Port St. Lucie placed 179th out of 182 cities in a 2026 study on the best places to begin a career. The city received a total score of 37.23, ranking 168th for professional opportunities and 178th for quality of life. For local teens seeking to build skills and earn income, the St. Lucie Internship Program offers valuable career experience and paychecks.
How the Study Measured Cities
The report measured 182 U.S. cities across 25 factors grouped into two categories: Professional Opportunities and Quality of Life. Professional Opportunities accounted for 70 points, while Quality of Life accounted for 30 points. In recent years, data-driven rankings of economic growth have also highlighted the performance of cities across the country, providing additional context for these results.
The measures included entry-level job availability, starting pay adjusted for living costs, annual job growth, unemployment, underemployment, housing affordability, commute-related data, median income and the share of residents ages 25 to 34. The methodology states that only city proper boundaries were used, not surrounding metro areas.
Data was collected as of April 13, 2026. Sources listed for the study included the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indeed.com, Glassdoor, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Chmura Economics & Analytics, the Center for Neighborhood Technology and WalletHub research.
Top-Ranked and Bottom-Ranked Cities
Atlanta ranked first with a total score of 71.33. Orlando followed at 70.28, and Austin ranked third at 67.37.
At the bottom of the list, Port St. Lucie ranked 179th, followed by Detroit at 180th, Bridgeport at 181st and New York at 182nd. Despite these rankings, Port St. Lucie has been recognized among the top U.S. cities for remote work in 2026, reflecting its evolving workforce landscape.
Florida City Rankings
- Orlando — 2nd
- Tampa — 4th
- Miami — 5th
- Fort Lauderdale — 34th
- Jacksonville — 56th
- St. Petersburg — 63rd
- Tallahassee — 106th
- Pembroke Pines — 137th
- Hialeah — 141st
- Cape Coral — 160th
Frequently Asked Questions About Port St. Lucie Career Ranking
What rank did Port St. Lucie receive in the 2026 study?
Port St. Lucie ranked 179th out of 182 cities in the study.
What was the city’s total score?
Port St. Lucie received a total score of 37.23.
How did PSL rank for professional opportunities?
The city ranked 168th in professional opportunities.
How did Port St. Lucie rank for quality of life?
Port St. Lucie ranked 178th for quality of life.
How many cities were included in the comparison?
The report compared 182 U.S. cities.
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