Data / Rankings / Nonfarm payroll employment / US states

US states by nonfarm payroll employment

California had the highest nonfarm payroll employment of 51 states in May 2026, at 18,147,400 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 296,500 jobs. The median was 2,010,000 jobs and the figure for the United States was 158,861,000 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest18,147,400California
Lowest296,500Wyoming
Median2,010,00051 states
United States158,861,000History

Map of states, May 2026

Alabama: 2,214,000 jobsAlaska: 339,500 jobsArizona: 3,280,800 jobsArkansas: 1,345,200 jobsCalifornia: 18,147,400 jobsColorado: 2,966,000 jobsConnecticut: 1,725,000 jobsDelaware: 497,000 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 718,500 jobsFlorida: 10,022,200 jobsGeorgia: 4,999,000 jobsHawaii: 645,700 jobsIdaho: 885,700 jobsIllinois: 6,162,900 jobsIndiana: 3,262,700 jobsIowa: 1,583,500 jobsKansas: 1,468,900 jobsKentucky: 2,030,300 jobsLouisiana: 2,010,000 jobsMaine: 660,600 jobsMaryland: 2,803,000 jobsMassachusetts: 3,711,100 jobsMichigan: 4,486,400 jobsMinnesota: 3,055,700 jobsMississippi: 1,194,200 jobsMissouri: 2,999,600 jobsMontana: 521,900 jobsNebraska: 1,059,800 jobsNevada: 1,610,300 jobsNew Hampshire: 701,000 jobsNew Jersey: 4,387,400 jobsNew Mexico: 896,800 jobsNew York: 9,994,200 jobsNorth Carolina: 5,115,000 jobsNorth Dakota: 447,600 jobsOhio: 5,682,100 jobsOklahoma: 1,794,900 jobsOregon: 1,966,000 jobsPennsylvania: 6,208,600 jobsRhode Island: 513,900 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,405,000 jobsSouth Dakota: 471,400 jobsTennessee: 3,382,800 jobsTexas: 14,426,200 jobsUtah: 1,785,800 jobsVermont: 310,300 jobsVirginia: 4,238,500 jobsWashington: 3,645,000 jobsWest Virginia: 728,300 jobsWisconsin: 3,038,600 jobsWyoming: 296,500 jobs
  • Under 700K
  • 700K to 1.3M
  • 1.3M to 2M
  • 2M to 3.1M
  • 3.1M to 4.8M
  • 4.8M and over
jobs, May 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, May 2026

California: 18,147,400 jobsCalifornia18,147,400Texas: 14,426,200 jobsTexas14,426,200Florida: 10,022,200 jobsFlorida10,022,200New York: 9,994,200 jobsNew York9,994,200Pennsylvania: 6,208,600 jobsPennsylvania6,208,600Illinois: 6,162,900 jobsIllinois6,162,900Ohio: 5,682,100 jobsOhio5,682,100North Carolina: 5,115,000 jobsNorth Carolina5,115,000Georgia: 4,999,000 jobsGeorgia4,999,000Michigan: 4,486,400 jobsMichigan4,486,400New Jersey: 4,387,400 jobsNew Jersey4,387,400Virginia: 4,238,500 jobsVirginia4,238,500Massachusetts: 3,711,100 jobsMassachusetts3,711,100Washington: 3,645,000 jobsWashington3,645,000Tennessee: 3,382,800 jobsTennessee3,382,800Arizona: 3,280,800 jobsArizona3,280,800Indiana: 3,262,700 jobsIndiana3,262,700Minnesota: 3,055,700 jobsMinnesota3,055,700Wisconsin: 3,038,600 jobsWisconsin3,038,600Missouri: 2,999,600 jobsMissouri2,999,600Colorado: 2,966,000 jobsColorado2,966,000Maryland: 2,803,000 jobsMaryland2,803,000South Carolina: 2,405,000 jobsSouth Carolina2,405,000Alabama: 2,214,000 jobsAlabama2,214,000Kentucky: 2,030,300 jobsKentucky2,030,300Louisiana: 2,010,000 jobsLouisiana2,010,000Oregon: 1,966,000 jobsOregon1,966,000Oklahoma: 1,794,900 jobsOklahoma1,794,900Utah: 1,785,800 jobsUtah1,785,800Connecticut: 1,725,000 jobsConnecticut1,725,000Nevada: 1,610,300 jobsNevada1,610,300Iowa: 1,583,500 jobsIowa1,583,500Kansas: 1,468,900 jobsKansas1,468,900Arkansas: 1,345,200 jobsArkansas1,345,200Mississippi: 1,194,200 jobsMississippi1,194,200Nebraska: 1,059,800 jobsNebraska1,059,800New Mexico: 896,800 jobsNew Mexico896,800Idaho: 885,700 jobsIdaho885,700West Virginia: 728,300 jobsWest Virginia728,300District of Columbia: 718,500 jobsDistrict of Columbia718,500New Hampshire: 701,000 jobsNew Hampshire701,000Maine: 660,600 jobsMaine660,600Hawaii: 645,700 jobsHawaii645,700Montana: 521,900 jobsMontana521,900Rhode Island: 513,900 jobsRhode Island513,900Delaware: 497,000 jobsDelaware497,000South Dakota: 471,400 jobsSouth Dakota471,400North Dakota: 447,600 jobsNorth Dakota447,600Alaska: 339,500 jobsAlaska339,500Vermont: 310,300 jobsVermont310,300Wyoming: 296,500 jobsWyoming296,500California: 18,147,400 jobsCalifornia18,147,400Texas: 14,426,200 jobsTexas14,426,200Florida: 10,022,200 jobsFlorida10,022,200New York: 9,994,200 jobsNew York9,994,200Pennsylvania: 6,208,600 jobsPennsylvania6,208,600Illinois: 6,162,900 jobsIllinois6,162,900Ohio: 5,682,100 jobsOhio5,682,100North Carolina: 5,115,000 jobsNorth Carolina5,115,000Georgia: 4,999,000 jobsGeorgia4,999,000Michigan: 4,486,400 jobsMichigan4,486,400New Jersey: 4,387,400 jobsNew Jersey4,387,400Virginia: 4,238,500 jobsVirginia4,238,500Massachusetts: 3,711,100 jobsMassachusetts3,711,100Washington: 3,645,000 jobsWashington3,645,000Tennessee: 3,382,800 jobsTennessee3,382,800Arizona: 3,280,800 jobsArizona3,280,800Indiana: 3,262,700 jobsIndiana3,262,700Minnesota: 3,055,700 jobsMinnesota3,055,700Wisconsin: 3,038,600 jobsWisconsin3,038,600Missouri: 2,999,600 jobsMissouri2,999,600Colorado: 2,966,000 jobsColorado2,966,000Maryland: 2,803,000 jobsMaryland2,803,000South Carolina: 2,405,000 jobsSouth Carolina2,405,000Alabama: 2,214,000 jobsAlabama2,214,000Kentucky: 2,030,300 jobsKentucky2,030,300Louisiana: 2,010,000 jobsLouisiana2,010,000Oregon: 1,966,000 jobsOregon1,966,000Oklahoma: 1,794,900 jobsOklahoma1,794,900Utah: 1,785,800 jobsUtah1,785,800Connecticut: 1,725,000 jobsConnecticut1,725,000Nevada: 1,610,300 jobsNevada1,610,300Iowa: 1,583,500 jobsIowa1,583,500Kansas: 1,468,900 jobsKansas1,468,900Arkansas: 1,345,200 jobsArkansas1,345,200Mississippi: 1,194,200 jobsMississippi1,194,200Nebraska: 1,059,800 jobsNebraska1,059,800New Mexico: 896,800 jobsNew Mexico896,800Idaho: 885,700 jobsIdaho885,700West Virginia: 728,300 jobsWest Virginia728,300District of Columbia: 718,500 jobsDistrict of Columbia718,500New Hampshire: 701,000 jobsNew Hampshire701,000Maine: 660,600 jobsMaine660,600Hawaii: 645,700 jobsHawaii645,700Montana: 521,900 jobsMontana521,900Rhode Island: 513,900 jobsRhode Island513,900Delaware: 497,000 jobsDelaware497,000South Dakota: 471,400 jobsSouth Dakota471,400North Dakota: 447,600 jobsNorth Dakota447,600Alaska: 339,500 jobsAlaska339,500Vermont: 310,300 jobsVermont310,300Wyoming: 296,500 jobsWyoming296,500
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

RankStatesMay 2026
jobs		Change on May 2025
1California18,147,400+0.5%
2Texas14,426,200+0.7%
3Florida10,022,200+0.1%
4New York9,994,200+0.4%
5Pennsylvania6,208,600+0.6%
6Illinois6,162,900-0.1%
7Ohio5,682,100+0.1%
8North Carolina5,115,000+1.1%
9Georgia4,999,000+0.1%
10Michigan4,486,400-0.2%
11New Jersey4,387,400-0.1%
12Virginia4,238,500-1.2%
13Massachusetts3,711,100-0.1%
14Washington3,645,0000%
15Tennessee3,382,800+0.3%
16Arizona3,280,800+0.5%
17Indiana3,262,700-0.4%
18Minnesota3,055,700+0.8%
19Wisconsin3,038,600-0.1%
20Missouri2,999,600+0.1%
21Colorado2,966,000-0%
22Maryland2,803,000-1%
23South Carolina2,405,000+0.8%
24Alabama2,214,000+0.7%
25Kentucky2,030,300-0.5%
26Louisiana2,010,000+0.8%
27Oregon1,966,000-1%
28Oklahoma1,794,900-0.1%
29Utah1,785,800+1%
30Connecticut1,725,000+0.4%
31Nevada1,610,300+1.9%
32Iowa1,583,500-0.8%
33Kansas1,468,900+0.4%
34Arkansas1,345,200+0.4%
35Mississippi1,194,200+0.5%
36Nebraska1,059,800-0.3%
37New Mexico896,800+0.4%
38Idaho885,700+0.7%
39West Virginia728,300+1.2%
40District of Columbia718,500-5.3%
41New Hampshire701,000-0.3%
42Maine660,600-0.3%
43Hawaii645,700+0.6%
44Montana521,900-0.8%
45Rhode Island513,900-0.8%
46Delaware497,000-0%
47South Dakota471,400+0.3%
48North Dakota447,6000%
49Alaska339,500+0.3%
50Vermont310,3000%
51Wyoming296,500+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, 2026-05) [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, 2026-05. 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=2026-05. 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, 2026-05. 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=2026-05.

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, 2026-05 [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=2026-05 (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, 2026-05}},
  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=2026-05. 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, 2026-05
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=2026-05
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2026-05.
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 18,147,400 jobs in May 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest nonfarm payroll employment?

Wyoming, with 296,500 jobs in May 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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