Charleston: Careers Start Here

Entering the job market after college can feel like a big leap. Fortunately, College of Charleston graduates are well-situated to jump right into the workforce and get their careers started. In fact, they’re already in one of the best places they can possibly be.

For nearly a decade, Charleston has secured a spot among the Top 10 best cities to start a career in, according to WalletHub’s list of “Best & Worst Places to Start a Career.” And this year is no different: The Holy City ranked No. 6 overall for 2026.

The report compares 180 U.S. cities based on career-friendliness metrics like professional opportunities, starting salaries and job growth to help recent graduates navigate the job market across the country.

“Transitioning out of school and into the workforce can be a difficult and stressful process, but certain cities make things a lot easier than others,” says WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “The best cities for starting a career not only have a lot of job opportunities but also provide substantial income growth potential and satisfying work conditions. It’s also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how good of a place it is for raising a family, to ensure life satisfaction outside of your career.”

That outside “life satisfaction” is especially important, says Cory Werkheiser, director of career success in the College of Charleston School of Business Student Success Center.

“Work-life balance, cost-of-living considerations, commuting schedules, traffic, insurance, rent: So many things to consider, and for many students, it’s the first time they’ve had to balance all of these aspects at once,” he says.

Experience Starts Here

“Most students are justifiably concerned about the cost of living, so salary and location are top of the agenda,” Werkheiser adds. “They want to make an impact on the world, but they want to figure out how to be a professional first.”

And that’s where the College comes in.

“Preparation often starts earlier through internships and experiential learning (like volunteering and study abroad), with an emphasis on career readiness and skill development,” says Jim Alison, executive director of the College of Charleston Career Center, which offers students one-on-one career coaching, internships, student employment/campus jobs, career fairs, résumé and interview evaluations, financial wellness workshops and other programming. “Any experience outside of the classroom helps build the résumé.”

Karen Fritchman agrees, noting that there has been a major shift toward skills-based hiring in the job market.

“Employers are placing less emphasis on GPAs and majors and focusing more on the transferable skills students develop both inside and outside the classroom,” says the director of employer relations in the Career Center. “Experiences such as internships, leadership roles, part-time jobs and campus involvement help students demonstrate the skills employers are seeking.”

“That’s why it’s so important to get work experience as a student, and the more relevant it is to post-graduation career goals, the better,” adds Werkheiser.

Opportunity Starts Here

For Cat Dority ’99, the work experience she got as a student launched her dream career. What started 27 years ago as an internship with academic credit at Explore Charleston (then the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) has evolved into her current position as the organization’s vice president of marketing, promoting Charleston as a travel destination. She credits the College with getting her to where she is today.

“What a better place to go to school, if this is the industry that you want to be in?” says the communication major. “You are learning from the number one destination in the country. And if you’re a history or architect major or a preservation major, we have the oldest preservation society in the country. We get to see that every day.

“To me, what makes Charleston and the College special is that they are both steeped in tradition, in history, but always evolving,” she continues. “There is something always new, and the College and the community are always looking for ways to be better, to be more modern, to do things in a different way or a more progressive way.”

Growth Starts Here

Being in the heart of such a forward-focused city is a huge boon for the College and its students.

“Charleston keeps making these lists because we have an exceptional roster of benefits: a reliable climate – both weather-related and pro-business – a location that suits national and international trade, an entrepreneurial spirit that values innovation and creativity, and aesthetic beauty everywhere you look, from our historical architecture to the marshes and the beaches. The College of Charleston has been right at the heart of all of that for over 250 years,” says Werkheiser. “When you put everything together – location, climate, education and workforce – we’re truly blessed with diverse opportunities.”

And those opportunities are always expanding.

“Charleston’s economy has continued to diversify, creating opportunities across industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, technology, logistics and hospitality,” says Fritchman.

“Advanced manufacturing and the logistics operations that support it, including the port, continue to develop and grow,” agrees Werkheiser. “And all the ancillary businesses that support these operations, including our tech, startup, consulting and research companies, give us a tremendous edge for long-term career growth across a wide range of fields.”

That means College of Charleston students get a competitive edge, too.

“Charleston knows our students are ready to learn and ready to work,” says Werkheiser. “I never have to convince an employer to hire our students. In fact, we routinely have students, I call them pioneers, who are the first College of Charleston intern or graduate ever hired by a company. Without fail, I’m getting calls asking how the company can connect and get more of our students. Those connections keep our students, both interns and graduates, at the forefront of Charleston’s continuing renaissance. There’s an electric business vibe you can feel all around you, positive and welcoming.”

Connections Start Here

“This community is uniquely collaborative, giving students opportunities to connect with industry leaders, gain hands-on experience and build professional networks before they even graduate,” says Alyssa Maute Smith ’13 (M.A.), executive director of Charleston Wine + Food Festival, which works closely with CofC communication students. “I see every day how local businesses are eager to invest in emerging talent.”

“We have so many people in the area who are excellent trainers and teachers, and willing and ready to work with the next generation of business professionals,” Werkheiser adds.

“One of Charleston’s greatest strengths is its employer community,” agrees Fritchman, pointing to employer engagement events and programs such as the German-American Business Summit that encourage networking. “Through partnerships with organizations across a variety of industries, our students are able to connect with employers long before graduation. These relationships help students build both experience and professional networks, making the transition from college to career much smoother. The more the students see the employers, the more they learn.”

And that holds true once they land the job, too.

“Talk to everyone, learn as much as you can and keep learning,” says Werkheiser. “Want to turn your first job into a successful career? Keep learning, build your professional network and be the person everyone relies on.”

“I encourage graduates to approach their first job with curiosity, seek feedback, build relationships and volunteer for new opportunities,” says Fritchman. “A successful career today is less about staying with one employer forever and more about continuously learning and growing.”

In other words, it’s not where your first job out of college starts, but where it takes you.

“Careers are a long game,” says Werkheiser. “Find a place where you can get started comfortably and build your career from there.”