Data / Rankings / Union membership rate / US states

US states by union membership rate

Hawaii had the highest union membership rate of 51 states in 2020, at 23.7%. South Carolina had the lowest, at 2.9%. The median was 8.9% and the figure for the United States was 10.8%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest23.7Hawaii
Lowest2.9South Carolina
Median8.951 states
United States10.8History

Map of states, 2020

Alabama: 8 %Alaska: 17.7 %Arizona: 5.3 %Arkansas: 4.7 %California: 16.2 %Colorado: 7.4 %Connecticut: 17.1 %Delaware: 9.7 %District of Columbia: 8.6 %Florida: 6.4 %Georgia: 4.6 %Hawaii: 23.7 %Idaho: 5.6 %Illinois: 14.3 %Indiana: 8.3 %Iowa: 6.6 %Kansas: 8.9 %Kentucky: 7.5 %Louisiana: 5.9 %Maine: 14.7 %Maryland: 13.1 %Massachusetts: 12 %Michigan: 15.2 %Minnesota: 15.8 %Mississippi: 7.1 %Missouri: 9.4 %Montana: 12 %Nebraska: 9.6 %Nevada: 13.4 %New Hampshire: 9.8 %New Jersey: 16.1 %New Mexico: 7.1 %New York: 22 %North Carolina: 3.1 %North Dakota: 6.2 %Ohio: 13.2 %Oklahoma: 6 %Oregon: 16.2 %Pennsylvania: 13.5 %Rhode Island: 17.8 %South Carolina: 2.9 %South Dakota: 4.3 %Tennessee: 4.4 %Texas: 4.9 %Utah: 3.7 %Vermont: 11.8 %Virginia: 4.4 %Washington: 17.4 %West Virginia: 10.7 %Wisconsin: 8.7 %Wyoming: 7.6 %
  • Under 5
  • 5 to 7.1
  • 7.1 to 8.9
  • 8.9 to 12
  • 12 to 16
  • 16 and over
%, 2020. Source: BLS, Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2020

Hawaii: 23.7 %Hawaii23.7New York: 22 %New York22Rhode Island: 17.8 %Rhode Island17.8Alaska: 17.7 %Alaska17.7Washington: 17.4 %Washington17.4Connecticut: 17.1 %Connecticut17.1California: 16.2 %California16.2Oregon: 16.2 %Oregon16.2New Jersey: 16.1 %New Jersey16.1Minnesota: 15.8 %Minnesota15.8Michigan: 15.2 %Michigan15.2Maine: 14.7 %Maine14.7Illinois: 14.3 %Illinois14.3Pennsylvania: 13.5 %Pennsylvania13.5Nevada: 13.4 %Nevada13.4Ohio: 13.2 %Ohio13.2Maryland: 13.1 %Maryland13.1Massachusetts: 12 %Massachusetts12Montana: 12 %Montana12Vermont: 11.8 %Vermont11.8West Virginia: 10.7 %West Virginia10.7New Hampshire: 9.8 %New Hampshire9.8Delaware: 9.7 %Delaware9.7Nebraska: 9.6 %Nebraska9.6Missouri: 9.4 %Missouri9.4Kansas: 8.9 %Kansas8.9Wisconsin: 8.7 %Wisconsin8.7District of Columbia: 8.6 %District of Columbia8.6Indiana: 8.3 %Indiana8.3Alabama: 8 %Alabama8Wyoming: 7.6 %Wyoming7.6Kentucky: 7.5 %Kentucky7.5Colorado: 7.4 %Colorado7.4Mississippi: 7.1 %Mississippi7.1New Mexico: 7.1 %New Mexico7.1Iowa: 6.6 %Iowa6.6Florida: 6.4 %Florida6.4North Dakota: 6.2 %North Dakota6.2Oklahoma: 6 %Oklahoma6Louisiana: 5.9 %Louisiana5.9Idaho: 5.6 %Idaho5.6Arizona: 5.3 %Arizona5.3Texas: 4.9 %Texas4.9Arkansas: 4.7 %Arkansas4.7Georgia: 4.6 %Georgia4.6Tennessee: 4.4 %Tennessee4.4Virginia: 4.4 %Virginia4.4South Dakota: 4.3 %South Dakota4.3Utah: 3.7 %Utah3.7North Carolina: 3.1 %North Carolina3.1South Carolina: 2.9 %South Carolina2.9Hawaii: 23.7 %Hawaii23.7New York: 22 %New York22Rhode Island: 17.8 %Rhode Island17.8Alaska: 17.7 %Alaska17.7Washington: 17.4 %Washington17.4Connecticut: 17.1 %Connecticut17.1California: 16.2 %California16.2Oregon: 16.2 %Oregon16.2New Jersey: 16.1 %New Jersey16.1Minnesota: 15.8 %Minnesota15.8Michigan: 15.2 %Michigan15.2Maine: 14.7 %Maine14.7Illinois: 14.3 %Illinois14.3Pennsylvania: 13.5 %Pennsylvania13.5Nevada: 13.4 %Nevada13.4Ohio: 13.2 %Ohio13.2Maryland: 13.1 %Maryland13.1Massachusetts: 12 %Massachusetts12Montana: 12 %Montana12Vermont: 11.8 %Vermont11.8West Virginia: 10.7 %West Virginia10.7New Hampshire: 9.8 %New Hampshire9.8Delaware: 9.7 %Delaware9.7Nebraska: 9.6 %Nebraska9.6Missouri: 9.4 %Missouri9.4Kansas: 8.9 %Kansas8.9Wisconsin: 8.7 %Wisconsin8.7District of Columbia: 8.6 %District of Columbia8.6Indiana: 8.3 %Indiana8.3Alabama: 8 %Alabama8Wyoming: 7.6 %Wyoming7.6Kentucky: 7.5 %Kentucky7.5Colorado: 7.4 %Colorado7.4Mississippi: 7.1 %Mississippi7.1New Mexico: 7.1 %New Mexico7.1Iowa: 6.6 %Iowa6.6Florida: 6.4 %Florida6.4North Dakota: 6.2 %North Dakota6.2Oklahoma: 6 %Oklahoma6Louisiana: 5.9 %Louisiana5.9Idaho: 5.6 %Idaho5.6Arizona: 5.3 %Arizona5.3Texas: 4.9 %Texas4.9Arkansas: 4.7 %Arkansas4.7Georgia: 4.6 %Georgia4.6Tennessee: 4.4 %Tennessee4.4Virginia: 4.4 %Virginia4.4South Dakota: 4.3 %South Dakota4.3Utah: 3.7 %Utah3.7North Carolina: 3.1 %North Carolina3.1South Carolina: 2.9 %South Carolina2.9
%. Source: BLS, Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). Retrieved 2026-10-18.

Full ranking

RankStates2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Hawaii23.7+0.2 pts
2New York22+1 pts
3Rhode Island17.8+0.4 pts
4Alaska17.7+0.6 pts
5Washington17.4-1.4 pts
6Connecticut17.1+2.6 pts
7California16.2+1 pts
7Oregon16.2+1.8 pts
9New Jersey16.1+0.4 pts
10Minnesota15.8+2.1 pts
11Michigan15.2+1.6 pts
12Maine14.7+2.9 pts
13Illinois14.3+0.7 pts
14Pennsylvania13.5+1.5 pts
15Nevada13.4-1.2 pts
16Ohio13.2+1.3 pts
17Maryland13.1+1.8 pts
18Massachusetts120 pts
18Montana12+1.5 pts
20Vermont11.8+0.6 pts
21West Virginia10.7+0.5 pts
22New Hampshire9.8-0.5 pts
23Delaware9.7+1 pts
24Nebraska9.6+1.2 pts
25Missouri9.4-1.7 pts
26Kansas8.9+0.2 pts
27Wisconsin8.7+0.6 pts
28District of Columbia8.6-0.7 pts
29Indiana8.30 pts
30Alabama8-0.5 pts
31Wyoming7.6+0.3 pts
32Kentucky7.5-0.5 pts
33Colorado7.4-1.6 pts
34Mississippi7.1+0.8 pts
34New Mexico7.10 pts
36Iowa6.6+0.3 pts
37Florida6.4+0.2 pts
38North Dakota6.2+0.2 pts
39Oklahoma6-0.2 pts
40Louisiana5.9+0.6 pts
41Idaho5.6+0.7 pts
42Arizona5.3-0.4 pts
43Texas4.9+0.9 pts
44Arkansas4.7-0.5 pts
45Georgia4.6+0.5 pts
46Tennessee4.4-0.2 pts
46Virginia4.4+0.4 pts
48South Dakota4.3-1.3 pts
49Utah3.7-0.7 pts
50North Carolina3.1+0.8 pts
51South Carolina2.9+0.7 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Union members as a percent of employed wage and salary workers, annual average, from the Current Population Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series LUU0204899600 for the nation).

Union members are members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union. Annual averages of the monthly Current Population Survey, a household survey, so the figures carry sampling error, which is larger for small states. Wage and salary workers exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self employed. State figures are by state of residence. The 2025 averages cover 11 months: October 2025 was not collected during the federal government shutdown. For workers covered by a union contract, members or not, use union_representation_rate.

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. Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

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). Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>) (US states by union membership rate, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData

MLA 9

Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>), US states by union membership rate, 2020. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 18 Feb. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/union-membership-rate/us-states?period=2020. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). US states by union membership rate, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/union-membership-rate/us-states?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>), US states by union membership rate, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/union-membership-rate/us-states?period=2020 (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_union_2020,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>): US states by union membership rate, 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData},
  urldate = {2026-10-18},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/union-membership-rate/us-states?period=2020. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData. Retrieved 2026-10-18.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>): US states by union membership rate, 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/18
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/union-membership-rate/us-states?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/18
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/union-membership-rate/us-states?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/lu/lu.data.1.AllData. Retrieved 2026-10-18.
ER  -
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Rank US states by union membership rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which state has the highest union membership rate?

Hawaii, with 23.7% in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest union membership rate?

South Carolina, with 2.9% in 2020.

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, Union affiliation data from the Current Population Survey: members of unions, percent of employed wage and salary workers, nation and states (LUU0204899600 and LUU02048996<state FIPS>). Retrieved 2026-10-18.

US states: more rankings