USA Life-Work Balance Index by state

Overall index score:66.86

Characterised by its beautiful fall foliage, Connecticut is home to some of the country’s top colleges and universities, the most notable of which is Yale University. It’s also the birthplace of many of the great American inventions — including the helicopter, the Polaroid camera, and the hamburger!

Connecticut comes out on top in our life-work balance index due to its combination of a generous minimum wage (which at $14 per hour is 34% above the national average), 12 weeks of statutory maternity leave (only two states offer more), and full marks for LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It’s also the only state to offer a 95% maternity payment rate.

Overall index score:62.79

Known for its snow-capped mountains and national parks, the state of Washington also boasts the largest concentration of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) talent in the US. Some of America’s most well-known brands such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks are headquartered here, too.

Washington-based workers are paid a minimum wage of $14.49 — second only to California — while women on maternity leave receive a 90% payment contribution. It’s also a very LGBTQ+-friendly state in which to work. Furthermore, Washington is one of only seven US states that does not levy a personal income tax.

Overall index score:62.75

Unsurprisingly, the iconic New York City — considered to be the world’s leading financial center — and its surrounding metropolitan area dominate the economy of New York state. In fact, its GDP of $2 trillion puts it way ahead of any other state in the US, and behind that of only nine countries. It’s also home to the world’s highest concentration of billionaires.

The state of New York matches most other entries in the top 10 for statutory sick day entitlement, while it offers 12 weeks of statutory maternity leave and a 67% payment contribution for new mothers. This high-paced city-state also scores highly on LGBTQ+ rights, and workers receive a minimum wage of $13.20 per hour — 28% above the national average

Overall index score:61.26

With a population approaching 40 million, the Golden State of California is the most populous state in the US. It’s also home to the iconic technology hub referred to as Silicon Valley, with some of the world’s most valuable tech companies — including Google, Apple, and Meta — headquartered there.

California scores highly in our life-work balance index chiefly due to its generous minimum wage of $15 per hour — more than any other state in the country —while it's also the only state to offer more than five days' minimum statutory sick pay one of the few to offer statutory maternity leave. are hard workers, though, clocking up 41.4 hours per week on average.

Overall index score:59.52

The smallest state in the US by land area, Rhode Island has the lowest population (around 1.1 million) of all the states in our top 10. Known for its scenic shoreline and colonial seaside towns, its major industries are healthcare, tourism, financial services, manufacturing, and education. It’s also renowned for the production of silverware and fine jewellery.

The Ocean State offers 13 weeks of statutory maternity leave (although no statutory maternity pay) and a reasonably high minimum wage of $12.25 per hour. Its average working week of 38.6 hours is 5% shorter than the national average, while it also meets 8 out of the 9 criteria for LGBTQ+ inclusivity.

Overall index score:59.22

Nicknamed the Garden State, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the US. Often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbour, New York, NJ is known for its beaches and boardwalks as well as a renowned culinary heritage and a thriving wine industry. Pharmaceuticals and life sciences are the primary contributors to its GDP.

New Jersey is the only state in the US to offer 24 weeks of statutory maternity leave (no other state offers more than 12), while also offering 66% maternity pay during that period. The minimum wage of $10.90 is the lowest of the top 10, but still 9% higher than the US average. New Jersey’s workforce is typically pretty busy, however: they put in an average of 41 hours per week.

Overall index score:58.47

A state synonymous with the old Wild West, Oregon nowadays is known for its rocky coastline, lush green forests, diverse wildlife, and easygoing culture. However, it’s also one of the most expensive US states in which to live. That said, it does boast America’s deepest lake, the world’s smallest park, and the largest cheese factory on the planet!

Oregon’s state-wide minimum wage is comfortably above the national average, while it scores full marks for LGBTQ+ friendliness. That ‘easygoing’ culture also extends to their attitude to work: Oregon’s workers typically clock up 38.3 hours per week, which is around 6% fewer than the rest of the country.

Overall index score:58.02

Known as the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Vermont is a combination of natural beauty and small-town charm, with lush green mountains and various snow and ski resorts. Vermont’s gross regional GDP ranks as the second smallest among all 50 states, but it’s still among the top places to work in the US from a life-work balance perspective.

Vermont makes the top 10 due to a minimum wage of around 23% above the national average, five days of statutory sick pay, and a generally LQBTQ+ inclusive work environment. Workers in Vermont know when it’s time to clock off, too: their average working week of 38 hours is the shortest in the top 10, and one of the shortest in the country overall.

Overall index score:55.66

Often synonymous with lobster and lighthouses and boasting over 4,000 miles of rocky coastline, Maine has the second lowest population (around 1.4 million) of the states in our top 10. L. L. Bean — one of the world’s most famous outdoor retailers — and the brewing company Shipyard are based in the so-called Pine Tree State.

In terms of life-work balance, people in Maine are supported with a healthy state-wide minimum wage of $12.75, as well as five days of statutory sick pay. It also scores perfect marks for LQBTQ+ inclusivity. Workers in Maine clock up 40.1 hours of work per week on average, which is just a touch below the average for the US overall.

Overall index score:52.99

As a global leader in biotechnology, engineering, and finance, Massachusetts is also renowned as a center for higher education. The country’s oldest and most prestigious university, Harvard, is based in Cambridge, MA, and the state boasts the highest degree-educated population in the US.

Massachusetts makes the top 10 list due to its generous minimum wage of $14.25 — 35% higher than the national average and the third highest in the country — and minimum statutory sick pay of five days per year. Expect to put in at least 41 hours a week if you work in Massachusetts, as it’s one of the busiest states in our top 10.