older generation is just getting started in their careers, they tend to earn less than their older counterparts. According to data from the US Census Bureau, the national median wage for full-time General Zers was $26,000 in 2020, just over half the median wage for all full-time workers ($50,000). However, the wages are highly dependent on the location. When the cost of living is taken into account, General Zers in North Dakota and Iowa had the largest profit in 2020, coming in at $33,681 and $32,950, respectively. General Zers in New England and other Midwestern states also earned high cost-of-living-adjusted wages, mostly because of their below-average cost of living. Conversely, workers in Hawaii and New Jersey—two of the most expensive states in the country—earn the least after adjusting for cost of living.
General Zers earns the biggest profit in North Dakota – Iowa
To determine the most profitable urban areas for General Zers, researchers at self finance They analyzed the latest data from the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Metro areas are ranked by the average annual wage adjusted for the cost of living for full-time General Zers. The researchers also calculated the average unadjusted annual wage for full-time Gen Zers, the unadjusted median annual wage for all full-time workers, and the share of Generation Z in the full-time workforce. Only the 100 largest metros were included in the analysis.
15. Minneapolis St.. Paul Bloomington, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Image source: John Billos / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $30,236
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $31,200
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): 60 thousand dollars
- Cost of living (compared to average): + 3.2%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 4.4%
stock struggle
14. Louisville / Jefferson County, Kentucky
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $3,465
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $28000
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -8.1%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 5.4%
stock struggle
13. Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Image credit: arburkholder / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $3,465
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -1.5%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 8.1%
stock struggle
12. Springfield, Massachusetts
Image source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $30,630
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $54,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -2.1%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 4.6%
stock struggle
11. Salt Lake City, Utah
Image source: photo.ua / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $30,700
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -2.3%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 6.7%
stock struggle
10. Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Michigan
Image source: Photosbykaity / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $30,718
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $29,100
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -5.3%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 4.7%
stock struggle
9. Cincinnati, oh-ki-in
Image source: Rosamar / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $31,024
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $29,000
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $51,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -6.5%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 4.9%
stock struggle
8. Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Image source: John Billos / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $31,094
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -3.5%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 4.1%
stock struggle
7. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
Image source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $31272
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -4.1%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 5.5%
stock struggle
6. Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
Image source: DomVisuals / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $31,476
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -4.7%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 5.4%
stock struggle
5. Indianapolis – Carmel – Anderson, Indiana
Image source: Rudy Balasco / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $31677
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 30 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $50,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): -5.3%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 5.1%
stock struggle
4. Boston – Cambridge – Newton, Massachusetts – NH
Image source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $31755
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $35,000
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): 70 thousand dollars
- Cost of living (compared to average): + 10.2%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 3.2%
stock struggle
3. Worcester, MA – CT
Image source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): 32,203 dollars
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $32,400
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): 60 thousand dollars
- Cost of living (compared to average): + 0.6%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 3.9%
stock struggle
2. Albany Schenectady, Troy, New York
Image source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): 32,204 dollars
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): $32,300
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): 60 thousand dollars
- Cost of living (compared to average): + 0.3%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 3.5%
stock struggle
1. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut
Image source: Wendell Guy / Shutterstock
- Average annual wage for full-time Gen Zers (adjusted): $37,884
- Average annual wage for full-time General Zers (actual): 40 thousand dollars
- Average annual wage for all full-time workers (actual): $72,000
- Cost of living (compared to average): + 5.6%
- Generation Z share of the workforce: 3.5%
stock struggle
