Gen Z earnings premium: Cities where young workers are excelling While some members of Gen Z may still be working entry-level jobs while attending high school or college, much of this cohort has now entered the workforce in earnest. As the least experienced generation on the schedule, Gen Z is generally paid less than their older counterparts, with this holding true in 93% of cities. But in a handful of locations, Gen Z offers skills and expertise — and sometimes youth itself — that help these workers pull ahead against the odds and earn more than older generations.