Top Twenty Cities for Jobs (and Quality of Life)

8. Omaha
Located near the center of the continental United States, Omaha lacks the glitz of cities on the coast. However, it is home to Fortune 500 companies like ConAgra foods and Mutual of Omaha. Rockstar businessman Warren Buffett also calls Omaha home.

9. Raleigh
Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham are collectively called the Research Triangle Area, known for plenty of academic brainpower (Duke, the University of North Carolina, and North Carolina State are all here) and lots of technology and biotech firms. Raleigh also has a diverse arts scene and is home to three state museums, all of which are free to the public.

10. Seattle
Though Starbucks may be one of its most well-known corporate citizens, there is a lot more than coffee being brewed here. Forbes.com noted the Emerald City’s aerospace and global trade professions. As for style of living, Seattle is known for rain and music. Washington also produces more apples than any other state.

11. San Antonio
Sometimes called the gateway to the Southwest, San Antonio is known for tourist attractions like the Riverwalk and the Alamo. Fortune 500 Companies include SBC Communications and Valero Energy.

12. Birmingham
If you like the charm of the Old South, you can still find it in this city, home of Southern Living magazine. But Birmingham isn’t all seersucker; an eclectic bar called The Garage was named one of the top ten bars in the country worth traveling for by GQ magazine.

13. Albuquerque
The southwestern city is marked by the Sandia Mountains to the east, where locals ski, hike, and bike. The economy is high-tech and the city is known for its low cost of doing business.

14. Nashville
The county music capital of the world has a diverse economy that includes insurance, banking, and printing. And there’s a chance your waitress will soon be discovered as the next Dolly Parton.

15. Little Rock
The economic center of Arkansas, the city has a diverse economy, though agriculture still accounts for many jobs both in the state and in Little Rock. Bill Clinton lived here as a child and in 2004, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Library opened to honor him.