1. State
  2. Best and Worst States to Work in America 2022

Best and Worst States to Work in America 2022


The past few years have brought daunting challenges to workers: real wages declining in the face of historic inflation; COVID-19 and climate hazards making conditions more perilous; women losing fundamental rights to make decisions about their lives.

Even as the situation grows more dire, the hope for federal action fades, as Congress remains deadlocked.

However, a bright spot has emerged on the horizon, as workers are demanding, and winning, change. They’re organizing to form new unions, elect more helpful lawmakers, and press for changes in state laws. Workers and advocates are the reason that the best states are getting better; and they are the hope for the worst states.

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


Overall score: How the states rank


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).

 

AK ME WI VT NH WA ID MT ND MN IL MI NY MA RI OR NV WY SD IA IN OH PA NJ CT CA UT CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DE AZ NM KS AR TN NC SC DC OK LA MS AL GA HI TX FL PR

 
 

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80



 


State scorecards

Review full information on how each state scores on the full range of labor policies.


 


View scorecard



The three policy areas: How the states rank

Select a policy area:
 


 
 
 

AK ME WI VT NH WA ID MT ND MN IL MI NY MA RI OR NV WY SD IA IN OH PA NJ CT CA UT CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DE AZ NM KS AR TN NC SC DC OK LA MS AL GA HI TX FL PR

 
 

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80


90

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 $30,000 annually ($14.49 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



The Best States to Work Index: How the states rank overall and by policy area


 


State Rankings, sorted by Rank (ascending)
 

1 Oregon 86.72 69.93 96.43 100.00
2 California 85.56 70.14 92.86 100.00
3 Washington 83.33 89.57 78.57 80.00
4 District of Columbia 80.23 76.63 70.24 100.00
5 New York 79.31 67.02 78.57 100.00
6 Massachusetts 76.36 69.02 75.00 90.00
7 Connecticut 75.29 72.61 75.00 80.00
8 New Jersey 74.77 65.04 75.00 90.00
9 Colorado 68.38 70.95 64.29 70.00
10 Illinois 67.77 63.17 53.57 95.00
11 Vermont 66.73 60.58 57.14 90.00
12 New Mexico 65.64 66.20 54.76 80.00
13 Maine 65.57 67.06 53.57 80.00
14 Maryland 63.05 60.74 53.57 80.00
15 Rhode Island 60.66 51.65 57.14 80.00
16 Nevada 60.36 60.27 53.57 70.00
17 Puerto Rico 59.30 38.87 67.86 80.00
18 Minnesota 58.56 53.69 41.67 90.00
19 Hawaii 57.90 44.75 57.14 80.00
20 Arizona 52.05 69.72 33.33 50.00
21 Delaware 51.09 40.24 42.86 80.00
22 Virginia 49.62 40.71 48.81 65.00
23 Ohio 49.09 40.44 26.19 95.00
24 Alaska 43.66 58.10 22.62 50.00
25 Nebraska 43.36 28.20 41.67 70.00
26 Montana 42.85 49.84 22.62 60.00
27 South Dakota 42.23 60.78 22.62 40.00
28 New Hampshire 41.70 20.93 38.10 80.00
29 Florida 37.87 37.38 22.62 60.00
30 Missouri 37.27 45.25 19.05 50.00
31 Michigan 36.04 38.02 30.95 40.00
32 Pennsylvania 33.42 13.76 22.62 80.00
33 Arkansas 29.49 44.56 26.19 10.00
34 West Virginia 29.35 34.84 29.76 20.00
35 Kentucky 26.76 12.74 33.33 40.00
36 Indiana 26.40 5.58 26.19 60.00
37 Wyoming 25.43 21.91 19.05 40.00
38 Wisconsin 25.08 17.92 22.62 40.00
39 Iowa 24.95 17.57 22.62 40.00
40 North Dakota 24.12 18.63 26.19 30.00
41 Tennessee 23.12 9.87 33.33 30.00
42 Louisiana 22.98 8.48 34.52 30.00
43 Idaho 21.44 11.94 26.19 30.00
44 Utah 18.94 8.82 29.76 20.00
45 Oklahoma 18.80 8.45 22.62 30.00
46 Kansas 18.48 4.53 19.05 40.00
47 South Carolina 12.51 2.11 33.33 0.00
48 Texas 11.56 12.24 19.05 0.00
49 Alabama 10.06 6.40 14.29 10.00
50 Georgia 7.52 8.39 11.90 0.00
51 Mississippi 7.11 5.27 0.00 20.00
52 North Carolina 4.55 4.09 8.33 0.00

 

Methodology


All data is based on laws and policies in effect as of July 1, 2022.

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:

  • The ratio of the state minimum wage in relation to the cost of living for a family of four with one wage earner. The goal wage is from the MIT Living Wage Calculator.
  • The ratio of a tipped minimum wage to the state minimum wage.
  • Whether or not the state allows localities to implement their own minimum wage laws.
  • Whether or not states include farmworkers in their minimum wages.
  • How well average unemployment payments for minimum wage workers cover 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:

  • Protections for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
  • Mandates for equal pay, pay secrecy, and no salary history.
  • Mandates for paid sick and family leave.
  • Protections around flexible scheduling, reporting pay, split shift pay, advance notice.
  • Protections against sexual harassment.
  • Protections for federally excluded workers, including extending workers’ compensation to farmworkers and extending workers’ rights and protections to domestic workers.
  • Heat safety standard for outdoor workers.

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 with state government.
  • Mandates for protection against retaliation.
  • Statewide policies on collective bargaining for public workers.