Data / Rankings / Total employment (jobs, BEA) / US states

US states by total employment (jobs, BEA)

California had the highest total employment (jobs, BEA) of 51 states in 2017, at 23,552,144 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 399,471 jobs. The median was 2,522,612 jobs and the figure for the United States was 196,467,100 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

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Highest23,552,144California
Lowest399,471Wyoming
Median2,522,61251 states
United States196,467,100History

Map of states, 2017

Alabama: 2,650,481 jobsAlaska: 455,590 jobsArizona: 3,741,464 jobsArkansas: 1,641,425 jobsCalifornia: 23,552,144 jobsColorado: 3,762,338 jobsConnecticut: 2,300,567 jobsDelaware: 584,805 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 902,843 jobsFlorida: 12,099,806 jobsGeorgia: 6,129,538 jobsHawaii: 921,409 jobsIdaho: 1,008,856 jobsIllinois: 7,825,564 jobsIndiana: 3,905,429 jobsIowa: 2,064,579 jobsKansas: 1,915,498 jobsKentucky: 2,522,612 jobsLouisiana: 2,693,562 jobsMaine: 834,570 jobsMaryland: 3,697,354 jobsMassachusetts: 4,778,647 jobsMichigan: 5,632,983 jobsMinnesota: 3,738,228 jobsMississippi: 1,593,500 jobsMissouri: 3,739,052 jobsMontana: 675,514 jobsNebraska: 1,319,307 jobsNevada: 1,780,750 jobsNew Hampshire: 882,653 jobsNew Jersey: 5,449,179 jobsNew Mexico: 1,096,240 jobsNew York: 12,392,912 jobsNorth Carolina: 5,920,618 jobsNorth Dakota: 574,211 jobsOhio: 6,990,705 jobsOklahoma: 2,294,182 jobsOregon: 2,517,381 jobsPennsylvania: 7,664,622 jobsRhode Island: 638,889 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,759,989 jobsSouth Dakota: 602,435 jobsTennessee: 4,035,107 jobsTexas: 17,112,741 jobsUtah: 1,995,997 jobsVermont: 436,197 jobsVirginia: 5,230,606 jobsWashington: 4,433,544 jobsWest Virginia: 889,517 jobsWisconsin: 3,681,489 jobsWyoming: 399,471 jobs
  • Under 900K
  • 900K to 1.6M
  • 1.6M to 2.5M
  • 2.5M to 3.7M
  • 3.7M to 5.8M
  • 5.8M and over
jobs, 2017. Source: BEA, SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2017

California: 23,552,144 jobsCalifornia23,552,144Texas: 17,112,741 jobsTexas17,112,741New York: 12,392,912 jobsNew York12,392,912Florida: 12,099,806 jobsFlorida12,099,806Illinois: 7,825,564 jobsIllinois7,825,564Pennsylvania: 7,664,622 jobsPennsylvania7,664,622Ohio: 6,990,705 jobsOhio6,990,705Georgia: 6,129,538 jobsGeorgia6,129,538North Carolina: 5,920,618 jobsNorth Carolina5,920,618Michigan: 5,632,983 jobsMichigan5,632,983New Jersey: 5,449,179 jobsNew Jersey5,449,179Virginia: 5,230,606 jobsVirginia5,230,606Massachusetts: 4,778,647 jobsMassachusetts4,778,647Washington: 4,433,544 jobsWashington4,433,544Tennessee: 4,035,107 jobsTennessee4,035,107Indiana: 3,905,429 jobsIndiana3,905,429Colorado: 3,762,338 jobsColorado3,762,338Arizona: 3,741,464 jobsArizona3,741,464Missouri: 3,739,052 jobsMissouri3,739,052Minnesota: 3,738,228 jobsMinnesota3,738,228Maryland: 3,697,354 jobsMaryland3,697,354Wisconsin: 3,681,489 jobsWisconsin3,681,489South Carolina: 2,759,989 jobsSouth Carolina2,759,989Louisiana: 2,693,562 jobsLouisiana2,693,562Alabama: 2,650,481 jobsAlabama2,650,481Kentucky: 2,522,612 jobsKentucky2,522,612Oregon: 2,517,381 jobsOregon2,517,381Connecticut: 2,300,567 jobsConnecticut2,300,567Oklahoma: 2,294,182 jobsOklahoma2,294,182Iowa: 2,064,579 jobsIowa2,064,579Utah: 1,995,997 jobsUtah1,995,997Kansas: 1,915,498 jobsKansas1,915,498Nevada: 1,780,750 jobsNevada1,780,750Arkansas: 1,641,425 jobsArkansas1,641,425Mississippi: 1,593,500 jobsMississippi1,593,500Nebraska: 1,319,307 jobsNebraska1,319,307New Mexico: 1,096,240 jobsNew Mexico1,096,240Idaho: 1,008,856 jobsIdaho1,008,856Hawaii: 921,409 jobsHawaii921,409District of Columbia: 902,843 jobsDistrict of Columbia902,843West Virginia: 889,517 jobsWest Virginia889,517New Hampshire: 882,653 jobsNew Hampshire882,653Maine: 834,570 jobsMaine834,570Montana: 675,514 jobsMontana675,514Rhode Island: 638,889 jobsRhode Island638,889South Dakota: 602,435 jobsSouth Dakota602,435Delaware: 584,805 jobsDelaware584,805North Dakota: 574,211 jobsNorth Dakota574,211Alaska: 455,590 jobsAlaska455,590Vermont: 436,197 jobsVermont436,197Wyoming: 399,471 jobsWyoming399,471California: 23,552,144 jobsCalifornia23,552,144Texas: 17,112,741 jobsTexas17,112,741New York: 12,392,912 jobsNew York12,392,912Florida: 12,099,806 jobsFlorida12,099,806Illinois: 7,825,564 jobsIllinois7,825,564Pennsylvania: 7,664,622 jobsPennsylvania7,664,622Ohio: 6,990,705 jobsOhio6,990,705Georgia: 6,129,538 jobsGeorgia6,129,538North Carolina: 5,920,618 jobsNorth Carolina5,920,618Michigan: 5,632,983 jobsMichigan5,632,983New Jersey: 5,449,179 jobsNew Jersey5,449,179Virginia: 5,230,606 jobsVirginia5,230,606Massachusetts: 4,778,647 jobsMassachusetts4,778,647Washington: 4,433,544 jobsWashington4,433,544Tennessee: 4,035,107 jobsTennessee4,035,107Indiana: 3,905,429 jobsIndiana3,905,429Colorado: 3,762,338 jobsColorado3,762,338Arizona: 3,741,464 jobsArizona3,741,464Missouri: 3,739,052 jobsMissouri3,739,052Minnesota: 3,738,228 jobsMinnesota3,738,228Maryland: 3,697,354 jobsMaryland3,697,354Wisconsin: 3,681,489 jobsWisconsin3,681,489South Carolina: 2,759,989 jobsSouth Carolina2,759,989Louisiana: 2,693,562 jobsLouisiana2,693,562Alabama: 2,650,481 jobsAlabama2,650,481Kentucky: 2,522,612 jobsKentucky2,522,612Oregon: 2,517,381 jobsOregon2,517,381Connecticut: 2,300,567 jobsConnecticut2,300,567Oklahoma: 2,294,182 jobsOklahoma2,294,182Iowa: 2,064,579 jobsIowa2,064,579Utah: 1,995,997 jobsUtah1,995,997Kansas: 1,915,498 jobsKansas1,915,498Nevada: 1,780,750 jobsNevada1,780,750Arkansas: 1,641,425 jobsArkansas1,641,425Mississippi: 1,593,500 jobsMississippi1,593,500Nebraska: 1,319,307 jobsNebraska1,319,307New Mexico: 1,096,240 jobsNew Mexico1,096,240Idaho: 1,008,856 jobsIdaho1,008,856Hawaii: 921,409 jobsHawaii921,409District of Columbia: 902,843 jobsDistrict of Columbia902,843West Virginia: 889,517 jobsWest Virginia889,517New Hampshire: 882,653 jobsNew Hampshire882,653Maine: 834,570 jobsMaine834,570Montana: 675,514 jobsMontana675,514Rhode Island: 638,889 jobsRhode Island638,889South Dakota: 602,435 jobsSouth Dakota602,435Delaware: 584,805 jobsDelaware584,805North Dakota: 574,211 jobsNorth Dakota574,211Alaska: 455,590 jobsAlaska455,590Vermont: 436,197 jobsVermont436,197Wyoming: 399,471 jobsWyoming399,471
jobs. Source: BEA, SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2017
jobs		Change on 2016
1California23,552,144+1.6%
2Texas17,112,741+2.5%
3New York12,392,912+1.1%
4Florida12,099,806+3.6%
5Illinois7,825,564+0.2%
6Pennsylvania7,664,622+0.9%
7Ohio6,990,705+0.8%
8Georgia6,129,538+2.6%
9North Carolina5,920,618+1.6%
10Michigan5,632,983+1%
11New Jersey5,449,179+1.1%
12Virginia5,230,606+1.4%
13Massachusetts4,778,647+1.5%
14Washington4,433,544+2.8%
15Tennessee4,035,107+2.1%
16Indiana3,905,429+1.5%
17Colorado3,762,338+2.6%
18Arizona3,741,464+2.6%
19Missouri3,739,052+1%
20Minnesota3,738,228+1%
21Maryland3,697,354+1%
22Wisconsin3,681,489+0.6%
23South Carolina2,759,989+2.2%
24Louisiana2,693,562+0.1%
25Alabama2,650,481+1.1%
26Kentucky2,522,612+0.9%
27Oregon2,517,381+2.7%
28Connecticut2,300,567-0%
29Oklahoma2,294,182+0.2%
30Iowa2,064,579-0.2%
31Utah1,995,997+3.2%
32Kansas1,915,498-0.1%
33Nevada1,780,750+3.2%
34Arkansas1,641,425+0.6%
35Mississippi1,593,500+0.7%
36Nebraska1,319,307+0.5%
37New Mexico1,096,240+0.3%
38Idaho1,008,856+3.2%
39Hawaii921,409+0.7%
40District of Columbia902,843+1.1%
41West Virginia889,517-0.1%
42New Hampshire882,653+1.1%
43Maine834,570+0.9%
44Montana675,514+1%
45Rhode Island638,889+0.9%
46South Dakota602,435+0.7%
47Delaware584,805+1.1%
48North Dakota574,211-0.6%
49Alaska455,590-0.3%
50Vermont436,197+0.5%
51Wyoming399,471+0.2%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average annual number of full-time and part-time jobs located in a place, wage and salary jobs plus proprietors (self-employed and partners), farm and nonfarm. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC4 line 7010, nation and states.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice, and jobs are counted where they are, not where the worker lives. Broader than oews_employment, which leaves out the self-employed and farm workers. BEA stopped publishing county employment after 2022, so there is no county level.

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 Economic Analysis. SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip. 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 Economic Analysis. (2026). SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states (US states by total employment (jobs, BEA), 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip

MLA 9

SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states, US states by total employment (jobs, BEA), 2017. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 30 Sept. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/total-employment-jobs/us-states?period=2017. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. US states by total employment (jobs, BEA), 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/total-employment-jobs/us-states?period=2017.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states, US states by total employment (jobs, BEA), 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/total-employment-jobs/us-states?period=2017 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_total_2017,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states: US states by total employment (jobs, BEA), 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/total-employment-jobs/us-states?period=2017. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states: US states by total employment (jobs, BEA), 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/total-employment-jobs/us-states?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/total-employment-jobs/us-states?period=2017.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest total employment (jobs, BEA)?

California, with 23,552,144 jobs in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which state has the lowest total employment (jobs, BEA)?

Wyoming, with 399,471 jobs in 2017.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAINC4: personal income and employment by major component, total employment (number of jobs), United States and states. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings