Data / Rankings / Nonfarm payroll employment / US states

US states by nonfarm payroll employment

California had the highest nonfarm payroll employment of 51 states in October 2025, at 18,024,000 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 293,500 jobs. The median was 1,991,200 jobs and the figure for the United States was 158,408,000 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest18,024,000California
Lowest293,500Wyoming
Median1,991,20051 states
United States158,408,000History

Map of states, October 2025

Alabama: 2,195,300 jobsAlaska: 337,000 jobsArizona: 3,249,600 jobsArkansas: 1,339,700 jobsCalifornia: 18,024,000 jobsColorado: 2,961,000 jobsConnecticut: 1,716,000 jobsDelaware: 492,800 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 728,100 jobsFlorida: 9,943,000 jobsGeorgia: 4,971,000 jobsHawaii: 642,800 jobsIdaho: 879,000 jobsIllinois: 6,143,800 jobsIndiana: 3,254,000 jobsIowa: 1,579,200 jobsKansas: 1,462,400 jobsKentucky: 2,028,700 jobsLouisiana: 1,991,200 jobsMaine: 657,000 jobsMaryland: 2,784,900 jobsMassachusetts: 3,701,000 jobsMichigan: 4,479,300 jobsMinnesota: 3,029,600 jobsMississippi: 1,191,900 jobsMissouri: 2,982,400 jobsMontana: 525,600 jobsNebraska: 1,057,900 jobsNevada: 1,597,100 jobsNew Hampshire: 699,100 jobsNew Jersey: 4,373,400 jobsNew Mexico: 891,400 jobsNew York: 9,945,900 jobsNorth Carolina: 5,057,200 jobsNorth Dakota: 445,400 jobsOhio: 5,659,700 jobsOklahoma: 1,784,800 jobsOregon: 1,970,400 jobsPennsylvania: 6,176,200 jobsRhode Island: 513,800 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,395,300 jobsSouth Dakota: 470,600 jobsTennessee: 3,355,900 jobsTexas: 14,297,200 jobsUtah: 1,767,900 jobsVermont: 311,100 jobsVirginia: 4,253,000 jobsWashington: 3,633,600 jobsWest Virginia: 717,100 jobsWisconsin: 3,020,500 jobsWyoming: 293,500 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, October 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, October 2025

California: 18,024,000 jobsCalifornia18,024,000Texas: 14,297,200 jobsTexas14,297,200New York: 9,945,900 jobsNew York9,945,900Florida: 9,943,000 jobsFlorida9,943,000Pennsylvania: 6,176,200 jobsPennsylvania6,176,200Illinois: 6,143,800 jobsIllinois6,143,800Ohio: 5,659,700 jobsOhio5,659,700North Carolina: 5,057,200 jobsNorth Carolina5,057,200Georgia: 4,971,000 jobsGeorgia4,971,000Michigan: 4,479,300 jobsMichigan4,479,300New Jersey: 4,373,400 jobsNew Jersey4,373,400Virginia: 4,253,000 jobsVirginia4,253,000Massachusetts: 3,701,000 jobsMassachusetts3,701,000Washington: 3,633,600 jobsWashington3,633,600Tennessee: 3,355,900 jobsTennessee3,355,900Indiana: 3,254,000 jobsIndiana3,254,000Arizona: 3,249,600 jobsArizona3,249,600Minnesota: 3,029,600 jobsMinnesota3,029,600Wisconsin: 3,020,500 jobsWisconsin3,020,500Missouri: 2,982,400 jobsMissouri2,982,400Colorado: 2,961,000 jobsColorado2,961,000Maryland: 2,784,900 jobsMaryland2,784,900South Carolina: 2,395,300 jobsSouth Carolina2,395,300Alabama: 2,195,300 jobsAlabama2,195,300Kentucky: 2,028,700 jobsKentucky2,028,700Louisiana: 1,991,200 jobsLouisiana1,991,200Oregon: 1,970,400 jobsOregon1,970,400Oklahoma: 1,784,800 jobsOklahoma1,784,800Utah: 1,767,900 jobsUtah1,767,900Connecticut: 1,716,000 jobsConnecticut1,716,000Nevada: 1,597,100 jobsNevada1,597,100Iowa: 1,579,200 jobsIowa1,579,200Kansas: 1,462,400 jobsKansas1,462,400Arkansas: 1,339,700 jobsArkansas1,339,700Mississippi: 1,191,900 jobsMississippi1,191,900Nebraska: 1,057,900 jobsNebraska1,057,900New Mexico: 891,400 jobsNew Mexico891,400Idaho: 879,000 jobsIdaho879,000District of Columbia: 728,100 jobsDistrict of Columbia728,100West Virginia: 717,100 jobsWest Virginia717,100New Hampshire: 699,100 jobsNew Hampshire699,100Maine: 657,000 jobsMaine657,000Hawaii: 642,800 jobsHawaii642,800Montana: 525,600 jobsMontana525,600Rhode Island: 513,800 jobsRhode Island513,800Delaware: 492,800 jobsDelaware492,800South Dakota: 470,600 jobsSouth Dakota470,600North Dakota: 445,400 jobsNorth Dakota445,400Alaska: 337,000 jobsAlaska337,000Vermont: 311,100 jobsVermont311,100Wyoming: 293,500 jobsWyoming293,500California: 18,024,000 jobsCalifornia18,024,000Texas: 14,297,200 jobsTexas14,297,200New York: 9,945,900 jobsNew York9,945,900Florida: 9,943,000 jobsFlorida9,943,000Pennsylvania: 6,176,200 jobsPennsylvania6,176,200Illinois: 6,143,800 jobsIllinois6,143,800Ohio: 5,659,700 jobsOhio5,659,700North Carolina: 5,057,200 jobsNorth Carolina5,057,200Georgia: 4,971,000 jobsGeorgia4,971,000Michigan: 4,479,300 jobsMichigan4,479,300New Jersey: 4,373,400 jobsNew Jersey4,373,400Virginia: 4,253,000 jobsVirginia4,253,000Massachusetts: 3,701,000 jobsMassachusetts3,701,000Washington: 3,633,600 jobsWashington3,633,600Tennessee: 3,355,900 jobsTennessee3,355,900Indiana: 3,254,000 jobsIndiana3,254,000Arizona: 3,249,600 jobsArizona3,249,600Minnesota: 3,029,600 jobsMinnesota3,029,600Wisconsin: 3,020,500 jobsWisconsin3,020,500Missouri: 2,982,400 jobsMissouri2,982,400Colorado: 2,961,000 jobsColorado2,961,000Maryland: 2,784,900 jobsMaryland2,784,900South Carolina: 2,395,300 jobsSouth Carolina2,395,300Alabama: 2,195,300 jobsAlabama2,195,300Kentucky: 2,028,700 jobsKentucky2,028,700Louisiana: 1,991,200 jobsLouisiana1,991,200Oregon: 1,970,400 jobsOregon1,970,400Oklahoma: 1,784,800 jobsOklahoma1,784,800Utah: 1,767,900 jobsUtah1,767,900Connecticut: 1,716,000 jobsConnecticut1,716,000Nevada: 1,597,100 jobsNevada1,597,100Iowa: 1,579,200 jobsIowa1,579,200Kansas: 1,462,400 jobsKansas1,462,400Arkansas: 1,339,700 jobsArkansas1,339,700Mississippi: 1,191,900 jobsMississippi1,191,900Nebraska: 1,057,900 jobsNebraska1,057,900New Mexico: 891,400 jobsNew Mexico891,400Idaho: 879,000 jobsIdaho879,000District of Columbia: 728,100 jobsDistrict of Columbia728,100West Virginia: 717,100 jobsWest Virginia717,100New Hampshire: 699,100 jobsNew Hampshire699,100Maine: 657,000 jobsMaine657,000Hawaii: 642,800 jobsHawaii642,800Montana: 525,600 jobsMontana525,600Rhode Island: 513,800 jobsRhode Island513,800Delaware: 492,800 jobsDelaware492,800South Dakota: 470,600 jobsSouth Dakota470,600North Dakota: 445,400 jobsNorth Dakota445,400Alaska: 337,000 jobsAlaska337,000Vermont: 311,100 jobsVermont311,100Wyoming: 293,500 jobsWyoming293,500
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

RankStatesOctober 2025
jobs		Change on October 2024
1California18,024,000-0.2%
2Texas14,297,200+0.5%
3New York9,945,900+0.3%
4Florida9,943,000+0.7%
5Pennsylvania6,176,200+0.3%
6Illinois6,143,800-0.2%
7Ohio5,659,700-0.1%
8North Carolina5,057,200+0.8%
9Georgia4,971,000-0.1%
10Michigan4,479,300-0%
11New Jersey4,373,400+0.1%
12Virginia4,253,000-0.3%
13Massachusetts3,701,000-0.7%
14Washington3,633,600+1%
15Tennessee3,355,900-0.4%
16Indiana3,254,000-0.3%
17Arizona3,249,600-0.5%
18Minnesota3,029,600+0.2%
19Wisconsin3,020,500-0.8%
20Missouri2,982,400-0.3%
21Colorado2,961,000-0.3%
22Maryland2,784,900-2.2%
23South Carolina2,395,300+1.2%
24Alabama2,195,300+0.1%
25Kentucky2,028,700-0.5%
26Louisiana1,991,200-0.2%
27Oregon1,970,400-1.3%
28Oklahoma1,784,800-0.2%
29Utah1,767,900+0.7%
30Connecticut1,716,000+0.1%
31Nevada1,597,100+1.7%
32Iowa1,579,200-1%
33Kansas1,462,400+0.2%
34Arkansas1,339,700+0.5%
35Mississippi1,191,900+0.4%
36Nebraska1,057,900-0.4%
37New Mexico891,400-0%
38Idaho879,000+0.9%
39District of Columbia728,100-5.1%
40West Virginia717,100-0.1%
41New Hampshire699,100-0.8%
42Maine657,000-0.7%
43Hawaii642,800+0.2%
44Montana525,600-0.3%
45Rhode Island513,800-0.2%
46Delaware492,800-0.3%
47South Dakota470,600+0.4%
48North Dakota445,400-0.6%
49Alaska337,000+0.4%
50Vermont311,100-0.6%
51Wyoming293,500-0.6%

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, 2025-10) [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, 2025-10. 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=2025-10. 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, 2025-10. 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=2025-10.

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, 2025-10 [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=2025-10 (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, 2025-10}},
  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=2025-10. 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, 2025-10
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=2025-10
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2025-10.
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 18,024,000 jobs in October 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest nonfarm payroll employment?

Wyoming, with 293,500 jobs in October 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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