Study: Scottsdale rated top U.S. city for summer jobs, 5 other Arizona towns make top 20

PHOENIX — Do you want to make some extra cash this summer? Looking for a spot with certified good vibes? Well, the city of Scottsdale was ranked the best place in the U.S. for a summer job in a recent study.

In WalletHub’s “Best Places for Summer Jobs (2025),” Scottsdale was the top city over Columbia, Maryland and five other Valley cities cracked the top 20 on the list. Peoria and Chandler came in sixth and ninth while Glendale (14th), Gilbert (16th) and Mesa (17th) rounded them out.

South Burlington, Vermont, Portland, Maine and Rapid City, South Dakota were ranked third through fifth overall, respectively.

How was the summer job study conducted?

The study ranked the 182 most-populated U.S. cities based on two major categories: youth job market and social environment and affordability.

Cities were awarded up to 100 points, 75 available in the youth job market category and 25 for social environment and affordability.

Notable subcategories among the 21 included availability of internships (worth 10.71 points), summer employment bump (10.71), net employment outlook (5.36), share of population aged 16 to 24 (2.50), minimum wage (2.50) and commuter-friendliness of jobs (2.50).

Scottsdale, other Arizona cities’ performance in study

Scottsdale earned 64.87 points, more than 2.5 ahead of Columbia (62.26). It finished second in the point-heavy youth job market category and ninth in social environment and affordability.

According to WalletHub, Scottsdale boasts the highest median income for part-timers, at more than $33,000 annually.

The Valley city also offers the 11th-most “internship opportunities per capita.”

Scottsdale was also recently rated by WalletHub as the 16th-best spot to begin a career.

Gilbert made a high appearance in one of the many subcategories, having the fifth-lowest percentage of people aged 16 to 24 in poverty. Pearl City, Hawaii had the lowest percentage.

Wondering which city was rated the worst for summer jobs in 2025?

Memphis, Tennessee had the unfortunate privilege of coming in 182nd, posting 181st in the youth job market ranking and 163rd in social environment and affordability.

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