Study finds low salary, poor quality of life impacting Phoenix job market
May 23, 2015, 6:29 PM | Updated: 6:31 pm
Phoenix has been ranked 34th of the top 50 U.S. cities for median starting salary, according to a recent study by job-search website Glassdoor.com.
The Phoenix Business Journal reported the findings, which said the city’s median starting salary was $42,000 and added the number was concerning for young families and recent graduates.
It’s not enough money to buy a $202,500 median-value home — which ranked the state No. 21 on the list. Buying such a home requires a salary of $81,160.
The study said the average starting salary in Phoenix can buy a $105,000 house.
As for renting, Rent Jungle said the starting salary allows $1,050 for rent for a market with a median rent of $1,200 and rising.
Glassdoor.com also found the Valley’s 0.12 job openings per person score ranks below cities similar to Phoenix and its biggest competitors. Austin, Denver and Salt Lake City have scores of 0.17, 0.16 and 0.15 jobs per capita respectively.
Arizona’s Great Recession ended five years ago — nine months after it ended for the rest of the country — and the jobs lost have yet to be recovered.
