Think America is the land of equal opportunity? Think again. The latest data from Oxfam shows that there's actually a significant gulf running through the US when it comes to workers' rights, protections and compensation.

The charity has ranked each state (and Washington DC) from best to worst for workers, with each score compiled based on three key factors: wage policies, workplace protection, and support for unionization.

Read on to discover the shocking realities of working life across America, and discover the best and worst US states to be employed in. 

It's good news for workers in the nation's capital. Receiving 85.67 points out of 100 according to Oxfam's assessment, Washington DC boasts the country's highest overall score.

At $17.50 an hour, the district has the highest minimum wage in America. This has no doubt contributed toward its impressive score of 90.22 for the wage policy category, which looks at whether the average worker earns enough to support a family. (DC ranks first in this area, unsurprisingly.) It also scores a perfect 100 in the right to organize category, which assesses whether workers can collectively organize, bargain, and negotiate their wages.

When it comes to the worker protections category, examining the number of policies a state has enacted to protect the health and wellbeing of its workers, DC ranks 5th with a score of 70.24. It doesn't provide protections for warehouse workers, flexible scheduling, or paid pumping breaks for breastfeeding workers. Even so, it's miles ahead of many states on this list.

California receives 85.71 points for worker protection. Of the 16 different criteria Oxfam uses to assess worker protection scores, it fully meets all but three. And it scores a perfect 100 for the right to organize as it's one of the few states that legalized project labor agreements to ensure a fair wage to contract workers.

The Golden State's lowest individual score is for wage policies (75.27). However, this score still puts Californian workers in the US top two thanks to the state's $16 minimum wage, which sits well above the federal minimum of $7.25.

Another West Coast state that flies high on Oxfam's list is Oregon, which has an overall score of 83.53.

Much like California, Oregon scores the lowest for wage policies, ranking 12th across the country for this particular category.

However, it scores an impressive 92.86 for worker protection – the highest among all states – and a flawless 100 for its right to organize.

As well as being the fourth state on our list, New York is also the fourth to score a perfect 100 for its right to organize factor.

It scores second highest for worker protection at 85.71, thanks in part to measures that have been enacted to protect warehouse workers – a new metric introduced by Oxfam this year.

New York's lowest score is for wage policies (70.19). Statewide, the minimum wage is $15.00, which barely covers a third of the cost of living for a working family. 

Washington has the highest score in the nation when it comes to wage policies, with 76.88 points. Although the statewide minimum wage is $16.28, more expensive locations within Washington are setting their own minimum wages. In Seattle, for example, it's $19.97 an hour, while the minimum in SeaTac is now $19.71.

The home state of coffee giant Starbucks, Washington's position in Oxfam's ranking is let down by its right to organize score, which, at 80, makes it the only state in the top five not to receive a perfect 100 for the factor.

That aside, it still performs relatively well for worker protections (71.43) thanks to policies such as its heat standard, which requires employers to ensure staff aren't at risk of heat-related illnesses during hot weather. 

In sixth place is New Jersey, which has received an overall score of 71.91.

It outranks Washington when it comes to the right to organize factor, scoring 90 out of 100. This is because it partially protects its workers against wage theft retaliation, which the lower-scoring Pacific Northwest state completely fails to do. 

Despite being known as the Garden State, New Jersey doesn’t provide a heat safety standard for its outdoor workers. It also lacks protections for warehouse workers and child labor. As such, it scores 60.71 for worker protection and clocks in at 70.4 for its wage policies.

Illinois is safely the top scoring state in the Great Lakes region at 70.68.

Its impressive workers' right to organize score stays near the top at 95. Meanwhile, its statewide minimum wage is $14.00 an hour, close to double the federal minimum of $7.25. It also gets credit for being one of several states that allow local governments to set the minimum above the state standard, with workers in Chicago earning at least $16.20 per hour.  

However, Illinois falls out of the top 10 for worker protections, scoring just 57.14. This is because it doesn't mandate flexible scheduling, paid family leave, or heat and warehouse worker protections.

According to Oxfam's calculations, Massachusetts is the highest-scoring state in New England.

With an overall score of 70.62, it stands out for its laws that aim to improve compensation and conditions in the workplace. However, it falls down due to its lack of a heat safety standard and paid pumping breaks, as well as its approaches to flexible scheduling of worker shifts and split shift pay regulation.

Its minimum wage is comparatively high at $15 an hour, except for tipped workers whose minimum drops to $6.75. It therefore scores 60.94 for wage policies, along with 90 for right to organize.

Following closely behind Massachusetts is neighboring New England state Connecticut. With a total score of 70.31, Connecticut ranks ninth overall but comes in sixth for its worker protections score, which is a respectable 67.86.

While it ranks well for paid family and sick leave, it lacks the provision of paid pumping breaks and flexible scheduling, along with the increasingly important heat safety and warehouse worker protections.

Connecticut's minimum wage of $15.69 per hour covers 34% of the cost of living for a family of four, putting the state 10th in the rankings for wage policies with a score of 66.4. It scores 80 for the right to organize, failing to protect workers against wage theft retaliation.

Bringing the top 10 to a close is Colorado, which has an overall score of 68.84.

The Centennial State ranks higher than both Illinois and Connecticut for its wage policies thanks to increased earnings for tipped staff. Colorado raised its minimum wage to $14.42 at the start of 2023, and employers are mandated to pay tipped workers at least $11.40 per hour. It scores 68.98 for wages and 60.71 for worker protections.

However, its right to organize score dropped from 90 in 2023 to 80 in 2024 as the state doesn't provide collective bargaining and wage negotiation for teachers. 

The Land of 10,000 Lakes – not to mention close to three million workers – Minnesota has an overall score of 66.878.

Minnesota has seen significant improvement in its worker protection score, which has soared from 48.81 in 2023 to 64.29 this year. Oxfam praises the state for enacting laws to protect warehouse workers, along with paid pumping breaks and paid sick and family leave laws.

For wage policies, Minnesota ranks lower at 19th, with a score of 54.67. The minimum wage is $10.85, covering only 26.5% of the cost of living for a family four. However, it does score points for eliminating subminimum wages for tipped workers – they also earn $10.85 per hour. The state is somewhat redeemed by its high right to organize score of 90. 

While it might bear the nickname "Vacationland," Maine is home to a workforce of around 700,000 people, according to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It’s one of several states that have passed legislation to increase the minimum wage in line with inflation at the start of each year, which works out to $14.15 an hour in 2024. With its wage policy score of 67.95, it ranks 8th, beating Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Illinois. 

Maine scores 80 for the right to organize factor, and just 50 for worker protection.

The cost of living in paradise doesn't come cheap, so while Hawaiʻi's minimum wage of $14 seems comparatively high, it covers little more than 27% of what's needed to support a family of four in the state. As such, the state's wage policy score is 61.31.

Unfortunately, its worker protections score is even lower (50). This is due to a lack of both paid leave and flexible scheduling, as well as no heat standard for outdoor workers, nor protection for warehouse workers.

However, enacting higher penalties for wage theft, Hawaiʻi has a high right to organize score of 90.

With an overall score of 62.37, Vermont trails its New England neighbors. One of the state's biggest downfalls is the fact it doesn’t extend its minimum wage law ($13.67 for untipped employees and $6.84 for tipped employees) to cover farm workers.

Its worker protection policies are also relatively lacking. The Green Mountain State fully or partially satisfies just eight of Oxfam’s 16 criteria, meaning it doesn’t offer policies such as paid family leave, split shift pay regulation, or a heat safety standard.

Vermont still scores 90 for the right to organize, but just 55.91 for wage policies and 50 for worker protection.

Maryland is the 15th best state for workers, with Oxfam giving it an overall score of 62.28.

Like Vermont, Maryland fully or partially meets only eight of Oxfam’s criteria for worker protection for a score of 53.57. It's seriously lacking in areas such as provision for paid breastfeeding in the workplace, flexible shift scheduling, heat safety standards, and extending protections to domestic workers. 

Meanwhile, it scores 65.07 for wage policies and 70 for the right to organize factor.

Unlike many of the higher scoring states, Rhode Island doesn't allow localities to implement their own minimum wages. The statewide wage is $14, contributing to a score of 46.48 in Oxfam's wage policies category.

State legislature has passed laws prohibiting pay secrecy practices in the workplace as well as enacting paid leave, giving the state a higher worker protections score of 57.14. Meanwhile, Rhode Island's right to organize score is 80, the same as its New England neighbors Connecticut and Maine.

New Mexico scores 59.52 overall, and 63.39 for wage policies. Although the untipped minimum wage is well above the federal minimum wage at $12, the tipped wage is a measly $3.

The state's worker protections score is even lower at 40.48. New Mexico has introduced paid sick leave for employees affected by serious illness, but still doesn't offer paid family leave. It meets just five of the 18 criteria on Oxfam's list.

It does earn a respectable 80 for right to organize.

Like Minnesota, Nevada's minimum wage is the same regardless of whether workers are tipped. Considering that much of Nevada's economy is rooted in the casino and hospitality sector – it's actually the state's largest industry, employing as much as 27% of workers – this benefits a significant proportion of the workforce. And it shows in the state's wage policy score of 61.14.

Nevada has implemented some forms of paid sick leave but is still lacking when it comes to many other indicators, including heat protection, resulting in a worker protection score of just 46.43. 

Nevada has a right to organize score of 70, which is still not enough to boost its overall score of 58.21.

Just about scraping into the top 20, Delaware doesn’t score nearly as well as neighboring states such as New Jersey and Maryland.

With a wage policy score of 51.05, Delaware has implemented a minimum wage of $13.25, which covers little over 31% of the living costs required by a family of four. For tipped employees, the minimum is a pitiful $2.23. 

The state fully satisfies just five of Oxfam’s 16 criteria for worker protections, giving it a score of 39.29. However, its right to organize score is much more impressive, coming in at 95.

Alaska is one of the few states that has set the tipped and non-tipped minimum wage at the same rate, currently at $11.73. Unfortunately, this only covers around 26% of what's needed to support a family of four, while the state's average unemployment benefits cover a scant 14%. This all makes for a wage policy score of just 50.99.

Worker protections come in even lower at 29.76, leaving Alaska lagging behind in 30th place for this category and the lowest on this list so far. It partially or fully meets just four of Oxfam’s worker protection criteria, but maintains an 80 for the right to organize. 

Another state that has passed legislation to raise its minimum wage in line with inflation, Ohio has an overall score of 50.79. Much of this centers on its right to organize score (95), however, as it falls seriously short on many of Oxfam’s criteria for both wages (scoring 44.69) and worker protections (26.19).

Ohio's minimum wage is currently $10.45 an hour and the Buckeye State doesn’t allow localities to impose their own amounts. It also fails to meet all but three of Oxfam's worker protection standards.

Arizona, too, has enacted legislation to increase the minimum wage in line with inflation at the start of each year, but scores much higher than Ohio for wage policies at 68.64 points. The $14.25 minimum wage for non-tipped workers covers one-third of what, on average, a family of four needs to live on.

However, its right to organize and worker protection scores are a different story, at just 30 and 40.48 respectively. Arizona doesn’t provide paid pumping breaks for breastfeeding workers, offers no paid family leave, and also fails to provide flexible shift scheduling and a heat safety standard. It’s also maintained the controversial "right-to-work" law, giving it a pitiful right to organize score of 0.

In 23rd place is Nebraska with an overall score of 48.22. 

Nebraska’s average unemployment benefits cover just over 15% of the cost of living, while its untipped minimum wage of $12 isn’t extended to farm workers – even though agriculture is Nebraska's biggest industry. In fact, one in four jobs across the state are related to farming or ranching, according to the state government.

It may have received 70 points for the right to organize factor, but the state's scores are dragged down when it comes to workers' pay at 46.59 and protection at 34.52 – the state lacks basic policies such as heat safety laws and paid sick leave.

Along with states including Minnesota and Alaska, Montana has abolished a sub-minimum tipped wage.

This means that tipped and untipped employees both earn at least $10.30 an hour. Localities are also free to implement higher minimum wages if they wish, with all of these policies extended to farm workers.

While all of this has helped Montana’s wage policies score earn 53.43 points, the state's overall score is let down by its low mark for worker protection, which is just 33.33. While it mandates equal pay for all genders and races, and provides some sexual harassment protection, it still fails to meet the dozen other criteria that Oxfam tracked in its research.

Virginia is the highest-ranking state in the southeastern region according to Oxfam. However, coming in at 25th, there's definitely room for improvement.

Its worker protection and wages scores are identical at 41.67. The state's $12.00 minimum wage will cover only 28% of the cost of living for a typical household of four, while the tipped minimum wage of $2.13 goes little way toward paying the bills. Meanwhile, there are no mandates for paid leave, protections for warehouse workers, or laws on flexible scheduling. 

The state partially protects workers against wage theft retaliation and has fully legalized project labor agreements that ensure employees are given a fair wage on contract. However, with a "right-to-work" law, its right to organize score comes in at 65.

With a score of 59.83, South Dakota scored best when it comes to wages. The $11.20 an hour minimum wage is higher than neighboring state Minnesota, although that is halved to $5.60 for tipped workers. 

Unfortunately, the state fully complies with only three of Oxfam's criteria for worker protections, earning a lowly 29.76 points. And when it comes to the right to organize, South Dakota scores only 40 – not nearly enough to lift its overall score, and by far the lowest one awarded in this category so far in the list.

It's a similar story in Missouri where tipped workers are mandated to make only half of the minimum wage, which is set at $12.30 – although employers must top up workers' salaries if their total pay doesn't equal $12.30 an hour. Unfortunately, Missouri doesn't allow local governments to set their own minimum above the state standard, which is why its wages policy score is 49.14, a full 10 points below South Dakota's.

When it comes to worker protection, Missouri has enacted only three of the 16 policies tracked by Oxfam. However, the state gains points for having overturned its "right-to-work" law in 2018. It scores just 26.19 for worker protections, receiving 60 points for the right to organize factor. 

Worker protections is Florida's lowest-scoring category, with the state meeting just three of Oxfam's criteria and receiving 29.76 points as a result.

The Sunshine State fares better when it comes to wage policies and the right to organize, with 45.35 and 60 points respectively.

However, its scores in both of these areas are capped by the fact it still has the controversial "right-to-work" law in place and doesn’t fully legalize project labor agreements, which would ensure workers receive fair pay at the point of contract.

New Hampshire follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for untipped employees, which accounts for a paltry 16% of the cost of living for a family of four. The state's tipped minimum wage is $3.27.

Meanwhile, average unemployment benefits in the state cover a mere 10% of the cost of living, giving it a wage policies score of just 18.4.

It scores 38.1 for worker protections and meets six of Oxfam’s 16 criteria, including mandating equal pay, providing flexible shift scheduling, and extending workers’ compensation mandates to farm workers. Its overall score is bolstered by its high right to organize score of 80.

Michigan scores 46.02 overall, receiving 36.58 for wage policies, 30.95 for worker protections, and 60 for the right to organize. It overturned its “right-to-work” law in 2023, the first time a state has done so in decades.

Michigan doesn’t enable localities to set their own minimum wage above the statewide hourly wage of $10.33, but, unlike some other states, it does partially extend its minimum wage policy to farm workers.

It fully meets just three of Oxfam’s worker protection policies, and partially meets indicators related to paid sick leave and farm worker compensation.

Pennsylvania has the worst wage policies score (12.79) on our list so far, which is partly due to its adoption of the $7.25 federal minimum wage. Oxfam has found that this barely covers 17% of the cost of living for a typical family of four, while Pennsylvania’s average unemployment benefits cover around 9% of these costs.

The state also falls short when it comes to worker protections, fully meeting just three of Oxfam's criteria in this category and scoring a dismal 29.76.

Its overall score is substantially boosted by its much healthier right to organize score of 80.

If you thought Pennsylvania's wages score was bad, just look at Indiana. Oxfam has given the Hoosier State a measly 6.21 out of 100 – the  worst score in this category across the country – due to its refusal to raise the hourly minimum wage from $7.25.

Indiana's average unemployment benefits cover less than 9% of the cost of living, leaving hundreds of thousands of families struggling. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that more than 12% of the state's population lives under the poverty line, so it’s painfully clear that the existing salary measures are falling short.

The state fares slightly better for its worker protections (29.76), as well as for the right to organize category (50).

In West Virginia, workers can expect to earn a minimum wage of $8.75, which is $1.50 higher than the federal minimum.

The most recent increase took place in 2016, and while it only covers an estimated 24% of the average family's needs, localities are allowed to set their own rates, resulting in a wage policy score of 34.84.

On the other hand, worker protections are lacking in the Mountain State. West Virginia scores 22.62 in this category, fully or partially meeting just three of the criteria. Dragging its overall score down even further is the lackluster 10 points it's earned in the right to organize category.

Idaho may border Washington and Oregon, yet it's worlds away when it comes to Oxfam's index, scoring just 24.21 overall.

At $3.35 per hour, its tipped minimum wage is slightly higher than the federal level of $2.13 but still lags behind that of many other states. Meanwhile the average unemployment benefits cover just 8.6% of the cost of living. The Gem State's wage policies score is consequently a low 12.6.

Idaho provides collective wage negotiations and bargaining to teachers but is one of several "right to work" states, capping its right to organize score at 30.

Oklahoma is another of the many states that follow the federal minimum wage, which accounts for around 19% of the cost of living for a family of four. Its wage policies score of 12.13 puts it in the bottom 10 for this category.

Its scores best (33.33) for worker protection thanks to its mandate for equal pay among genders and races, as well as the provision of some sexual harassment and child labor protections. 

Due to its limited collective bargaining protections and refusal to overturn its "right-to-work" law, it scores just 30 points for the workers' right to organize category.

At 23.99, Iowa's overall score isn't far from Oklahoma's, and it also scores just 30 for the right to organize factor.

Iowa's workers actually fare slightly better when it comes to wages with the state coming in at 21.43. It also follows the federal minimum wage, except when it comes to tipped workers who are guaranteed a higher rate at a minimum of $4.35 per hour. 

However, Iowa scores low for worker protections at 22.62, just meeting two of the 16 criteria – for equal pay and provision of sexual harassment protection.

With an overall score of 23.64, Wisconsin is the 15th worst state for workers to live in.

Like many of the states this far down in the rankings, Wisconsin has chosen to impose the federal minimum wage of $7.25 and doesn’t enable localities to increase this figure. However, it does extend its minimum wage policy to include farm workers.

It mandates equal pay and provides some form of protection for both child labor and sexual harassment. Beyond this, however, it fails to meet any more of Oxfam’s worker protection checkpoints, while its "right-to-work" act keeps its right to organize score very low at 20.

Arkansas, the home of retail giant Walmart, scores comparatively well (40.16) for its approach to wages.

This means it outranks several states higher up on this list, with its minimum wage of $11 covering more than 30% of the cost of living for a family of four. However, it hasn’t abolished its untipped minimum wage, which currently sits at just $2.63 an hour – a mere 50 cents above the federal level.

Things really go downhill when it comes to Arkansas’s performance in the two other categories that Oxfam has assessed, lacking child labor provisions and scoring 0 for the right to organize.

The Peace Garden State scores 20 for its right to organize, 26.19 for worker protections, and 20.78 for wage policies.

Localities in North Dakota aren’t allowed to raise the minimum wage above the federal level of $7.25, although its policies are somewhat extended to cover farm workers.

State laws mandate just three worker protections: child labor, equal pay among genders and races, and some form of sexual harassment protection.

North Dakota also falls down when it comes to the right to organize factor, as it’s maintained its "right-to-work" act and only offers partial protection against wage theft retaliation.

Louisiana also performs poorly for wage policies, with its score of 13.47 significantly reducing its overall position in the ranking. Its right to organize score is just 20. 

Louisiana follows the federal minimum wage for both tipped and untipped employees, at $2.13 and $7.25 respectively. 

However, with a worker protection score of 34.52, Louisiana actually ranks 24th in this category nationally. Along with equal pay across gender and races, it prohibits pay secrecy practices in the workplace. 

At just 9.21, Kansas has one of the lowest wage policy scores in America.

It follows the federal minimum wages for both tipped and untipped employees, with $7.25 an hour accounting for around 18% of the cost of living for the average family of four. These policies aren't extended to cover farm workers, despite the fact that agriculture is "the largest economic driver in Kansas," according to the state's Department of Agriculture.

While Kansas still has a "right-to-work" law, it also provides collective bargaining and the right for teachers to organize. Its score for right to organize is 30, while its worker protection score is 26.19.

The wage situation is moderately better in neighboring Kentucky, which scores 13.13 for wage policies. 

Localities aren’t allowed to raise the $7.25 minimum wage, which doesn't even cover 20% of the costs of living for a household of four, while the average unemployment benefits will barely cover 12% of those costs. 

Compared to wages, the state performs only slightly better for worker protections and right to organize, with scores of 19.05 and 30 respectively, but not enough to keep Kentucky out of the bottom 10 states.

Wyoming has a smaller workforce than any other state in America, owing simply to the fact it also has the country's smallest population at around 577,000 people,.

The so-called Equality State isn't perhaps as fair-minded towards its workers as its nickname might imply. It doesn’t extend its minimum wage of $7.25 to cover farm workers and also falls short on all but three of Oxfam’s worker protection criteria. In addition to that, it's maintained its "right-to-work" act.

It scores 18.83 for wage policies, 26.19 for worker protections, and 10 for the right to organize.

The 8th worst state for workers, Oxfam awarded Utah just 16.78 points. Its highest score is for worker protections at 29.76, although it still only meets (or partially meets) four of the 16 criteria.

Its wage policies score is a meager 9.66, reflecting its adoption of the federal minimum wage for both tipped and untipped employees. It partially extends these policies to farm laborers.

Meanwhile, the Beehive State scores only 10 for the right to organize category as it still has a "right-to-work" law and provides limited collective bargaining for public workers. 

Texas scores a big fat zero for the right to organize factor, making it one of just five states to do so. According to Oxfam's report, these offer "no support for worker organizing, whether by public or private employees."

The Lone Star State scores 26.19 for worker protection, offering just three of the criteria listed in the report: mandating equal pay among genders and races, providing some form of sexual harassment protection, and laws against child labor.

Like many of its southern neighbors, Texas adheres to the federal minimum wage but does at least partially extend this policy to cover farm laborers for a score of 14.32.

With an overall score of 12.49, Tennessee is one of the worst places to live for workers. In its best performance among the categories, it meets just two of Oxfam's worker protection criteria, giving it a score of 19.05.

Unfortunately, at 8.3, its wage policies score is substantially lower, which is due to its adoption of the federal minimum wage and its refusal to extend this to farm laborers.

It barely registers a right to organize score at 10, thanks to partially providing collective bargaining and wage negotiation to teachers, a policy that many other southern states haven't adopted.

Like Texas, South Carolina receives no points for the right to organize factor, making it one of five states to score zero for this category. 

It also has one of the lowest wage policies score of any state, at just 7.59. According to the Census Bureau, 14% of South Carolinians live in poverty and it's no wonder. With a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, a worker supporting a family of four can only cover around 18% of the costs of living. 

The state meets just three of Oxfam's 16 worker protection criteria, none of which are paid leave that could support working families, landing it with a score of 26.19. 

The fourth worst state for workers and with an overall index score of 10.75, Alabama scores 14.29 for worker protections, 10 for right to organize, and a dismal 8.14 for wage policies.

It's one of the many states that mandates equal pay across gender and race, but also prohibits pay secrecy practices in the workplace and restricts access to salary history to reduce gender and racial bias.

However, Alabama's overall score stays low as it upholds its "right-to-work" law and makes unionization near impossible for its employees, with the exception of partially requiring collective bargaining for public employees.

Scoring in the single digits, Georgia joins Texas and South Carolina in receiving zero points for its right to organize factor.

While it's one of the few states that provides paid pumping breaks, along with mandating equal pay for all races and genders and laws against child labor, it still fails to meet any of Oxfam's other worker protection criteria, giving it a score of 19.05.

It's even more dire when it comes to wage policies, with the state receiving a score of just 7.98. Georgia's minimum wage is actually only $5.15 per hour, however, that defaults to the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Unfortunately, the state doesn't allow localities to increase the rates.

While Mississippi may just miss out on landing bottom place in Oxfam's ranking, it still gets the lowest score for worker protections. Receiving 7.14 points, it meets just one of the charity's criteria, which relates to child labor laws.

Its inadequate minimum wage provisions ($7.25 an hour) give it a wage policy score of just 8.3 – not quite the lowest score across the country, but still within the bottom 10.

Meanwhile, the Magnolia State scores 10 for the right to organize factor as it provides partial collective bargaining for public workers. 

Sitting firmly in last place is North Carolina, which is officially the worst state for American workers according to Oxfam's research – a title it's held for five years running. With an overall score of just 5.53 out of 100, it's painfully clear that the Tar Heel State is desperately lacking in terms of what it offers its employees.

It's one of just four states – the others being Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi – that offer no legal protection against sexual harassment, although North Carolina does mandate equal pay across genders and races. 

All in all, it has been scored 8.33 for worker protections, 6.52 for wages, and a big fat zero for the right to organize.

Now discover what the average American is worth in every state