Starting your career in Phoenix

Starting your career after graduation can be a daunting task. The good news is that the greater Phoenix area gained 86,000 new jobs in 2018, and grew 3.2% from 2018 to 2019. This is the second-highest percentage of growth of all metropolitan areas nationwide. 

Starting your career after graduation can be a daunting task. The good news is that the greater Phoenix area gained 86,000 new jobs in 2018, and grew 3.2% from 2018 to 2019. This is the second-highest percentage of growth of all metropolitan areas nationwide. 

The population of Phoenix is around 1.6 million, which makes it the fifth-most populous city in the country. If you are looking to live and work here, you will find a healthy GDP (ranked 16th in the United States) —  something to consider as you look to begin your career after graduation from the W. P. Carey School of Business. 

Perks of being a young professional in Maricopa County include that the median wage was $58,580 during 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And Tempe, home of the ASU campus, ranks No. 2 in terms of quality of life and No. 10 in terms of professional opportunities. 

Leading companies choose Phoenix

The Valley is home to six Fortune 500 companies: 

• Avnet: a leading global technology solutions provider
• Freeport-McMoRan: an international mining company
• Insight Enterprises: helps navigate complex IT challenges 
• Republic Services: the second largest provider of non-hazardous solid waste collection
• Magellan Health: a for-profit managed health care company
• ON Semiconductor: a company where products, tools, and solutions are engineered to help design, build and think more efficiently

You’ll be able to live out your dreams in Phoenix and enjoy the perks of Arizona State University and the W. P. Carey School of Business. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, add small business outdoor activities to your list of possible experiences. Watch professional sports teams, snack at acclaimed restaurants like Postino WineCafe; visit Roosevelt Row in Downtown Phoenix, and try paddle boarding on Tempe Town Lake. Use Visit Phoenix as a resource to get your weekend adventures started. 

Both as a student and as a W. P. Carey alumnus, you have access to career advisors that can help you navigate a career change or a move up the ladder. With its thriving job market and the cost of living being 5% lower than the national average, Phoenix is truly an ideal location to launch your career.