Data / Rankings / Nonfarm payroll employment / US states

US states by nonfarm payroll employment

California had the highest nonfarm payroll employment of 51 states in September 2025, at 18,022,300 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 293,000 jobs. The median was 1,988,200 jobs and the figure for the United States was 158,548,000 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest18,022,300California
Lowest293,000Wyoming
Median1,988,20051 states
United States158,548,000History

Map of states, September 2025

Alabama: 2,197,400 jobsAlaska: 336,500 jobsArizona: 3,259,000 jobsArkansas: 1,339,100 jobsCalifornia: 18,022,300 jobsColorado: 2,962,600 jobsConnecticut: 1,716,400 jobsDelaware: 494,500 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 745,700 jobsFlorida: 9,985,600 jobsGeorgia: 4,983,200 jobsHawaii: 642,000 jobsIdaho: 881,200 jobsIllinois: 6,150,700 jobsIndiana: 3,270,200 jobsIowa: 1,583,400 jobsKansas: 1,465,300 jobsKentucky: 2,032,100 jobsLouisiana: 1,988,200 jobsMaine: 661,100 jobsMaryland: 2,808,200 jobsMassachusetts: 3,694,700 jobsMichigan: 4,485,400 jobsMinnesota: 3,028,200 jobsMississippi: 1,191,500 jobsMissouri: 2,978,900 jobsMontana: 525,600 jobsNebraska: 1,059,200 jobsNevada: 1,594,900 jobsNew Hampshire: 700,700 jobsNew Jersey: 4,373,800 jobsNew Mexico: 892,400 jobsNew York: 9,951,700 jobsNorth Carolina: 5,061,000 jobsNorth Dakota: 446,400 jobsOhio: 5,669,600 jobsOklahoma: 1,785,400 jobsOregon: 1,975,200 jobsPennsylvania: 6,167,600 jobsRhode Island: 513,800 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,386,100 jobsSouth Dakota: 468,700 jobsTennessee: 3,359,800 jobsTexas: 14,307,000 jobsUtah: 1,770,700 jobsVermont: 311,200 jobsVirginia: 4,276,200 jobsWashington: 3,630,100 jobsWest Virginia: 717,400 jobsWisconsin: 3,030,300 jobsWyoming: 293,000 jobs
  • Under 600K
  • 600K to 1.3M
  • 1.3M to 2M
  • 2M to 3.1M
  • 3.1M to 4.8M
  • 4.8M and over
jobs, September 2025. Source: BLS, Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, September 2025

California: 18,022,300 jobsCalifornia18,022,300Texas: 14,307,000 jobsTexas14,307,000Florida: 9,985,600 jobsFlorida9,985,600New York: 9,951,700 jobsNew York9,951,700Pennsylvania: 6,167,600 jobsPennsylvania6,167,600Illinois: 6,150,700 jobsIllinois6,150,700Ohio: 5,669,600 jobsOhio5,669,600North Carolina: 5,061,000 jobsNorth Carolina5,061,000Georgia: 4,983,200 jobsGeorgia4,983,200Michigan: 4,485,400 jobsMichigan4,485,400New Jersey: 4,373,800 jobsNew Jersey4,373,800Virginia: 4,276,200 jobsVirginia4,276,200Massachusetts: 3,694,700 jobsMassachusetts3,694,700Washington: 3,630,100 jobsWashington3,630,100Tennessee: 3,359,800 jobsTennessee3,359,800Indiana: 3,270,200 jobsIndiana3,270,200Arizona: 3,259,000 jobsArizona3,259,000Wisconsin: 3,030,300 jobsWisconsin3,030,300Minnesota: 3,028,200 jobsMinnesota3,028,200Missouri: 2,978,900 jobsMissouri2,978,900Colorado: 2,962,600 jobsColorado2,962,600Maryland: 2,808,200 jobsMaryland2,808,200South Carolina: 2,386,100 jobsSouth Carolina2,386,100Alabama: 2,197,400 jobsAlabama2,197,400Kentucky: 2,032,100 jobsKentucky2,032,100Louisiana: 1,988,200 jobsLouisiana1,988,200Oregon: 1,975,200 jobsOregon1,975,200Oklahoma: 1,785,400 jobsOklahoma1,785,400Utah: 1,770,700 jobsUtah1,770,700Connecticut: 1,716,400 jobsConnecticut1,716,400Nevada: 1,594,900 jobsNevada1,594,900Iowa: 1,583,400 jobsIowa1,583,400Kansas: 1,465,300 jobsKansas1,465,300Arkansas: 1,339,100 jobsArkansas1,339,100Mississippi: 1,191,500 jobsMississippi1,191,500Nebraska: 1,059,200 jobsNebraska1,059,200New Mexico: 892,400 jobsNew Mexico892,400Idaho: 881,200 jobsIdaho881,200District of Columbia: 745,700 jobsDistrict of Columbia745,700West Virginia: 717,400 jobsWest Virginia717,400New Hampshire: 700,700 jobsNew Hampshire700,700Maine: 661,100 jobsMaine661,100Hawaii: 642,000 jobsHawaii642,000Montana: 525,600 jobsMontana525,600Rhode Island: 513,800 jobsRhode Island513,800Delaware: 494,500 jobsDelaware494,500South Dakota: 468,700 jobsSouth Dakota468,700North Dakota: 446,400 jobsNorth Dakota446,400Alaska: 336,500 jobsAlaska336,500Vermont: 311,200 jobsVermont311,200Wyoming: 293,000 jobsWyoming293,000California: 18,022,300 jobsCalifornia18,022,300Texas: 14,307,000 jobsTexas14,307,000Florida: 9,985,600 jobsFlorida9,985,600New York: 9,951,700 jobsNew York9,951,700Pennsylvania: 6,167,600 jobsPennsylvania6,167,600Illinois: 6,150,700 jobsIllinois6,150,700Ohio: 5,669,600 jobsOhio5,669,600North Carolina: 5,061,000 jobsNorth Carolina5,061,000Georgia: 4,983,200 jobsGeorgia4,983,200Michigan: 4,485,400 jobsMichigan4,485,400New Jersey: 4,373,800 jobsNew Jersey4,373,800Virginia: 4,276,200 jobsVirginia4,276,200Massachusetts: 3,694,700 jobsMassachusetts3,694,700Washington: 3,630,100 jobsWashington3,630,100Tennessee: 3,359,800 jobsTennessee3,359,800Indiana: 3,270,200 jobsIndiana3,270,200Arizona: 3,259,000 jobsArizona3,259,000Wisconsin: 3,030,300 jobsWisconsin3,030,300Minnesota: 3,028,200 jobsMinnesota3,028,200Missouri: 2,978,900 jobsMissouri2,978,900Colorado: 2,962,600 jobsColorado2,962,600Maryland: 2,808,200 jobsMaryland2,808,200South Carolina: 2,386,100 jobsSouth Carolina2,386,100Alabama: 2,197,400 jobsAlabama2,197,400Kentucky: 2,032,100 jobsKentucky2,032,100Louisiana: 1,988,200 jobsLouisiana1,988,200Oregon: 1,975,200 jobsOregon1,975,200Oklahoma: 1,785,400 jobsOklahoma1,785,400Utah: 1,770,700 jobsUtah1,770,700Connecticut: 1,716,400 jobsConnecticut1,716,400Nevada: 1,594,900 jobsNevada1,594,900Iowa: 1,583,400 jobsIowa1,583,400Kansas: 1,465,300 jobsKansas1,465,300Arkansas: 1,339,100 jobsArkansas1,339,100Mississippi: 1,191,500 jobsMississippi1,191,500Nebraska: 1,059,200 jobsNebraska1,059,200New Mexico: 892,400 jobsNew Mexico892,400Idaho: 881,200 jobsIdaho881,200District of Columbia: 745,700 jobsDistrict of Columbia745,700West Virginia: 717,400 jobsWest Virginia717,400New Hampshire: 700,700 jobsNew Hampshire700,700Maine: 661,100 jobsMaine661,100Hawaii: 642,000 jobsHawaii642,000Montana: 525,600 jobsMontana525,600Rhode Island: 513,800 jobsRhode Island513,800Delaware: 494,500 jobsDelaware494,500South Dakota: 468,700 jobsSouth Dakota468,700North Dakota: 446,400 jobsNorth Dakota446,400Alaska: 336,500 jobsAlaska336,500Vermont: 311,200 jobsVermont311,200Wyoming: 293,000 jobsWyoming293,000
jobs. Source: BLS, Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStatesSeptember 2025
jobs		Change on September 2024
1California18,022,300+0.2%
2Texas14,307,000+0.7%
3Florida9,985,600-0%
4New York9,951,700+0.3%
5Pennsylvania6,167,600+0.2%
6Illinois6,150,700-0.1%
7Ohio5,669,600+0.1%
8North Carolina5,061,000+0.5%
9Georgia4,983,200+0.2%
10Michigan4,485,400-0.3%
11New Jersey4,373,800+0.2%
12Virginia4,276,200+0.3%
13Massachusetts3,694,700-0.9%
14Washington3,630,100-0.1%
15Tennessee3,359,800-0.4%
16Indiana3,270,200+0.3%
17Arizona3,259,000-0.3%
18Wisconsin3,030,300-0.5%
19Minnesota3,028,200+0.2%
20Missouri2,978,900-0.4%
21Colorado2,962,600-0.4%
22Maryland2,808,200-1.3%
23South Carolina2,386,100+0.7%
24Alabama2,197,400+0.2%
25Kentucky2,032,100-0.4%
26Louisiana1,988,200-0%
27Oregon1,975,200-1.1%
28Oklahoma1,785,400-0%
29Utah1,770,700+1%
30Connecticut1,716,400+0.2%
31Nevada1,594,900+1.7%
32Iowa1,583,400-0.8%
33Kansas1,465,300+0.3%
34Arkansas1,339,100+0.4%
35Mississippi1,191,500+0.1%
36Nebraska1,059,200-0.2%
37New Mexico892,400+0.1%
38Idaho881,200+1.3%
39District of Columbia745,700-3%
40West Virginia717,400-0.1%
41New Hampshire700,700-0.7%
42Maine661,100-0.2%
43Hawaii642,000+0.1%
44Montana525,600-0.4%
45Rhode Island513,800-0.1%
46Delaware494,5000%
47South Dakota468,7000%
48North Dakota446,400-0.4%
49Alaska336,500-0.1%
50Vermont311,200-0.4%
51Wyoming293,000-0.9%

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of jobs on nonfarm payrolls in the month, seasonally adjusted, from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey of businesses and government agencies run by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The monthly jobs count of the national Employment Situation report and the State Employment and Unemployment release. Counts jobs on nonfarm payrolls, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. It covers full-time and part-time employees paid for any part of the pay period that includes the 12th of the month, and excludes the self-employed, farm workers, private household workers and unpaid family workers. For employed people from the household survey use employment_population_ratio; for May job counts by occupation use oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001) (US states by nonfarm payroll employment, 2025-09) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All

MLA 9

Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001), US states by nonfarm payroll employment, 2025-09. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18 Sept. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-09. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). US states by nonfarm payroll employment, 2025-09. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-09.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001), US states by nonfarm payroll employment, 2025-09 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-09 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_nonfarm_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001): US states by nonfarm payroll employment, 2025-09}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-09. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001): US states by nonfarm payroll employment, 2025-09
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/18
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-09
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-09.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank US states by nonfarm payroll employment using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which state has the highest nonfarm payroll employment?

California, with 18,022,300 jobs in September 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest nonfarm payroll employment?

Wyoming, with 293,000 jobs in September 2025.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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