Work · 50-STATE RANKING
Which states have the most private wage workers?
Compare private wage workers across all 50 states. Highest reported values appear first. Explore the full ranking, find your state, and share the comparison.
HIGHEST REPORTED14,876,469California
MIDDLE OF THE 50 STATES1,671,750.5Unweighted median of state values
MEASUREMENTCountPopulation size affects this ranking
READ THIS RANKING
This ranking compares the supplied counts. Larger states may have larger counts because of population size. Rank is descriptive and is not a judgment of state performance.
Where does your state stand?
2024 ACS · 5-YEAR50 states · ranks reflect highest reported values first · ties share a rank
| RANK | STATE | PRIVATE WAGE WORKERS | RELATIVE VALUE | State profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | CACalifornia | 14,876,469 | ↗ | |
| 02 | TXTexas | 12,046,295 | ↗ | |
| 03 | FLFlorida | 9,138,334 | ↗ | |
| 04 | NYNew York | 7,610,321 | ↗ | |
| 05 | PAPennsylvania | 5,397,398 | ↗ | |
| 06 | ILIllinois | 5,250,734 | ↗ | |
| 07 | OHOhio | 4,805,617 | ↗ | |
| 08 | GAGeorgia | 4,373,830 | ↗ | |
| 09 | NCNorth Carolina | 4,322,363 | ↗ | |
| 10 | MIMichigan | 4,040,059 | ↗ | |
| 11 | NJNew Jersey | 3,926,768 | ↗ | |
| 12 | VAVirginia | 3,259,600 | ↗ | |
| 13 | MAMassachusetts | 3,122,484 | ↗ | |
| 14 | WAWashington | 3,094,527 | ↗ | |
| 15 | AZArizona | 2,903,647 | ↗ | |
| 16 | INIndiana | 2,847,476 | ↗ | |
| 17 | TNTennessee | 2,791,842 | ↗ | |
| 18 | WIWisconsin | 2,536,422 | ↗ | |
| 19 | MNMinnesota | 2,502,689 | ↗ | |
| 20 | MOMissouri | 2,486,279 | ↗ | |
| 21 | COColorado | 2,485,684 | ↗ | |
| 22 | MDMaryland | 2,356,306 | ↗ | |
| 23 | SCSouth Carolina | 2,048,043 | ↗ | |
| 24 | ALAlabama | 1,809,091 | ↗ | |
| 25 | KYKentucky | 1,677,448 | ↗ | |
| 26 | OROregon | 1,666,053 | ↗ | |
| 27 | LALouisiana | 1,595,036 | ↗ | |
| 28 | CTConnecticut | 1,541,581 | ↗ | |
| 29 | UTUtah | 1,429,892 | ↗ | |
| 30 | OKOklahoma | 1,408,894 | ↗ | |
| 31 | IAIowa | 1,329,347 | ↗ | |
| 32 | NVNevada | 1,292,259 | ↗ | |
| 33 | KSKansas | 1,159,051 | ↗ | |
| 34 | ARArkansas | 1,091,890 | ↗ | |
| 35 | MSMississippi | 997,721 | ↗ | |
| 36 | NENebraska | 822,196 | ↗ | |
| 37 | IDIdaho | 749,614 | ↗ | |
| 38 | NMNew Mexico | 678,298 | ↗ | |
| 39 | NHNew Hampshire | 621,946 | ↗ | |
| 40 | WVWest Virginia | 582,356 | ↗ | |
| 41 | MEMaine | 551,298 | ↗ | |
| 42 | HIHawaii | 492,482 | ↗ | |
| 43 | RIRhode Island | 469,738 | ↗ | |
| 44 | MTMontana | 425,659 | ↗ | |
| 45 | DEDelaware | 402,254 | ↗ | |
| 46 | SDSouth Dakota | 363,319 | ↗ | |
| 47 | NDNorth Dakota | 313,548 | ↗ | |
| 48 | VTVermont | 270,905 | ↗ | |
| 49 | AKAlaska | 232,937 | ↗ | |
| 50 | WYWyoming | 209,025 | ↗ |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · 2020–2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Supplied extract; descriptive ranks across 50 states.
Washington, D.C. & Puerto Rico · additional context
Shown separately because the main ranking compares the 50 states.
District Of Columbia ↗272,874
Puerto Rico ↗864,745