Best and Worst States
to Work in the US

Where working families have opportunities to thrive—and where they struggle to survive.

Oxfam’s Best and Worst States to Work index shines a light on how states are responding to the growing movement for worker’s rights in the U.S. In its sixth edition, we take a look at new efforts to give workers higher pay, stronger workplace protections, and the right to organize unions and collectively bargain for a more equal future—all of which contribute to more vibrant communities.

Working families—no matter where they live—deserve support to thrive. But as Congress fails to provide universal access to paid leave or increase the minimum wage for millions of workers, many families remain stuck in cyclical patterns of poverty. The impact of this inaction does not fall equally on all communities; these policy gaps worsen inequality across states, especially on lines of gender, race, and class.

See where your state falls in our rankings, and then join us in taking action* to demand that Congress raise wages and protect workers in the U.S.

Find out more in our 2024 report | View the 2024 map for working women

*This action is operated by the Oxfam America Action Fund, an independent 501c4.

Overall score

How does your state rank? The index covers all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. This map illustrates the combined scores of the three dimensions (wage policies, worker protections, rights to organize).

Table of state rankings | Methodology | Report

State scorecards

Review full information on how raising the minimum wage would affect workers in each state.

The three policy areas

Wage Policies

Most states have raised minimum wages above the federal threshold of $7.25 (a poverty wage). These boosts make a solid difference. For example, in Washington, a full-time minimum wage job pays roughly $33,860 annually ($16.28 an hour); in neighboring Idaho, the same job pays $15,080 annually ($7.25 an hour).

Among the data points in this dimension: What is the ratio of the state minimum wage to the cost of living for a family of four? What is the ratio of the state tipped minimum wage to the regular minimum wage?

Table of state rankings | Methodology | Report

How the states rank overall and by policy area

State Rankings, sorted by Rank (ascending)

1	District of Columbia	85.67	90.22	70.24	100.00
2	California	85.11	75.27	85.71	100.00
3	Oregon	83.53	65.07	92.86	100.00
4	New York	83.08	70.19	85.71	100.00
5	Washington	75.75	76.88	71.43	80.00
6	New Jersey	71.91	70.40	60.71	90.00
7	Illinois	70.68	67.32	57.14	95.00
8	Massachusetts	70.62	60.94	67.86	90.00
9	Connecticut	70.31	66.40	67.86	80.00
10	Colorado	68.84	68.98	60.71	80.00
11	Minnesota	66.87	54.67	64.29	90.00
12	Maine	64.68	67.95	50.00	80.00
13	Hawaii	64.52	61.31	50.00	90.00
14	Vermont	62.37	55.91	50.00	90.00
15	Maryland	62.28	65.07	53.57	70.00
16	Puerto Rico	60.47	41.81	67.86	80.00
17	New Mexico	59.52	63.39	40.48	80.00
18	Rhode Island	58.59	46.48	57.14	80.00
19	Nevada	58.21	61.14	46.43	70.00
20	Delaware	58.10	51.50	39.29	95.00
21	Alaska	50.81	50.99	29.76	80.00
22	Ohio	50.79	44.69	26.19	95.00
23	Arizona	49.12	68.64	40.48	30.00
24	Nebraska	48.22	46.59	34.52	70.00
25	Montana	48.04	53.43	33.33	60.00
26	Virginia	47.50	41.67	41.67	65.00
27	South Dakota	44.35	59.83	29.76	40.00
28	Missouri	43.82	49.14	26.19	60.00
29	Florida	43.56	45.35	29.76	60.00
30	New Hampshire	40.69	18.40	38.10	80.00
31	Michigan	40.46	36.58	30.95	60.00
32	Pennsylvania	35.53	12.79	29.76	80.00
33	Indiana	25.40	6.21	29.76	50.00
34	West Virginia	24.35	34.84	22.62	10.00
35	Idaho	24.21	12.60	33.33	30.00
36	Oklahoma	24.02	12.13	33.33	30.00
37	Iowa	23.99	21.43	22.62	30.00
38	Wisconsin	23.64	20.57	29.76	20.00
39	Arkansas	22.73	40.16	19.05	0.00
40	North Dakota	22.48	20.78	26.19	20.00
41	Louisiana	22.47	13.47	34.52	20.00
42	Kansas	20.35	9.21	26.19	30.00
43	Kentucky	19.42	13.13	19.05	30.00
44	Wyoming	19.20	18.83	26.19	10.00
45	Utah	16.78	9.66	29.76	10.00
46	Texas	14.89	14.32	26.19	0.00
47	Tennessee	12.49	8.30	19.05	10.00
48	South Carolina	12.20	7.59	26.19	0.00
49	Alabama	10.75	8.14	14.29	10.00
50	Georgia	9.86	7.98	19.05	0.00
51	Mississippi	8.32	8.30	7.14	10.00
52	North Carolina	5.53	6.52	8.33	0.00

Tell Congress: Raise wages and protect workers

Join us in urging lawmakers to pass labor policies to grant all workers the respect and dignity they deserve—no matter where they live.

Methodology

All data is based on laws and policies in effect as of July 1, 2024.

The index is based on state policies in three dimensions: wages (40% of overall score); worker protections (35% of overall score); and rights to organize (25% of overall score).

View full spreadsheets of the data.

Wage policies

Do workers earn a wage that is sufficient to provide for them and their families? Among the data points in this dimension:

Ratio of minimum wage to cost of living for a family of four
Ratio of tipped wage to minimum wage
Local control over minimum wages (lack of local control is often referred to as preemption, as the state overrides local rules)
Extension of the minimum wage to farmworkers
Ratio of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits to cost of living for a family of four

Worker protection policies

This dimension considers the quality of life for workers, especially women and parents. Among the data points in this dimension:

Paid pumping breaks for breastfeeding workers.
Mandates for equal pay.
Paid family and medical leave; paid sick leave.
Fair and flexible scheduling.
Protection against sexual harassment in the workplace.
Extension of workers’ compensation to farmworkers.
Protections for domestic workers.
Heat standards for outdoor workers.
Warehouse worker protections.
Child labor protections.

Right to organize policies

This dimension asks whether workers have the right to organize and sustain a trade union. Among the data points in this dimension:

State so-called “right-to-work” law (which suppresses union activity).
Public employees’ rights to collective bargaining and wage negotiation (teachers used as a case study).
Mandates for project labor agreements (PLAs): agreements that stipulate that contracts for public construction projects must go exclusively to unionized firms
Mandates for protection against retaliation.
Statewide policies on collective bargaining for public workers.

Past rankings

Story

Here are the best and worst states for work in the US

Aug. 30, 2023

Oxfam’s new rankings are out: How well does your state support working families?

Oxfam-Best-States-to-Work-index-measures-support-for-workers

Story

Best and Worst States to Work in America 2022

Sept. 1, 2022

Oxfam’s rankings are out: How well does your state support workers, working families, and working women?

Story

Best and Worst States to Work in America 2021

Sept. 1, 2021

Oxfam ranks the states on how they are supporting working families in 2021.

Best and Worst States to Work in the US

Where working families have opportunities to thrive—and where they struggle to survive.

Overall score

State scorecards

The three policy areas

Wage Policies

How the states rank overall and by policy area

Share the map

Tell Congress: Raise wages and protect workers

Methodology

Join us

Past rankings

Here are the best and worst states for work in the US

Best and Worst States to Work in America 2022

Best and Worst States to Work in America 2021

Best and Worst States
to Work in the US