Atlanta ranks No.1 city for starting a career, according to consumer metrics

The consumer website WalletHub compared 182 cities based upon professional opportunities and quality of life to determine ranks for its list of the Best and Worst Places for Starting a Career.

Atlanta ranked No. 1, with Augusta, Ga. obtaining the No. 128 spot and Columbus, Ga. coming in at 130. New York City, at No. 182, occupied the bottom slot on the list, making it the worst city on the list for starting a business, according to WalletHub's sources including analysis of 26 consumer metrics.

The average starting salary, number of entry-level jobs available, share of adults aged 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree and workforce diversity are among the factors considered in the rankings.

The Georgia capital also ranked in the top group for growth rates in median household income.

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In this graphic of the 182 cities on WalletHub's list of Best and Worst Places to Start a Career, the larger dots represent the lowest-ranked cities while the smaller dots represent the higher-ranked cities.

Credit: WalletHub

WalletHub's experts said Atlanta's growth rate for household income is around 8.9% annually, with the median annual household income in Atlanta nearly $79,000.

Atlanta did not rank first in every metric, but scored the highest overall score.

"For people who want to not only start a career but also start their own business, Atlanta ranks as the sixth-best large city," the report said. "It also ranks fourth among the most fun cities and best cities for singles, allowing people who move for their career to also find happiness outside of work."

See the complete WalletHub list of Best and Worst Places for Starting a Career.