Charleston Ranks in Top 20 Best Cities for Summer Job

By Lainey Stalnaker, Data Analytics Writer 

Summer jobs and internships provide an opportunity for students to gain experience in the workforce, learn more about their career goals, and earn some extra cash. Luckily for South Carolina residents, Charleston is one of the top 20 best cities in the country to get a summer job. 

According to WalletHub’s May 2025 list of the best places to find a summer job, Charleston ranked 18th out of over 180 cities, beating out multiple larger cities in the South such as Atlanta and Charlotte. Rankings were based on 21 criteria in two categories—the youth job market and the social environment and affordability. The youth job market ranking, in which Charleston placed 11th, factors in data such as availability of summer jobs and internships, increases in employment during the summer months, youth labor force participation, and the ratio of part-time jobs to full-time jobs. The social environment and affordability ranking assesses quality of life factors such as average age of the population, minimum wage, median rent, availability of public transportation, and access to leisure activities. 

Based on these factors, Charleston is one of the best places in the country to get a summer job, a reflection of its many youth employment opportunities and lively culture. See Figure 1 for the full list of cities in the top 20. 

For those searching for summer jobs in South Carolina, whether in Charleston or elsewhere, DEW has many resources. SC Works centers located throughout the state provide priority services to jobseekers aged 24 and under, and the Youth Employment Site (YES) connects young jobseekers to work opportunities across South Carolina.