NextChapter

Best cities for junior jobs in the West Coast

Bakersfield leads the West Coast for junior jobs: 42% of its professional openings are entry-level or early-career, against 23% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

Key facts

  • #1 Bakersfield, CA: 42%
  • #2 Kent, WA: 38%
  • #3 Salem, OR: 38%
  • 71 cities ranked in the West Coast
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 23% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Bakersfield CA42%
  2. 2Kent WA38%
  3. 3Salem OR38%
  4. 4Stockton CA38%
  5. 5Fresno CA38%
  6. 6Santa Rosa CA37%
  7. 7Brea CA37%
  8. 8Riverside CA36%
  9. 9Anaheim CA36%
  10. 10Eugene OR35%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Bakersfield leads on 42%, and #10 Eugene is at 35%.
  • Fresno is the largest market in the top ten, with 214 openings behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Entry-level hiring is concentrated in some metro areas and thin in others. The share of openings pitched at entry or early-career level shows where a first or second job is easiest to find.

How to use it

If you are early in your career, start your search in the places near the top and read their employer lists. Places lower down can still have entry roles, but they make up a smaller part of what is open.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Bakersfield CA

    42%

    Entry-level openings
    49
    All openings
    116
    Openings with pay posted
    13%

    Hiring most here: Creative Financial Staffing, Clinica Sierra Vista

    Based on 116 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Bakersfield

  2. 2

    Kent WA

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    57
    All openings
    149
    Openings with pay posted
    17%

    Hiring most here: Stoke Space, Cowboy Space, Amazon

    Based on 149 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Kent

  3. 3

    Salem OR

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    47
    All openings
    123
    Openings with pay posted
    28%

    Hiring most here: Agility Robotics, Garmin, Northwest Human Services

    Based on 123 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Salem

  4. 4

    Stockton CA

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    46
    All openings
    121
    Openings with pay posted
    21%

    Hiring most here: Amazon

    Based on 121 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Stockton

  5. 5

    Fresno CA

    38%

    Entry-level openings
    81
    All openings
    214
    Openings with pay posted
    16%

    Hiring most here: Pacific Gas & Electric, University Of California San Francisco Foundation, Creative Financial Staffing

    Based on 214 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fresno

  6. 6

    Santa Rosa CA

    37%

    Entry-level openings
    57
    All openings
    154
    Openings with pay posted
    14%

    Hiring most here: Keysight Technologies

    Based on 154 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Rosa

  7. 7

    Brea CA

    37%

    Entry-level openings
    37
    All openings
    101
    Openings with pay posted
    17%

    Hiring most here: Envista Holdings, Emeraldtechnologies, Howmet Aerospace

    Based on 101 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Brea

  8. 8

    Riverside CA

    36%

    Entry-level openings
    63
    All openings
    176
    Openings with pay posted
    14%

    Hiring most here: Kaiser Permanente, Pyramid Global Hospitality

    Based on 176 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Riverside

  9. 9

    Anaheim CA

    36%

    Entry-level openings
    64
    All openings
    180
    Openings with pay posted
    16%

    Hiring most here: L3HARRIS Technologies, UC Irvine (incl. UCI Health), Legrand North America

    Based on 180 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Anaheim

  10. 10

    Eugene OR

    35%

    Entry-level openings
    39
    All openings
    112
    Openings with pay posted
    9%

    Hiring most here: University of Oregon, Sinclair

    Based on 112 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Eugene

  11. 11

    Redmond WA

    34%

    Entry-level openings
    400
    All openings
    1,166
    Openings with pay posted
    16%

    Hiring most here: Amazon, SpaceX, Microsoft

    Based on 1,166 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Redmond

  12. 12

    Tacoma WA

    34%

    Entry-level openings
    42
    All openings
    123
    Openings with pay posted
    20%

    Hiring most here: Globe Main, TOTE Maritime

    Based on 123 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Tacoma

  13. 13

    Hayward CA

    34%

    Entry-level openings
    37
    All openings
    109
    Openings with pay posted
    28%

    Hiring most here: Skydio, Pulse Biosciences, 1X Technologies

    Based on 109 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Hayward

  14. 14

    Corona CA

    32%

    Entry-level openings
    48
    All openings
    148
    Openings with pay posted
    39%

    Hiring most here: Monster Energy Company, Lubrizol, Gallagher

    Based on 148 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Corona

  15. 15

    Orange CA

    32%

    Entry-level openings
    46
    All openings
    142
    Openings with pay posted
    23%

    Hiring most here: UC Irvine (incl. UCI Health), Alignment Healthcare, Aecom

    Based on 142 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Orange

  16. 16

    Richland WA

    32%

    Entry-level openings
    34
    All openings
    105
    Openings with pay posted
    13%

    Hiring most here: Battelle Memorial Institute (PNNL), Sargent & Lundy, Prosidian Consultng

    Based on 105 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Richland

  17. 17

    Sacramento CA

    32%

    Entry-level openings
    457
    All openings
    1,431
    Openings with pay posted
    27%

    Hiring most here: Sutter Health, California Correctional Health Care Services, BKF Engineers

    Based on 1,431 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sacramento

  18. 18

    Long Beach CA

    31%

    Entry-level openings
    272
    All openings
    876
    Openings with pay posted
    53%

    Hiring most here: Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, Vast

    Based on 876 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Long Beach

  19. 19

    Santa Ana CA

    31%

    Entry-level openings
    86
    All openings
    277
    Openings with pay posted
    44%

    Hiring most here: Anduril Industries, First American Financial, Anduril

    Based on 277 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Ana

  20. 20

    Walnut Creek CA

    31%

    Entry-level openings
    54
    All openings
    177
    Openings with pay posted
    23%

    Hiring most here: Lewis Brisbois, Stantec, Brown and Caldwell

    Based on 177 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Walnut Creek

  21. 21

    Huntington Beach CA

    30%

    Entry-level openings
    32
    All openings
    105
    Openings with pay posted
    24%

    Hiring most here: Mach Industries, Karman Sd, BJs RESTAURANTS

    Based on 105 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Huntington Beach

  22. 22

    Beaverton OR

    29%

    Entry-level openings
    35
    All openings
    120
    Openings with pay posted
    8%

    Hiring most here: Ralliant, Apple, Nike

    Based on 120 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Beaverton

  23. 23

    Beverly Hills CA

    29%

    Entry-level openings
    44
    All openings
    151
    Openings with pay posted
    17%

    Hiring most here: Fashion Nova, Cedars-sinai Medical Center, Cedars Sinai

    Based on 151 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Beverly Hills

  24. 24

    Santa Barbara CA

    29%

    Entry-level openings
    44
    All openings
    154
    Openings with pay posted
    34%

    Hiring most here: AppFolio, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Arthrex

    Based on 154 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Santa Barbara

  25. 25

    Modesto CA

    29%

    Entry-level openings
    30
    All openings
    105
    Openings with pay posted
    17%

    Hiring most here: E. & J. Gallo, Tenet Healthcare, Sutter Health

    Based on 105 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Modesto

Full ranking

All 71 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Bakersfield CA42%116
2Kent WA38%149
3Salem OR38%123
4Stockton CA38%121
5Fresno CA38%214
6Santa Rosa CA37%154
7Brea CA37%101
8Riverside CA36%176
9Anaheim CA36%180
10Eugene OR35%112
11Redmond WA34%1,166
12Tacoma WA34%123
13Hayward CA34%109
14Corona CA32%148
15Orange CA32%142
16Richland WA32%105
17Sacramento CA32%1,431
18Long Beach CA31%876
19Santa Ana CA31%277
20Walnut Creek CA31%177
21Huntington Beach CA30%105
22Beaverton OR29%120
23Beverly Hills CA29%151
24Santa Barbara CA29%154
25Modesto CA29%105
26Roseville CA28%167
27Portland OR27%837
28Emeryville CA27%122
29Vancouver WA27%163
30Renton WA27%134
31Pasadena CA27%278
32Spokane WA26%157
33Torrance CA26%745
34El Segundo CA26%959
35Hillsboro OR25%187
36Los Angeles CA24%5,439
37Newark CA24%137
38San Leandro CA24%104
39Irvine CA24%1,587
40Burbank CA24%147
41Kirkland WA23%167
42Fremont CA23%510
43Everett WA23%195
44Culver City CA23%252
45Pleasanton CA23%189
46San Diego CA23%3,240
47Goleta CA23%110
48Glendale CA23%195
49Milpitas CA23%271
50San Carlos CA22%211
51Seattle WA22%5,635
52Alameda CA21%215
53Newport Beach CA21%310
54Bothell WA20%138
55Carlsbad CA20%313
56Livermore CA20%117
57Sunnyvale CA19%1,655
58Palo Alto CA19%1,263
59San Jose CA19%2,552
60Oakland CA19%609
61San Francisco CA18%12,335
62Bellevue WA18%1,455
63Santa Monica CA17%327
64Menlo Park CA17%449
65Redwood City CA16%514
66Santa Clara CA16%1,689
67San Mateo CA15%960
68Palmdale CA14%132
69Berkeley CA14%249
70Mountain View CA13%1,637
71Foster City CA11%517

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles tagged entry-level or early-career, read from the full posting text.

Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. Internships are left out.

A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 100 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles on employer career sites, verified in the last week. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which city ranks first: best cities for junior jobs in the west coast?
Bakersfield leads the West Coast for junior jobs: 42% of its professional openings are entry-level or early-career, against 23% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
71 cities have at least 100 openings, so the list has 71 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles tagged entry-level or early-career, read from the full posting text. Only roles verified on the employer's own career site in the last week are counted. Internships are left out. A city where one employer posts more than 50% of its openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Best cities for junior jobs in the West Coast,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-junior-jobs-in-the-west-coast

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/best-cities-for-junior-jobs-in-the-west-coast">Best cities for junior jobs in the West Coast (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

Download the data: CSV · JSON. Free to use with a link back.

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