Best And Worst States For Women To Work In America: Employment Opportunities And Salary

Washington, D.C. ranks No. 1 among the top 50 state for women to work, when it comes to employment opportunities and salary, and West Virginia was last, in a new report compiled by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Data from the report cited, Women in the District have a median annual income of $60,000, which is double the median annual income for female workers in West Virginia — the state ranked lowest in women’s employment and pay.  The United States overall received a C+ average.

The best place for women’s workforce equality in the United States: Washington, D.C., you don’t have to go far to find the worst environment for working women.

The worst place for women’s workforce equality in the United States: West Virginia

Top 5 Best States For Women To Work:

(1). District of Columbia, Grade: A
Median Annual Earnings Full-Time, Year-Round for Employed Women: $60,000
Earnings Ratio between Full-Time, Year-Round Employed Women and Men: 92.2%
Percent of Women in the Labor Force: 66.9%
Percent of Employed Women, Managerial or Professional Occupations: 60.8%

(2). Massachusetts, Grade: B+
Median Annual Earnings Full-Time, Year-Round for Employed Women: $47,000
Earnings Ratio between Full-Time, Year-Round Employed Women and Men: 82.8%
Percent of Women in the Labor Force: 65.2%
Percent of Employed Women, Managerial or Professional Occupations: 47.2%

(3). Connecticut, Grade: B+

(4). New Jersey, Grade: B+

(5). Maryland, Grade: B+

Top 5 Worst States For Women to work (In order of how they appear on the list):

(47). Wyoming: Grade: D-

(48). Arkansas, Grade: D-

(49). Louisiana, Grade: D-

(50). Alabama, Grade: F

(51). West Virginia, Grade: F
Median Annual Earnings Full-Time, Year-Round for Employed Women: $30,000
Earnings Ratio between Full-Time, Year-Round Employed Women and Men: 66.7%
Percent of Women in the Labor Force: 49.6%
Percent of Employed Women, Managerial or Professional Occupations: 36.5%


Results are based on 4 key metrics: median annual earnings, earnings ratio between men and women, the percentage of women who work, and percent of women in managerial or professional positions. Each state is then assigned a letter grade.