Data / Rankings / Nonfarm payroll employment / US states

US states by nonfarm payroll employment

California had the highest nonfarm payroll employment of 51 states in January 2026, at 18,144,300 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 293,200 jobs. The median was 1,998,200 jobs and the figure for the United States was 158,592,000 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest18,144,300California
Lowest293,200Wyoming
Median1,998,20051 states
United States158,592,000History

Map of states, January 2026

Alabama: 2,202,900 jobsAlaska: 337,200 jobsArizona: 3,262,300 jobsArkansas: 1,345,900 jobsCalifornia: 18,144,300 jobsColorado: 2,960,700 jobsConnecticut: 1,721,200 jobsDelaware: 495,400 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 720,100 jobsFlorida: 9,967,400 jobsGeorgia: 4,981,400 jobsHawaii: 643,300 jobsIdaho: 878,700 jobsIllinois: 6,155,000 jobsIndiana: 3,251,000 jobsIowa: 1,580,800 jobsKansas: 1,465,600 jobsKentucky: 2,033,000 jobsLouisiana: 1,998,200 jobsMaine: 660,700 jobsMaryland: 2,794,900 jobsMassachusetts: 3,707,700 jobsMichigan: 4,475,200 jobsMinnesota: 3,033,400 jobsMississippi: 1,191,000 jobsMissouri: 2,994,700 jobsMontana: 526,300 jobsNebraska: 1,059,900 jobsNevada: 1,603,700 jobsNew Hampshire: 698,400 jobsNew Jersey: 4,384,000 jobsNew Mexico: 890,800 jobsNew York: 10,000,600 jobsNorth Carolina: 5,072,000 jobsNorth Dakota: 446,900 jobsOhio: 5,673,900 jobsOklahoma: 1,786,700 jobsOregon: 1,974,100 jobsPennsylvania: 6,197,600 jobsRhode Island: 514,700 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,403,200 jobsSouth Dakota: 470,000 jobsTennessee: 3,375,900 jobsTexas: 14,363,100 jobsUtah: 1,773,900 jobsVermont: 311,800 jobsVirginia: 4,248,000 jobsWashington: 3,639,300 jobsWest Virginia: 716,900 jobsWisconsin: 3,030,400 jobsWyoming: 293,200 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, January 2026. 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, January 2026

California: 18,144,300 jobsCalifornia18,144,300Texas: 14,363,100 jobsTexas14,363,100New York: 10,000,600 jobsNew York10,000,600Florida: 9,967,400 jobsFlorida9,967,400Pennsylvania: 6,197,600 jobsPennsylvania6,197,600Illinois: 6,155,000 jobsIllinois6,155,000Ohio: 5,673,900 jobsOhio5,673,900North Carolina: 5,072,000 jobsNorth Carolina5,072,000Georgia: 4,981,400 jobsGeorgia4,981,400Michigan: 4,475,200 jobsMichigan4,475,200New Jersey: 4,384,000 jobsNew Jersey4,384,000Virginia: 4,248,000 jobsVirginia4,248,000Massachusetts: 3,707,700 jobsMassachusetts3,707,700Washington: 3,639,300 jobsWashington3,639,300Tennessee: 3,375,900 jobsTennessee3,375,900Arizona: 3,262,300 jobsArizona3,262,300Indiana: 3,251,000 jobsIndiana3,251,000Minnesota: 3,033,400 jobsMinnesota3,033,400Wisconsin: 3,030,400 jobsWisconsin3,030,400Missouri: 2,994,700 jobsMissouri2,994,700Colorado: 2,960,700 jobsColorado2,960,700Maryland: 2,794,900 jobsMaryland2,794,900South Carolina: 2,403,200 jobsSouth Carolina2,403,200Alabama: 2,202,900 jobsAlabama2,202,900Kentucky: 2,033,000 jobsKentucky2,033,000Louisiana: 1,998,200 jobsLouisiana1,998,200Oregon: 1,974,100 jobsOregon1,974,100Oklahoma: 1,786,700 jobsOklahoma1,786,700Utah: 1,773,900 jobsUtah1,773,900Connecticut: 1,721,200 jobsConnecticut1,721,200Nevada: 1,603,700 jobsNevada1,603,700Iowa: 1,580,800 jobsIowa1,580,800Kansas: 1,465,600 jobsKansas1,465,600Arkansas: 1,345,900 jobsArkansas1,345,900Mississippi: 1,191,000 jobsMississippi1,191,000Nebraska: 1,059,900 jobsNebraska1,059,900New Mexico: 890,800 jobsNew Mexico890,800Idaho: 878,700 jobsIdaho878,700District of Columbia: 720,100 jobsDistrict of Columbia720,100West Virginia: 716,900 jobsWest Virginia716,900New Hampshire: 698,400 jobsNew Hampshire698,400Maine: 660,700 jobsMaine660,700Hawaii: 643,300 jobsHawaii643,300Montana: 526,300 jobsMontana526,300Rhode Island: 514,700 jobsRhode Island514,700Delaware: 495,400 jobsDelaware495,400South Dakota: 470,000 jobsSouth Dakota470,000North Dakota: 446,900 jobsNorth Dakota446,900Alaska: 337,200 jobsAlaska337,200Vermont: 311,800 jobsVermont311,800Wyoming: 293,200 jobsWyoming293,200California: 18,144,300 jobsCalifornia18,144,300Texas: 14,363,100 jobsTexas14,363,100New York: 10,000,600 jobsNew York10,000,600Florida: 9,967,400 jobsFlorida9,967,400Pennsylvania: 6,197,600 jobsPennsylvania6,197,600Illinois: 6,155,000 jobsIllinois6,155,000Ohio: 5,673,900 jobsOhio5,673,900North Carolina: 5,072,000 jobsNorth Carolina5,072,000Georgia: 4,981,400 jobsGeorgia4,981,400Michigan: 4,475,200 jobsMichigan4,475,200New Jersey: 4,384,000 jobsNew Jersey4,384,000Virginia: 4,248,000 jobsVirginia4,248,000Massachusetts: 3,707,700 jobsMassachusetts3,707,700Washington: 3,639,300 jobsWashington3,639,300Tennessee: 3,375,900 jobsTennessee3,375,900Arizona: 3,262,300 jobsArizona3,262,300Indiana: 3,251,000 jobsIndiana3,251,000Minnesota: 3,033,400 jobsMinnesota3,033,400Wisconsin: 3,030,400 jobsWisconsin3,030,400Missouri: 2,994,700 jobsMissouri2,994,700Colorado: 2,960,700 jobsColorado2,960,700Maryland: 2,794,900 jobsMaryland2,794,900South Carolina: 2,403,200 jobsSouth Carolina2,403,200Alabama: 2,202,900 jobsAlabama2,202,900Kentucky: 2,033,000 jobsKentucky2,033,000Louisiana: 1,998,200 jobsLouisiana1,998,200Oregon: 1,974,100 jobsOregon1,974,100Oklahoma: 1,786,700 jobsOklahoma1,786,700Utah: 1,773,900 jobsUtah1,773,900Connecticut: 1,721,200 jobsConnecticut1,721,200Nevada: 1,603,700 jobsNevada1,603,700Iowa: 1,580,800 jobsIowa1,580,800Kansas: 1,465,600 jobsKansas1,465,600Arkansas: 1,345,900 jobsArkansas1,345,900Mississippi: 1,191,000 jobsMississippi1,191,000Nebraska: 1,059,900 jobsNebraska1,059,900New Mexico: 890,800 jobsNew Mexico890,800Idaho: 878,700 jobsIdaho878,700District of Columbia: 720,100 jobsDistrict of Columbia720,100West Virginia: 716,900 jobsWest Virginia716,900New Hampshire: 698,400 jobsNew Hampshire698,400Maine: 660,700 jobsMaine660,700Hawaii: 643,300 jobsHawaii643,300Montana: 526,300 jobsMontana526,300Rhode Island: 514,700 jobsRhode Island514,700Delaware: 495,400 jobsDelaware495,400South Dakota: 470,000 jobsSouth Dakota470,000North Dakota: 446,900 jobsNorth Dakota446,900Alaska: 337,200 jobsAlaska337,200Vermont: 311,800 jobsVermont311,800Wyoming: 293,200 jobsWyoming293,200
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

RankStatesJanuary 2026
jobs		Change on January 2025
1California18,144,300+0.7%
2Texas14,363,100+0.7%
3New York10,000,600+0.4%
4Florida9,967,400-0.3%
5Pennsylvania6,197,600+0.5%
6Illinois6,155,000-0.1%
7Ohio5,673,900+0.3%
8North Carolina5,072,000+0.8%
9Georgia4,981,400+0.1%
10Michigan4,475,200-0.1%
11New Jersey4,384,000+0.2%
12Virginia4,248,000-0.6%
13Massachusetts3,707,700-0.4%
14Washington3,639,300+0.1%
15Tennessee3,375,900+0.1%
16Arizona3,262,300-0.4%
17Indiana3,251,000-0.5%
18Minnesota3,033,400+0.4%
19Wisconsin3,030,400-0.6%
20Missouri2,994,700+0.9%
21Colorado2,960,700-0.5%
22Maryland2,794,900-1.6%
23South Carolina2,403,200+1.2%
24Alabama2,202,900+0.3%
25Kentucky2,033,000+0.3%
26Louisiana1,998,200+0.1%
27Oregon1,974,100-1%
28Oklahoma1,786,700-0.3%
29Utah1,773,900+0.7%
30Connecticut1,721,200+0.3%
31Nevada1,603,700+2%
32Iowa1,580,800-1.2%
33Kansas1,465,600+0.4%
34Arkansas1,345,900+0.8%
35Mississippi1,191,000+0.1%
36Nebraska1,059,900-0.2%
37New Mexico890,800-0.4%
38Idaho878,700+0.7%
39District of Columbia720,100-5.9%
40West Virginia716,900+0.4%
41New Hampshire698,400-0.8%
42Maine660,700-0.3%
43Hawaii643,300-0.1%
44Montana526,3000%
45Rhode Island514,700-0.4%
46Delaware495,400-0.1%
47South Dakota470,0000%
48North Dakota446,900-0.2%
49Alaska337,200-0.2%
50Vermont311,800-0.7%
51Wyoming293,200-0.4%

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, 2026-01) [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, 2026-01. 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=2026-01. 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, 2026-01. 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=2026-01.

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, 2026-01 [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=2026-01 (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, 2026-01}},
  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=2026-01. 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, 2026-01
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=2026-01
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2026-01.
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 18,144,300 jobs in January 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest nonfarm payroll employment?

Wyoming, with 293,200 jobs in January 2026.

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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