The importance of work-life balance
The importance of work-life balance has come into sharper focus since the COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to reevaluate the divide between our work and personal lives, with the eyes of many employees opened to the benefits of a flexible work environment.
In particular, American employees seem to be increasingly concerned about work-life balance. With 60% of US workers claiming they struggle to create a boundary between work and home life, their physical and emotional health can suffer as a result.
A healthy life-work balance is about creating a harmonious relationship between our careers and personal lives so that we can excel at our jobs without negatively impacting our wellbeing. Hybrid or remote work is a great start, but it’s not the only measure of a good life-work balance. To measure balance accurately, a variety of factors need to be taken into account.
We’ve conducted an index data analysis to reveal the top US states in which to live and work in the United States for a strong life-work balance. We’ve considered a shortlist of critical factors including healthcare, minimum wage, maternity leave, statutory annual leave, sick pay, average hours worked per week, overall happiness levels, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity to paint a clear picture.
Which states come out on top? Read on to find out.
U.S Life-Work Balance States Ranking
Here are the 50 US states ranked by their life-work balance scores, based on a combination of workplace factors such as statutory annual leave, average hours worked per employee, and sick day allowance.
Rank | US State & Capital City | Region | 2025 State Population | Index Score / 100 | Statutory annual leave
Days | Minimum statutory sick days
Days. Assumed 8hrs per working day. | Paid maternity
leave and
payment rate
Paid maternity
leave and
payment rate | Minimum wage
USD/hr | Healthcare system | Happiness index
Out of 100 | Average hours per week per employed person | LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
Out of 100 | Safety: World Population Review safest states ranking
Out of 100 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Maine, Augusta | Northeast | 1,402,110 | 69.62 | 5 1hr for every 40 worked up to 40hrs | 5 For companies with 10 employees or more | 0 0 | 14.15 | non-universal insurance system | 51.56 | 39.2 | 86 | 66.95 |
2 | Washington, Olympia | West | 7,841,280 | 64.26 | - | 5 | 12 90 Between 12 and 18 weeks. To qualify you must have worked for the company for at least 820hrs (20.5 weeks) Payment rate capped at $1000 per week | 16.28 | non-universal insurance system | 51.11 | 39.6 | 85 | 59.44 |
3 | Illinois, Springfield | Midwest | 12,516,900 | 63.65 | 5 40hrs per year | 5 | 0 0 | 15 Has changed as of Jan 1st 2025 https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/fls/minimum-wage-law.html | non-universal insurance system | 54.39 | 41.3 | 85 | 47.68 |
4 | Connecticut, Hartford | Northeast | 3,625,650 | 63.07 | - | 5 Applies to companies of 50 employees or more. The minimum may be 0 if small businesses are taken into account. | 12 60 Under state law, eligible employees may also be entitled to up to 12 weeks’ paid parental leave, provided they meet a minimum earnings threshold and have been employed for at least three months. At least 60% payment rate. "weekly benefit rate will be 95% of the CT minimum wage multiplied by 40 plus 60% of amount that average weekly wage exceeds the CT minimum wage multiplied by 40" https://www.ctpaidleave.org/claims/before-you-apply?language=en_US | 15.69 | non-universal insurance system | 60.14 | 39.8 | 87 | 59.88 |
5 | Massachusetts, Boston | Northeast | 7,020,060 | 62.58 | - | 5 | 12 50 | 15 | non-universal insurance system | 58.24 | 39.5 | 89 | 60.02 |
6 | Nevada, Carson City | West | 3,210,930 | 61.37 | 5 0.01923 for every hour worked. 40 x 52 x 0.01923 = 39.9984 Rounded up to 40hrs | 5 | 0 0 | 12 As of July 2024 - https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state | non-universal insurance system | 45.88 | 39.7 | 83 | 47.72 |
7 | New York, Albany | Northeast | 19,469,200 | 59.46 | - | 5 Employees of companies of more than 100 people may have 56hrs. | 12 67 12 weeks of family leave that can be used as part of your maternity leave. Also The Temporary Disability Benefits law allows for 4-6 weeks of paid leave for temporary disability related to pregnancy or childbirth | 15.5 A higher rate of $16 applies for employees in New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester. The state minimum wage increased by $0.50 on January 1, 2025 and is scheduled to increase again by $0.50 on January 1, 2026. https://www.ny.gov/new-york-states-minimum-wage/new-york-states-minimum-wage | non-universal insurance system | 52.46 | 40.1 | 82 | 51.92 |
8 | Oregon, Salem | West | 4,227,340 | 59.06 | - | 5 | 12 40 Not everyone is automatically covered. However, anyone who works full or part time for one or more employer is eligible. Federal and government employees are not and those who are self employed are not automatically covered. As full and part time employees covers the majority of people, I'm counting it as 12 weeks. This is family leave and covers the whole gambit of family care. However an additional 2 weeks are available for some people using their family leave for maternity reasons. https://paidleave.oregon.gov/ For payment, contributions are made by both employee and employer. 100% of wage provided, however, through their contributions the employee pays for 60% of it and the employer pays 40%. https://paidleave.oregon.gov/employers/contributions-calculator.html | 14.25 | non-universal insurance system | 44.95 | 37.8 | 83 | 55.48 |
9 | California, Sacramento | West | 38,889,800 | 58.37 | - | 5 Employees can earn up to 48hrs but companies can limit it to 40hrs. | 8 70 Up to 8 weeks paid family leave per year that can be used for maternity leave. Payment rate between 70-90% https://edd.ca.gov/siteassets/files/pdf_pub_ctr/de8714cf.pdf | 16 | non-universal insurance system | 55.63 | 40.2 | 85 | 48.94 |
10 | Colorado, Denver | West | 5,914,180 | 58.26 | - | 6 | 12 44 Additional 4 weeks available for those who experience pregnancy complications. 44% is the minimum payment rate. The less you earn, the higher the percentage you get - https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/how-famli-works/premium-and-benefits-calculator | 14.42 | non-universal insurance system | 46.29 | 38.3 | 85 | 43.84 |
Download the Remote Relocation Guide now
Top 10 US states for life-work balance
Here are the top 10 states in the United States of America that can offer you the best life-work balance. These 10 US states achieved the highest scores out of 100 in our index analysis:
9. Maine
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.

2. Washington
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.

1. Connecticut
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.

10. Massachusetts
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.

3. New York
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

7. Oregon
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.

4. California
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.

What is life-work balance and why is it so important?
Life-work balance is a working culture that understands that lifeshould come before work— you’ll most often hear it called work-life balance, but we very deliberately refer to it the other way around. Our health (both physical andmental), our family commitments, and our leisure time should all take priority over our careers, and the demands put on us by our employers should never compromise our wellbeing. By putting life ahead of work, we hope to reframe worldwide conversations about how we spend our time.
A healthy life-work balance means you’re able to thrive in your chosen career without it negatively impacting other areas of your life. You should be able to comfortably meet deadlines and satisfy the expectations of your employer without having to put in regular overtime or be ‘switched on’ at all hours of the day.
Unfortunately, that’s not alwaysthe case — especially in the United States, which is considered to be the most overworked nation in the developed world. The average American works 1,767 hours per year, which is significantly higher than many other nations, including most of Europe — you can learn more about life-work balance in Europe in our European Life-Work Balance Index.
More than three-quarters of full-time US workers have experienced burnout at their jobs, and this imbalance between life and work can lead to a host of negative consequences for physical and emotional health — not to mention your social life!
Businesses that commit to ensuring their employees can enjoy a healthy life-work balance are likely to have a more engaged — and consequently more productive — workforce, while employees who take care of their physical health are less likely to take sick days, too.
Here at Remote, we understand the importance of work-life balance, and we champion companies and organisations that prioritise employee wellbeing — we want to help as many people as possible to enjoy rewarding and fulfilling careers.
Whether you’re in the US and looking to relocate, or you’re an overseas employer thinking about hiring remotely in the US, see how our employer of record service can help.
Download the Remote Relocation Guide now
Methodology
Employer of record specialists, Remote, conducted this index data analysis to reveal which US States offer employees the best life-work balance.
The study reviewed the following indicators:
Statutory annual leave (total days of paid leave, including public holidays)
Minimum statutory sick leave (sick days available)
Statutory maternity leave (weeks paid)
Statutory maternity leave payment rate (percent of wage)
Minimum wage (USD per hour)
Healthcare status
Happiness index score (1-10, 10 being highest)
Average hours worked per week
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity (0-9, 9 being highest to reflect LGBTQ+ legislation and treatment across employment, housing, education, public accommodations, anti-conversion therapy, school anti-bullying, gender marker updates on ID documents, hate crimes and transgender healthcare.)
The goal of this study is to represent each state’s life-work balance accurately, reimagining the popular phrase work-life balance to showcase how businesses in each US state are looking to put life before work.
The metrics were adjusted with index weights (listed below) to reflect their relative importance, giving each state an overall score out of 100. All data points are ranked highest to lowest, apart from the healthcare rating which is ranked out of 5 (with 1 being the best) and average hours worked per week which was ranked lowest best.
(*) When a range was offered for a State’s statutory annual leave and minimum wage, the minimum amount was listed.
The data was collected and analysed in November 2022.