Why Washington, D.C., Is Rated the No. 2 Best City for Work in the U.S.

Looking for your next job? Washington, D.C., may be one of the best places in the country to start, according to a new Indeed ranking.

The job search platform ranked the D.C. area No. 2 on its list of the best cities for work, behind only Boston.

“This area may be an excellent fit for a job seeker who wants to build a career through a large professional network and move between organizations to gain diverse experience,” Indeed said in its rankings released Tuesday.

What Makes D.C. a Good City to Work In?

D.C.’s ranking was boosted by a top score on Indeed’s career mobility and dynamism category, meaning the city is the best in the country for moving up or changing careers with ease.

“The Washington, D.C., area takes the top spot in career mobility, despite ranking lower in terms of job opportunity and job quality,” Indeed said. “That may be connected to the large labor market that’s heavily concentrated in government, contracting and professional services.”

The area also earned a No. 3 ranking in its compensation metric, with Indeed calling the region one of the best places to build a good life.

D.C. rated No. 6 in both work-life and flexibility and economic opportunity, according to Indeed.

Several other major Mid-Atlantic cities — including Philadelphia and New York City — failed to make Indeed’s top 25. The Baltimore region was ranked No. 21.

How the Ranking Was Compiled

Indeed’s rankings considered 228 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of more than 200,000, comparing them across factors including career mobility, compensation, work-life and flexibility and economic opportunity.

Reporting by Mike Stunson, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.