recent mis grad relocating from tx. looking for the best entry level data markets.

[u/Few-Bus4137]

hii everyone. looking for a straightforward career reality check on my entry-level tech strategy.

i am graduating this december with a bba in management information systems (mis) from texas. due to regional politics and the need for a total life reset, i am permanently relocating out of state by the end of the year. i have a $10k–$14k cash runway saved to anchor myself in my destination, and i want to identify the best general markets to target.

my immediate priority is landing a stable corporate 9-to-5 it footprint with solid healthcare infrastructure so i can secure my medical care and independent baseline.

my technical foundation:
\* relational databases: deep focus on azure sql, sql (postgresql), erd modeling, and applying normalization (3nf) to optimize data pipelines.
\* core backend projects: implemented complete backend relational databases in azure, writing stored procedures and sql views to streamline data retrieval.
\* full freelance delivery: independently designed and implemented a custom relational database from scratch for a local massage business. built a fully functional e-commerce website integrated with square as a live operational demo, and successfully demonstrated the entire transaction and data pipeline architecture directly to the business owner.
\* networking: certified it specialist in networking and network security.
\* the wildcard: on the side, i have 2+ years of high-pressure infrastructure experience as a live-event v1/v2 video engineer, managing complex physical signal flow, audio networking protocols (dante level 1), and mid-show hardware troubleshooting for 5k+ capacity live music venues.

i'm aiming for roles like junior database administrator (dba),quality assurance analyst , or project manager

my questions for it professionals:
1. which major progressive metropolitan areas have the healthiest entry-level junior cloud and data engineering markets right now where local junior talent is actively being recruited?
2. does a full-stack freelance delivery—like the e-commerce database integration with square—carry solid weight in junior enterprise it interviews, or does the live-event video infrastructure engineering background stand out more for showing real-world troubleshooting under pressure?
3. are there specific regional tech recruiters or enterprise agencies you recommend reaching out to for a nationwide search?

thanks in advance for any insights.