Key Takeaways
- School graduates must navigate a hiring downturn and rising residing prices.
- A brand new report from Kickresume reveals the place their cash would possibly stretch the furthest.
New school graduates have lots to consider relating to their skilled futures.
They’re getting into a robust job market, with early-career hiring down from pre-pandemic ranges, NBC Information reported.
Moreover, amid rising on a regular basis bills, they’ve to think about the place their first salaries would possibly stretch the furthest.
A brand new report from AI-powered profession app Kickresume, which analyzed graduate earnings, earnings tax charges and unemployment metrics throughout the U.S., reveals the place 2026 graduates can see one of the best general worth when launching their careers.
Graduates focusing on a monetary leg up would possibly wish to deal with states in the midst of the nation, which ranked extremely for low graduate unemployment charges, low residing prices and first rate tax charges, the report discovered.
South Dakota emerged as one of the best place to relocate after commencement. The state boasts the bottom graduate unemployment charge, at simply 0.9%, a median graduate wage of $58,207 and 0 marginal earnings tax, per the analysis.
Iowa, North Dakota, Tennessee and Ohio rounded out the highest 5 U.S. states ranked by worth for graduates.
Though Iowa and North Dakota supply lower-than-average salaries, these earnings are offset by low unemployment charges and favorable tax charges, in response to Kickresume.
Learn on to see Kickresume’s affordability warmth map, which scores all 50 U.S. states on value of residing, taxes, graduate pay and jobs.

Key Takeaways
- School graduates must navigate a hiring downturn and rising residing prices.
- A brand new report from Kickresume reveals the place their cash would possibly stretch the furthest.
New school graduates have lots to consider relating to their skilled futures.
They’re getting into a robust job market, with early-career hiring down from pre-pandemic ranges, NBC Information reported.
Moreover, amid rising on a regular basis bills, they’ve to think about the place their first salaries would possibly stretch the furthest.
A brand new report from AI-powered profession app Kickresume, which analyzed graduate earnings, earnings tax charges and unemployment metrics throughout the U.S., reveals the place 2026 graduates can see one of the best general worth when launching their careers.
Graduates focusing on a monetary leg up would possibly wish to deal with states in the midst of the nation, which ranked extremely for low graduate unemployment charges, low residing prices and first rate tax charges, the report discovered.
South Dakota emerged as one of the best place to relocate after commencement. The state boasts the bottom graduate unemployment charge, at simply 0.9%, a median graduate wage of $58,207 and 0 marginal earnings tax, per the analysis.
Iowa, North Dakota, Tennessee and Ohio rounded out the highest 5 U.S. states ranked by worth for graduates.
Though Iowa and North Dakota supply lower-than-average salaries, these earnings are offset by low unemployment charges and favorable tax charges, in response to Kickresume.
Learn on to see Kickresume’s affordability warmth map, which scores all 50 U.S. states on value of residing, taxes, graduate pay and jobs.


