Data / Rankings / Nonfarm payroll employment / US states

US states by nonfarm payroll employment

California had the highest nonfarm payroll employment of 51 states in August 2026, at 18,160,900 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 295,100 jobs. The median was 2,023,900 jobs and the figure for the United States was 159,015,000 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest18,160,900California
Lowest295,100Wyoming
Median2,023,90051 states
United States159,015,000History

Map of states, August 2026

Alabama: 2,220,200 jobsAlaska: 341,000 jobsArizona: 3,278,100 jobsArkansas: 1,347,900 jobsCalifornia: 18,160,900 jobsColorado: 2,971,400 jobsConnecticut: 1,730,200 jobsDelaware: 496,600 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 719,800 jobsFlorida: 10,040,100 jobsGeorgia: 4,983,500 jobsHawaii: 642,400 jobsIdaho: 889,400 jobsIllinois: 6,171,700 jobsIndiana: 3,267,600 jobsIowa: 1,585,600 jobsKansas: 1,471,500 jobsKentucky: 2,032,500 jobsLouisiana: 2,023,900 jobsMaine: 660,000 jobsMaryland: 2,803,100 jobsMassachusetts: 3,707,500 jobsMichigan: 4,493,700 jobsMinnesota: 3,069,600 jobsMississippi: 1,199,100 jobsMissouri: 3,017,900 jobsMontana: 521,600 jobsNebraska: 1,062,900 jobsNevada: 1,618,900 jobsNew Hampshire: 703,200 jobsNew Jersey: 4,362,500 jobsNew Mexico: 905,100 jobsNew York: 9,950,800 jobsNorth Carolina: 5,127,400 jobsNorth Dakota: 448,700 jobsOhio: 5,693,300 jobsOklahoma: 1,799,700 jobsOregon: 1,968,100 jobsPennsylvania: 6,213,200 jobsRhode Island: 514,700 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,428,800 jobsSouth Dakota: 471,000 jobsTennessee: 3,385,700 jobsTexas: 14,472,400 jobsUtah: 1,792,900 jobsVermont: 310,800 jobsVirginia: 4,242,800 jobsWashington: 3,650,700 jobsWest Virginia: 717,400 jobsWisconsin: 3,057,000 jobsWyoming: 295,100 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, August 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, August 2026

California: 18,160,900 jobsCalifornia18,160,900Texas: 14,472,400 jobsTexas14,472,400Florida: 10,040,100 jobsFlorida10,040,100New York: 9,950,800 jobsNew York9,950,800Pennsylvania: 6,213,200 jobsPennsylvania6,213,200Illinois: 6,171,700 jobsIllinois6,171,700Ohio: 5,693,300 jobsOhio5,693,300North Carolina: 5,127,400 jobsNorth Carolina5,127,400Georgia: 4,983,500 jobsGeorgia4,983,500Michigan: 4,493,700 jobsMichigan4,493,700New Jersey: 4,362,500 jobsNew Jersey4,362,500Virginia: 4,242,800 jobsVirginia4,242,800Massachusetts: 3,707,500 jobsMassachusetts3,707,500Washington: 3,650,700 jobsWashington3,650,700Tennessee: 3,385,700 jobsTennessee3,385,700Arizona: 3,278,100 jobsArizona3,278,100Indiana: 3,267,600 jobsIndiana3,267,600Minnesota: 3,069,600 jobsMinnesota3,069,600Wisconsin: 3,057,000 jobsWisconsin3,057,000Missouri: 3,017,900 jobsMissouri3,017,900Colorado: 2,971,400 jobsColorado2,971,400Maryland: 2,803,100 jobsMaryland2,803,100South Carolina: 2,428,800 jobsSouth Carolina2,428,800Alabama: 2,220,200 jobsAlabama2,220,200Kentucky: 2,032,500 jobsKentucky2,032,500Louisiana: 2,023,900 jobsLouisiana2,023,900Oregon: 1,968,100 jobsOregon1,968,100Oklahoma: 1,799,700 jobsOklahoma1,799,700Utah: 1,792,900 jobsUtah1,792,900Connecticut: 1,730,200 jobsConnecticut1,730,200Nevada: 1,618,900 jobsNevada1,618,900Iowa: 1,585,600 jobsIowa1,585,600Kansas: 1,471,500 jobsKansas1,471,500Arkansas: 1,347,900 jobsArkansas1,347,900Mississippi: 1,199,100 jobsMississippi1,199,100Nebraska: 1,062,900 jobsNebraska1,062,900New Mexico: 905,100 jobsNew Mexico905,100Idaho: 889,400 jobsIdaho889,400District of Columbia: 719,800 jobsDistrict of Columbia719,800West Virginia: 717,400 jobsWest Virginia717,400New Hampshire: 703,200 jobsNew Hampshire703,200Maine: 660,000 jobsMaine660,000Hawaii: 642,400 jobsHawaii642,400Montana: 521,600 jobsMontana521,600Rhode Island: 514,700 jobsRhode Island514,700Delaware: 496,600 jobsDelaware496,600South Dakota: 471,000 jobsSouth Dakota471,000North Dakota: 448,700 jobsNorth Dakota448,700Alaska: 341,000 jobsAlaska341,000Vermont: 310,800 jobsVermont310,800Wyoming: 295,100 jobsWyoming295,100California: 18,160,900 jobsCalifornia18,160,900Texas: 14,472,400 jobsTexas14,472,400Florida: 10,040,100 jobsFlorida10,040,100New York: 9,950,800 jobsNew York9,950,800Pennsylvania: 6,213,200 jobsPennsylvania6,213,200Illinois: 6,171,700 jobsIllinois6,171,700Ohio: 5,693,300 jobsOhio5,693,300North Carolina: 5,127,400 jobsNorth Carolina5,127,400Georgia: 4,983,500 jobsGeorgia4,983,500Michigan: 4,493,700 jobsMichigan4,493,700New Jersey: 4,362,500 jobsNew Jersey4,362,500Virginia: 4,242,800 jobsVirginia4,242,800Massachusetts: 3,707,500 jobsMassachusetts3,707,500Washington: 3,650,700 jobsWashington3,650,700Tennessee: 3,385,700 jobsTennessee3,385,700Arizona: 3,278,100 jobsArizona3,278,100Indiana: 3,267,600 jobsIndiana3,267,600Minnesota: 3,069,600 jobsMinnesota3,069,600Wisconsin: 3,057,000 jobsWisconsin3,057,000Missouri: 3,017,900 jobsMissouri3,017,900Colorado: 2,971,400 jobsColorado2,971,400Maryland: 2,803,100 jobsMaryland2,803,100South Carolina: 2,428,800 jobsSouth Carolina2,428,800Alabama: 2,220,200 jobsAlabama2,220,200Kentucky: 2,032,500 jobsKentucky2,032,500Louisiana: 2,023,900 jobsLouisiana2,023,900Oregon: 1,968,100 jobsOregon1,968,100Oklahoma: 1,799,700 jobsOklahoma1,799,700Utah: 1,792,900 jobsUtah1,792,900Connecticut: 1,730,200 jobsConnecticut1,730,200Nevada: 1,618,900 jobsNevada1,618,900Iowa: 1,585,600 jobsIowa1,585,600Kansas: 1,471,500 jobsKansas1,471,500Arkansas: 1,347,900 jobsArkansas1,347,900Mississippi: 1,199,100 jobsMississippi1,199,100Nebraska: 1,062,900 jobsNebraska1,062,900New Mexico: 905,100 jobsNew Mexico905,100Idaho: 889,400 jobsIdaho889,400District of Columbia: 719,800 jobsDistrict of Columbia719,800West Virginia: 717,400 jobsWest Virginia717,400New Hampshire: 703,200 jobsNew Hampshire703,200Maine: 660,000 jobsMaine660,000Hawaii: 642,400 jobsHawaii642,400Montana: 521,600 jobsMontana521,600Rhode Island: 514,700 jobsRhode Island514,700Delaware: 496,600 jobsDelaware496,600South Dakota: 471,000 jobsSouth Dakota471,000North Dakota: 448,700 jobsNorth Dakota448,700Alaska: 341,000 jobsAlaska341,000Vermont: 310,800 jobsVermont310,800Wyoming: 295,100 jobsWyoming295,100
jobs. Source: BLS, Current Employment Statistics, State and Area: all employees, total nonfarm, statewide, seasonally adjusted (SMS, state, 000000000000001). Retrieved 2026-10-20.

Full ranking

RankStatesAugust 2026
jobs		Change on August 2025
1California18,160,900+0.7%
2Texas14,472,400+1.1%
3Florida10,040,100+0.5%
4New York9,950,8000%
5Pennsylvania6,213,200+0.7%
6Illinois6,171,700+0.2%
7Ohio5,693,300+0.3%
8North Carolina5,127,400+1.3%
9Georgia4,983,500-0.2%
10Michigan4,493,700+0.1%
11New Jersey4,362,500-0.2%
12Virginia4,242,800-0.8%
13Massachusetts3,707,500+0.3%
14Washington3,650,700+0.5%
15Tennessee3,385,700+0.5%
16Arizona3,278,100+0.6%
17Indiana3,267,600-0.5%
18Minnesota3,069,600+1.5%
19Wisconsin3,057,000+0.6%
20Missouri3,017,900+1.2%
21Colorado2,971,400+0.3%
22Maryland2,803,100-0.3%
23South Carolina2,428,800+1.7%
24Alabama2,220,200+1%
25Kentucky2,032,500-0.2%
26Louisiana2,023,900+1.7%
27Oregon1,968,100-0.6%
28Oklahoma1,799,700+0.7%
29Utah1,792,900+1.1%
30Connecticut1,730,200+0.9%
31Nevada1,618,900+1.3%
32Iowa1,585,6000%
33Kansas1,471,500+0.4%
34Arkansas1,347,900+0.5%
35Mississippi1,199,100+0.4%
36Nebraska1,062,900+0.2%
37New Mexico905,100+1.4%
38Idaho889,400+0.7%
39District of Columbia719,800-3.6%
40West Virginia717,400-0.2%
41New Hampshire703,200+0.2%
42Maine660,000-0.1%
43Hawaii642,400+0.1%
44Montana521,600-1%
45Rhode Island514,700-0%
46Delaware496,600+0.1%
47South Dakota471,000+0.4%
48North Dakota448,700+0.6%
49Alaska341,000+1.1%
50Vermont310,800-0.3%
51Wyoming295,100+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 2026-10-20.

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, 2026-08) [Data set]. Retrieved October 20, 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, 2026-08. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20 Oct. 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=2026-08. Accessed 20 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, 2026-08. Dataset. Accessed October 20, 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=2026-08.

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, 2026-08 [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=2026-08 (Accessed: 20 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, 2026-08}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/sm/sm.data.55.TotalNonFarmStateWide.All},
  urldate = {2026-10-20},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2026-08. 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 2026-10-20.},
}
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, 2026-08
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/20
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=2026-08
Y2  - 2026/10/20
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/nonfarm-payroll-employment/us-states?period=2026-08.
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 2026-10-20.
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 18,160,900 jobs in August 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest nonfarm payroll employment?

Wyoming, with 295,100 jobs in August 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 2026-10-20.

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