Find a Job in One of the Best Places to Live in California
Have you been thinking for a while about moving to the “Golden State” and want to find out where the best places to live in California are? California is the third largest state in the U.S. and offers plenty for every budget. In this article, we’ll help you choose among the best cities to live in California with 500,000+ residents, as well as find the right job for you.
California is home to over 39 million people and that doesn’t come as a surprise. Who would not want to live here? Some of the reasons why include:
- You have 840 miles of coast to choose from and a lovely Mediterranean climate that is warm and dry all year round. Plus, you’ll get 260+ days of sunshine a year, while the national average is just 205.
- There are nine national parks at which to hit the trails and hike. These include Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and Redwood. The Great Basin bristlecone pine, one of the oldest trees in the world, is found here.
- You have all sorts of beautiful landscapes like beaches, deserts, and lakes close by. But did you know that you can also ski and snowboard in the winter if you head to the Sierra Nevada or Lake Tahoe?
- If you settle here, you’ll find that California has the largest economy of all the U.S. The Silicon Valley, which is famous for as an innovative tech hub, and Hollywood are just two of the main industries driving the economy here. The Golden State is also the biggest food producer in the U.S. where you’ll find delicious healthy and fresh produce.
- California is a diverse melting pot of cultures, reflected also in a varied food scene.
- California’s healthcare system ranks amongst the best in the U.S. for access, quality, and public health. This is a top reason why this is one of the best places to live in California for families, young professionals, and seasoned workers alike.
- It’s home to some of the country's best universities, such as Stanford, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology.
Working in California
There's no doubt that California is one of the economic driving forces of the U.S. About one in every 7.5 new jobs in the nation is created here. And the jobs get filled quickly, as well. At $15.00 per hour, the minimum wage in California is also second only to D.C. Plus, the government reviews it periodically to meet minimum standards of living. If you have teenage kids, California could also be a good place for them to start building a resume, maybe with a part-time or summer job, while earning a fair pay. The legal age to work in California, in fact, allows them to start as early as 14 years old.
Now that you know all these things, we don’t blame you if you’re already “California Dreamin’”. But where exactly should you move to in such a big state? Have a look at our list of the largest best cities to live in California to get a clearer picture.
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth-most populous city in California and rises inland in the San Joaquin Valley, midway from San Jose and Los Angeles. With an estimated job growth of 32.9%, this is a location to consider for jobs in agriculture, healthcare, retail, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, and construction. It’s also an interesting city with lots of attractions and things to do. Among them are parks, such as the unique Forestiere Underground Gardens. You’ll also discover the Fresno Art Museum, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, The Discovery Center, Warnors Theatre, Fresno Fair, and much more here.
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Los Angeles
With almost 4 million residents, Los Angeles is the largest city in California and the second biggest in the U.S. after New York. In fact, if L.A. County was a state of its own, its GDP would be bigger than Switzerland’s! It’s mainly known as the home of Hollywood and its expansive entertainment industry, but it’s actually very diverse. It’s one of the best places to live in California for careers in government since it’s the second largest administration center outside D.C. There are plenty of opportunities in health and biomedical roles, as well as aerospace professions thanks to the presence of SpaceX, NASA’s Jet Propulsions Lab, and Boeing. Tourism and digital media are two other important economic backbones of this area.
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Sacramento
Surprisingly enough the capital of California, Sacramento, is one of the best affordable places to live in California. Situated at the heart of the state, halfway between San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada, it has a robust job market with low unemployment rates and excellent standards of life. Agriculture is one of the most important sectors here with plenty of jobs in farming. The city found a modern way to celebrate this by becoming a foodie destination where you can enjoy farm-to-fork delicacies. On top of that, Sacramento is one of the best places to live in California because it offers an abundance of technology and engineering jobs, as well as clean energy-related and administrative professions.
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San Diego
Known as “America’s Finest City”, San Diego is unmissable among the best places to live in California and, especially, the best places to live in southern California. It’s the last metro area of SoCal before the border with Mexico and is ideal for a more laid-back atmosphere compared to northern cities. Here you’ll find beautiful beaches to relax on, such as Mission Beach, La Jolla Shores Beach, and Coronado Beach. The city also provides a great deal of activities and attractions like Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, the Globe Theaters, and a superb food and craft beer scene. Tourism is clearly one of the most important economic sectors, but so are education, international trade, the armed forces, and production.
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San Francisco
The “Golden City” is one of the best places to live in California if you have a career in management, finance, banking, or IT and software. However, there are also lots of roles available in healthcare and social assistance, retail, education, manufacturing, construction, and tourism. Living in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge and Karl the Fog will become a familiar view to you. You won’t have time to get bored here, trust us. Enjoy your free time at outdoor festivals during the summer or visit one of the many music venues in town. You can walk, bike, or take public transportation everywhere in this city. Maybe you’ll also befriend the sea lions that live around the docks at pier 39, visit Alcatraz, and much more.
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San Jose
San Jose, the "Capital of Silicon Valley” is the home of the most famous tech and innovation hub in the world. Here you can find almost endless jobs in computer, electronics, and engineering. eBay, Adobe, and PayPal are just a few of the top global companies that are located here. San Jose is not just about work though, it’s gained the fifth spot in the best places to live in the U.S. overall thanks to its quality of life, diversity, desirability, and of course, job prospects.
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More of the Best Places to Live in California
There's no shortage of places to look for jobs in California. Here are a few more places worth checking out:
The Best Places to Live in California are Closer Than Ever with Monster
Monster is where it’s at when it comes to finding the right job in one of the best cities to live in California. Start today and set up a free account. You can upload multiple versions of your resume, so you’ll draw more companies’ attention. Plus, we’ll advertise your profile to hiring managers and recruiters to improve your chances of finding a match.