Looking for a summer gig? Atlanta ranks among best US cities for summer jobs

‘Tis the season for temporary money-making side gigs. And according to a new report, Atlanta’s one of the best cities to consider if you’re on the hunt for a summer job or internship.

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Personal finance website WalletHub released its Best Cities for Summer Jobs 2018 analysis, for which researchers compared 182 American cities (including the 150 most populated areas plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state) across two major dimensions: youth job market and social environment/affordability.

The dimensions were further assessed using 21 relevant metrics, such as availability of summer jobs and internships, summer employment growth, median income for part-time work, minimum wage, access to public transportation and more.

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Data for the study came from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics among other reputable sources.

According to WalletHub, the best place to snag a summer gig is in Scottsdale, Arizona, which ranked first in youth job market and fourth in social environment/affordability.

Atlanta came in at No. 8 on the list and earned top honors in internship availability.

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Here’s more on how the city fared:

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The metro’s high rank came down to multiple factors, including a high volume of available opportunities. And its friendliness ranks, based on previous WalletHub studies, certainly bumped the city up, too.

According to the analysis, Atlanta’s dating opportunities, active lifestyle, nightlife and overall recreation were significant contributors.

But when it comes to social environment and affordability, Atlanta’s rising rents, traffic and limited access to public transportation may have kept the city from ranking even higher.

Last year, Atlanta ranked seventh overall in WalletHub’s list, fifth in youth job market and No. 60 in social environment/affordability.

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The top 10 cities for summer jobs in 2018, according to WalletHub:

The two other Georgia cities on the list, Augusta and Columbus, ranked in the bottom half at No. 169 and No. 161, respectively.

More about the study and its methodology.