Data / Rankings / Wage and salary jobs (OEWS) / US states

US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

California had the highest wage and salary jobs (OEWS) of 51 states in 2019, at 17,382,400 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 273,340 jobs. The median was 1,905,860 jobs and the figure for the United States was 146,875,480 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest17,382,400California
Lowest273,340Wyoming
Median1,905,86051 states
United States146,875,480History

Map of states, 2019

Alabama: 1,974,170 jobsAlaska: 317,090 jobsArizona: 2,866,820 jobsArkansas: 1,217,420 jobsCalifornia: 17,382,400 jobsColorado: 2,678,490 jobsConnecticut: 1,665,100 jobsDelaware: 451,900 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 723,510 jobsFlorida: 8,794,050 jobsGeorgia: 4,471,860 jobsHawaii: 635,500 jobsIdaho: 727,160 jobsIllinois: 6,025,790 jobsIndiana: 3,073,680 jobsIowa: 1,549,460 jobsKansas: 1,392,480 jobsKentucky: 1,896,900 jobsLouisiana: 1,921,950 jobsMaine: 611,170 jobsMaryland: 2,701,010 jobsMassachusetts: 3,619,640 jobsMichigan: 4,344,230 jobsMinnesota: 2,880,650 jobsMississippi: 1,128,280 jobsMissouri: 2,820,610 jobsMontana: 468,000 jobsNebraska: 982,040 jobsNevada: 1,392,680 jobsNew Hampshire: 660,480 jobsNew Jersey: 4,087,950 jobsNew Mexico: 823,570 jobsNew York: 9,522,980 jobsNorth Carolina: 4,462,800 jobsNorth Dakota: 422,520 jobsOhio: 5,447,780 jobsOklahoma: 1,617,390 jobsOregon: 1,905,860 jobsPennsylvania: 5,901,590 jobsRhode Island: 483,580 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,107,760 jobsSouth Dakota: 425,140 jobsTennessee: 3,007,710 jobsTexas: 12,431,200 jobsUtah: 1,504,070 jobsVermont: 306,300 jobsVirginia: 3,878,770 jobsWashington: 3,318,510 jobsWest Virginia: 702,100 jobsWisconsin: 2,870,050 jobsWyoming: 273,340 jobs
  • Under 600K
  • 600K to 1.2M
  • 1.2M to 1.9M
  • 1.9M to 2.9M
  • 2.9M to 4.4M
  • 4.4M and over
jobs, 2019. Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2019

California: 17,382,400 jobsCalifornia17,382,400Texas: 12,431,200 jobsTexas12,431,200New York: 9,522,980 jobsNew York9,522,980Florida: 8,794,050 jobsFlorida8,794,050Illinois: 6,025,790 jobsIllinois6,025,790Pennsylvania: 5,901,590 jobsPennsylvania5,901,590Ohio: 5,447,780 jobsOhio5,447,780Georgia: 4,471,860 jobsGeorgia4,471,860North Carolina: 4,462,800 jobsNorth Carolina4,462,800Michigan: 4,344,230 jobsMichigan4,344,230New Jersey: 4,087,950 jobsNew Jersey4,087,950Virginia: 3,878,770 jobsVirginia3,878,770Massachusetts: 3,619,640 jobsMassachusetts3,619,640Washington: 3,318,510 jobsWashington3,318,510Indiana: 3,073,680 jobsIndiana3,073,680Tennessee: 3,007,710 jobsTennessee3,007,710Minnesota: 2,880,650 jobsMinnesota2,880,650Wisconsin: 2,870,050 jobsWisconsin2,870,050Arizona: 2,866,820 jobsArizona2,866,820Missouri: 2,820,610 jobsMissouri2,820,610Maryland: 2,701,010 jobsMaryland2,701,010Colorado: 2,678,490 jobsColorado2,678,490South Carolina: 2,107,760 jobsSouth Carolina2,107,760Alabama: 1,974,170 jobsAlabama1,974,170Louisiana: 1,921,950 jobsLouisiana1,921,950Oregon: 1,905,860 jobsOregon1,905,860Kentucky: 1,896,900 jobsKentucky1,896,900Connecticut: 1,665,100 jobsConnecticut1,665,100Oklahoma: 1,617,390 jobsOklahoma1,617,390Iowa: 1,549,460 jobsIowa1,549,460Utah: 1,504,070 jobsUtah1,504,070Nevada: 1,392,680 jobsNevada1,392,680Kansas: 1,392,480 jobsKansas1,392,480Arkansas: 1,217,420 jobsArkansas1,217,420Mississippi: 1,128,280 jobsMississippi1,128,280Nebraska: 982,040 jobsNebraska982,040New Mexico: 823,570 jobsNew Mexico823,570Idaho: 727,160 jobsIdaho727,160District of Columbia: 723,510 jobsDistrict of Columbia723,510West Virginia: 702,100 jobsWest Virginia702,100New Hampshire: 660,480 jobsNew Hampshire660,480Hawaii: 635,500 jobsHawaii635,500Maine: 611,170 jobsMaine611,170Rhode Island: 483,580 jobsRhode Island483,580Montana: 468,000 jobsMontana468,000Delaware: 451,900 jobsDelaware451,900South Dakota: 425,140 jobsSouth Dakota425,140North Dakota: 422,520 jobsNorth Dakota422,520Alaska: 317,090 jobsAlaska317,090Vermont: 306,300 jobsVermont306,300Wyoming: 273,340 jobsWyoming273,340California: 17,382,400 jobsCalifornia17,382,400Texas: 12,431,200 jobsTexas12,431,200New York: 9,522,980 jobsNew York9,522,980Florida: 8,794,050 jobsFlorida8,794,050Illinois: 6,025,790 jobsIllinois6,025,790Pennsylvania: 5,901,590 jobsPennsylvania5,901,590Ohio: 5,447,780 jobsOhio5,447,780Georgia: 4,471,860 jobsGeorgia4,471,860North Carolina: 4,462,800 jobsNorth Carolina4,462,800Michigan: 4,344,230 jobsMichigan4,344,230New Jersey: 4,087,950 jobsNew Jersey4,087,950Virginia: 3,878,770 jobsVirginia3,878,770Massachusetts: 3,619,640 jobsMassachusetts3,619,640Washington: 3,318,510 jobsWashington3,318,510Indiana: 3,073,680 jobsIndiana3,073,680Tennessee: 3,007,710 jobsTennessee3,007,710Minnesota: 2,880,650 jobsMinnesota2,880,650Wisconsin: 2,870,050 jobsWisconsin2,870,050Arizona: 2,866,820 jobsArizona2,866,820Missouri: 2,820,610 jobsMissouri2,820,610Maryland: 2,701,010 jobsMaryland2,701,010Colorado: 2,678,490 jobsColorado2,678,490South Carolina: 2,107,760 jobsSouth Carolina2,107,760Alabama: 1,974,170 jobsAlabama1,974,170Louisiana: 1,921,950 jobsLouisiana1,921,950Oregon: 1,905,860 jobsOregon1,905,860Kentucky: 1,896,900 jobsKentucky1,896,900Connecticut: 1,665,100 jobsConnecticut1,665,100Oklahoma: 1,617,390 jobsOklahoma1,617,390Iowa: 1,549,460 jobsIowa1,549,460Utah: 1,504,070 jobsUtah1,504,070Nevada: 1,392,680 jobsNevada1,392,680Kansas: 1,392,480 jobsKansas1,392,480Arkansas: 1,217,420 jobsArkansas1,217,420Mississippi: 1,128,280 jobsMississippi1,128,280Nebraska: 982,040 jobsNebraska982,040New Mexico: 823,570 jobsNew Mexico823,570Idaho: 727,160 jobsIdaho727,160District of Columbia: 723,510 jobsDistrict of Columbia723,510West Virginia: 702,100 jobsWest Virginia702,100New Hampshire: 660,480 jobsNew Hampshire660,480Hawaii: 635,500 jobsHawaii635,500Maine: 611,170 jobsMaine611,170Rhode Island: 483,580 jobsRhode Island483,580Montana: 468,000 jobsMontana468,000Delaware: 451,900 jobsDelaware451,900South Dakota: 425,140 jobsSouth Dakota425,140North Dakota: 422,520 jobsNorth Dakota422,520Alaska: 317,090 jobsAlaska317,090Vermont: 306,300 jobsVermont306,300Wyoming: 273,340 jobsWyoming273,340
jobs. Source: BLS, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2019
jobs		Change on 2018
1California17,382,400+2.2%
2Texas12,431,200+2.6%
3New York9,522,980+1.5%
4Florida8,794,050+2.2%
5Illinois6,025,790+0.6%
6Pennsylvania5,901,590+0.9%
7Ohio5,447,780+0.6%
8Georgia4,471,860+1.8%
9North Carolina4,462,800+1.8%
10Michigan4,344,230+0.6%
11New Jersey4,087,950+0.9%
12Virginia3,878,770+1.2%
13Massachusetts3,619,640+1.4%
14Washington3,318,510+1.8%
15Indiana3,073,680+0.8%
16Tennessee3,007,710+1.7%
17Minnesota2,880,650+0.5%
18Wisconsin2,870,050+0.8%
19Arizona2,866,820+2.8%
20Missouri2,820,610+0.6%
21Maryland2,701,010+0.6%
22Colorado2,678,490+2.2%
23South Carolina2,107,760+2.2%
24Alabama1,974,170+1.6%
25Louisiana1,921,950+0.4%
26Oregon1,905,860+1%
27Kentucky1,896,900+0.4%
28Connecticut1,665,100+0.3%
29Oklahoma1,617,390+1.4%
30Iowa1,549,460+0.5%
31Utah1,504,070+3.3%
32Nevada1,392,680+3.4%
33Kansas1,392,480+1.2%
34Arkansas1,217,420+0.6%
35Mississippi1,128,280+0.4%
36Nebraska982,040+0.4%
37New Mexico823,570+1.5%
38Idaho727,160+3%
39District of Columbia723,510+1.6%
40West Virginia702,100+0.8%
41New Hampshire660,480+1.2%
42Hawaii635,500-1%
43Maine611,170+0.9%
44Rhode Island483,580+0.3%
45Montana468,000+1%
46Delaware451,900+0.8%
47South Dakota425,140+0.7%
48North Dakota422,520+1.4%
49Alaska317,090+0.6%
50Vermont306,300+0.4%
51Wyoming273,340+1.5%

Other periods

About this ranking

Number of wage and salary jobs in nonfarm establishments, all occupations, in May of each year, from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Full-time and part-time jobs count the same.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Excludes the self-employed, owners and partners of unincorporated firms, farm workers, private household workers and unpaid family workers. It is the base of the OEWS wage estimates, not a monthly payroll count.

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. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

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APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000) (US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip

MLA 9

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000), US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS), 2019. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 May 2026, https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wage-and-salary-jobs/us-states?period=2019. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wage-and-salary-jobs/us-states?period=2019.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000), US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/wage-and-salary-jobs/us-states?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_wage_2019,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000): US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wage-and-salary-jobs/us-states?period=2019. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000): US states by wage and salary jobs (OEWS), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/15
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/wage-and-salary-jobs/us-states?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wage-and-salary-jobs/us-states?period=2019.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19st.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest wage and salary jobs (OEWS)?

California, with 17,382,400 jobs in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest wage and salary jobs (OEWS)?

Wyoming, with 273,340 jobs in 2019.

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, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May estimates, state cross-industry file: employment, all occupations (00-0000). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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