5. Austin, Tex.

5. Austin, Tex.

2009 Rank:: NA
Entry-Level Employers: 33
Average Annual Pay: $45,180
Cost of Living Index: 91.7
Unemployment Rate: 7 percent

Zany Austin has gotten a reputation for its creative artists and musicians. Who knew it was also a great place to start a career? A low cost of living and unemployment rate puts this city among the best for entry-level job hunters. Stymied by the dot-com bust at the start of the new century, the city in 2004 launched Opportunity Austin, a plan to bring in 72,000 new jobs to the city. Since then, the city’s efforts have added 123,400 new jobs to the region, according to the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Although the number of employers listing jobs is low compared with other cities on the list, technology and health-care jobs lead the pack. In addition, several well-known companies, including Dell (DELL) and Whole Foods Market (WFMI), are headquartered in Austin. The city prides itself on having a small-town feel, which is appealing to some new college grads. It’s also a hotbed for cyclists, including champion Lance Armstrong, who lives in Austin.

Austin Jobs on AfterCollege