Nashville metro area among top U.S. cities to launch a career

Nashville ranked as one of the top places to start a career, according to consumer financial services company Bankrate.

Coming in at number five, Nashville topped the charts that boasted multiple Southern cities.

"Cities that have traditionally been popular postgraduate destinations are becoming less attractive for young professionals jumpstarting their careers. Five of the 10 best cities to start a job are in the South, including Austin, Raleigh, Nashville, Dallas and Atlanta," reported Bankrate.

As one of the top areas in the U.S. for people — especially Millennials and Gen Z — to launch their careers in 2023, Nashville edged out cities like Seattle and Dallas.

How did Nashville rank?

Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin area ranked number five based on rent prices in relation to affordability, the employment picture and quality of life.

Places to start a career in the South

The ranking revealed a pattern of young people searching for entry-level opportunities choosing to move to Southern cities over places like New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Five out of the top 10 cities in the ranking were in the South including:

• Austin, Texas
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Nashville
• Dallas, Texas
• Atlanta, Georgia

Here's the full ranking, according to Bankrate

1. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
2. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington
3. Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina
5. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, Tennessee
6. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana
7. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
8. Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas
9. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
10. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California