Which US states have the longest and shortest working weeks?
Every US state's working hours ranked

Fact: America is home to a nation of hard workers. According to data shared by Clockify, Americans work 1,757 hours a year on average, which is more than employees in the UK (1,670 hours), Japan (1,738 hour a year), and Germany (1,354 hours a year).
Interestingly, where you live can influence how hard you're likely to work, with the typical number of hours that US workers put in per week varying hugely from state to state.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover where Americans have the longest and shortest working weeks, based on the latest US Census Bureau data.
Utah: 37.2 hours per week

People in the Beehive State have the shortest working week in America, clocking in an average of 37.2 hours. That's one hour and 36 minutes less than the national median of 38.8 hours.
Female employees typically work 33 hours a week, while the equivalent stat for men sits at just over 40.
Oregon: 37.9 hours per week

Next up is Oregon, where people typically work for 37.9 hours every week. Men in the state put in 40.2 hours, while women work for 35.3 hours.
Jobs in the Beaver State vary from positions in traditional industries to more modern roles, with plenty of opportunties also available in outdoor tourism.
Rhode Island: 37.9 hours per week

Workers in the tiny state of Rhode Island also put in 37.9 hours a week on average.
Healthcare is the key industry in Little Rhody and the largest non-government employer is drug store chain owner CVS Health, which has around 295,000 employees at its Woonsocket headquarters.
Vermont: 37.9 hours per week

Professionals in Vermont also average 37.9 hours per week at work.
While the state has a thriving IT industry, the main non-government employer is the University of Vermont Medical Center, a healthcare provider that employs over 8,800 individuals.
Massachusetts: 38 hours per week

On average, residents of Massachusetts work for 38 hours per week. The second wealthiest state in the country, Massachusetts is home to a plethora of major finance and healthcare companies, and also boasts a large number of higher education career opportunities.
Connecticut: 38.1 hours per week

In Connecticut, people are at the grindstone for 38.1 hours a week on average.
And it's not as if employees need to put in the overtime. Wages are already high in the New England state, which has more than its fair share of top-end jobs in the lucrative finance and insurance sectors.
California: 38.2 hours per week

Californians work 38.2 hours a week on average, which is 36 minutes shorter than the national median. Jobs in the state are diverse, ranging from desirable roles in Hollywood's television and movie industry to exciting opportunities in tech epicenter Silicon Valley.
Outside of those areas, the largest industry is by far agriculture, and many other jobs are available in tourism, healthcare, and construction.
New Mexico: 38.2 hours per week

Over in New Mexico, the typical worker also puts in 38.2 hours a week, which is more than half an hour off the national average.
Unemployment is relatively high in the state, sitting at 5.3% as of March 2022. However, a skills shortage means employers can definitely do more to hold onto staff – including not expecting them to put in overly long hours.
Montana: 38.2 hours per week

Traditionally speaking, logging and ranching are both occupations that demand long hours – and both are roles that are commonplace in Montana.
Despite this, service sector jobs are also prevalent in the Big Sky Country, resulting in a shorter-than-average working week of 38.2 hours.
Michigan: 38.3 hours per week

Women in Michigan work 35.3 hours a week on average, while men work 41 hours. Combined, the two come in under the national median of 38.8 hours.
While the state is known for its manufacturing jobs, research conducted by Forbes found that the best employer in the area is the University of Michigan. The establishment currently has just under 38,000 staff on its books.
Minnesota: 38.3 hours per week

Minnesota has one of the highest job vacancy rates in the US. As the state recovers from the pandemic, employers reported more than 205,000 vacanies in 2021, an incredible 84% increase from the second quarter of 2020.
As employers bend over backwards to retain staff, those putting pressure on employees to work long hours may not fare so well. No wonder workers in the state tend to put in a shorter week than the average American...
New York: 38.3 hours per week

In 2015, an NYC Economic Brief from Comptroller Scott M. Stringer revealed that the typical New Yorker averaged a hefty working week of 42.5 hours.
However, this figure has been steadily decreasing ever since and economists say it's due to an increase in lower- and hourly-paid service jobs. Statewide, working hours remain below the national average by half an hour.
Maine: 38.4 hours per week

Maine is renowned for being an industrious area with a strong work ethic. According to the 2020 Census Bureau data, however, people in the Pine Tree State actually work 24 fewer minutes a week than the typical American.
Idaho: 38.4 hours per week

People in Idaho have a working week of 38.4 hours, which comes in shorter than the national average.
Despite this, a 2017 survey from market research institute GfK revealed that workers across the Gem State are the least likely to use all their vacation time. According to the study, 78% of Idahoans failing to use up all their allocated leave compared to the national average of 54%.
Major employers in the state include the grocer Albertsons and semiconductor manufacturer Micron, both of which are headquartered in Boise.
Ohio: 38.4 hours per week

People in Ohio also have a working week that's shorter than the nationwide average. Big-name firms like Honda and Victoria's Secret operate in the state, which is home to a mix of traditional manufacturing and service industries.
Delaware: 38.5 hours per week

Workers in Delaware labor for 18 minutes a week less than the typical American. Industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and mining are all big in the compact First State, with healthcare also prominent thanks to the likes of pharmceutical company AstraZeneca being headquartered in the area.
The aviation industry has also been a growing source of manufacturing jobs in recent years.
New Jersey: 38.5 hours per week

Much like their counterparts in Delaware, workers in New Jersey endure a 38.5 hour week on average.
Jobs aren't hard to come by across the state, which is a center for life sciences, and biopharmaceutical companies, as well as IT, manufacturing, and finance firms.
Washington: 38.6 hours per week

In Washington, workers enjoy a shorter week than the average American. The thriving state is home to various major global companies, including tech firm Microsoft, aerospace giant Boeing, and retailer Costco.
E-commerce giant Amazon is also based in the area; with 80,000 staff in Washington alone, it overtook Boeing to become the state's largest private employer in January 2021.
New Hampshire: 38.6 hours per week

New Hampshire is the hardest-working of the six New England states, and has a typical working week of 38.6 hours. Its top employers include various public and private universities, distributor C&S Wholesale Grocers, and shoe maker Timberland.
Pennsylvania: 38.6 hours per week

Workers in Pennsylvania also tend to put in 38.6 hours across the average week. The state has a high proportion of skilled manual jobs, while the principal employers include Walmart and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Wisconsin: 38.6 hours per week

Likewise, people in Wisconsin work 38.6 hours per week on average.
Jobs are incredibly varied across the state, ranging from high-level positions in healthcare, education, and manufacturing to roles in the dairy industry; after all, the Badger State provides America's second highest level of dairy production.
Illinois: 38.7 hours per week

Workers in Illinois are also used to relatively leisurely working hours, clocking in an average of 38.7 hours a week.
The state's largest employers include pharmacy chain Walgreens, as well as healthcare providers and a number of big-name insurance companies.
Arizona: 38.7 hours per week

The average employee in Arizona will toil away for 38.7 hours a week, which is six minutes off the national average.
The chief employers in the state are healthcare firms and Walmart, while its biggest industries include manufacturing and tourism.
Nevada: 38.8 hours per week

At 38.8 hours, people in Nevada are bang on the national average when it comes to their weekly working hours.
Part-time roles are particularly prevalent here, with many job opportunities in Las Vegas's gambling and entertainment industries.
Florida: 38.8 hours per week

Like their peers in Nevada, people in Florida are exactly average when it comes to their weekly working hours.
Tourism jobs, which are often part-time or seasonal, are abundant in the Sunshine State, as are roles in retail and agriculture.
Maryland: 38.8 hours per week

Maryland's labor force also has an average working week of 38.8 hours, with a large number of people employed by the federal government; in fact, Maryland ranks fourth across the whole country for this as of 2020.
Curiously, male residents tend to work fewer hours than the national average for their gender while women typically work more.
Indiana: 38.8 hours per week

The average working week is 38.8 hours in Indiana as well. Jobs are most plentiful in the manufacturing, transportation, and retail industries, while major employers include engine maker Cummins and health insurer Anthem.
Hawaii: 38.8 hours per week

Another state that puts in precisely average working hours each week is Hawaii. Jobs in tourism and healthcare are plentiful, and wages tend to be more generous in the Aloha State compared to some other areas across the country.
Missouri: 38.9 hours per week

At just a whisker above the nationwide median, the working week in Missouri averages out at 38.9 hours. Jobs are most prevalent in the bioscience, healthcare, and manufacturing industries, which vary in terms of shift-versus-salaried work.
Iowa: 39 hours per week

With agriculture providing a significant number of jobs in the state, it's perhaps no surprise that Iowans are working longer-than-average weeks. Other sectors that are prominent in the Hawkeye State include retail and education.
Kentucky: 39 hours per week

Kentucky's workers are also putting in an average of 39 hours per week. Employers vary: big names include Yum! Brands, which is headquartered in Louisville and operates the likes of Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, as well as leading automotive firms such as Ford.
Colorado: 39 hours per week

People in Colorado also have a work week of 39 hours, although their employers are very different from those in Kentucky and Iowa.
The state's chief employer is Denver International Airport, which accounts for over 35,000 jobs. Government roles are also prevalent in the area, while its advanced manufacturing, healthcare and tourism sectors all offer plenty of opportunities for workers.
West Virginia: 39 hours per week

Yet another state where workers put in 39 hours per week on average, West Virginia is pretty industrious on the whole.
Despite this, highly-paid roles are not as easy to come by compared to other locations in the US. In 2018, for example, teachers across the state went on strike due to receiving up to half of what their counterparts earn in other states.
South Carolina: 39.1 hours per week

People who live in the southeastern United States tend to work longer hours than other Americans, and South Carolinians are no different.
Women put in 36.6 hours a week on average, while men will typically work 41.5 hours over the same period.
North Carolina: 39.1 hours per week

Much like their southern neighbors, people in North Carolina will also typically work 39.1 hours a week.
The state university system is the number one employer, while other large industries in the state include manufacturing, especially for food.
Alabama: 39.1 hours per week

Workers in Alabama also toil away for 39.1 hours per week, which is18 minutes longer than the nationwide average. Overtime-heavy roles in fields such as retail, carmaking, and chemical manufacturing are commonplace in the state.
Virginia: 39.1 hours per week

Workers in West Virginia's richer neighbor put in a slightly longer working week, which averages out at 39.1 hours.
Male employees in Virginia tend to work 41.3 hours across seven days, while the median for women is 36.7 hours.
Tennessee: 39.2 hours per week

Tennessee has an average working week of 39.2 hours, with both men and women putting in longer weeks than the national average.
More than 40,000 people across the state are employed by food and agricultural establishments, which usually call for longer hours. Big-name employers across the state include Jack Daniel's, Bush Beans, and Coca-Cola, among a wide range of others.
Kansas: 39.3 hours per week

Women in Kansas work 36.4 hours a week typically, while the men average a 41.8-hour working week.
Again, this might be explained by the abundance of farming jobs across the Sunflower State, which is one of America's agricultural powerhouses.
Nebraska: 39.3 hours per week

Much like their neighbors in Kansas, Nebraskans put in an average of 39.3 hours per week.
Food processing and agricultural roles are typical in the state. The largest private employer is conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, which employs over 389.000 people.
Georgia: 39.4 hours per week

As is the case with other states in the American South, people in Georgia tend to spend more time working than the average US citizen.
Men typically work 41.7 hours a week, while women put in an average 36.9 hours. The longer hours make sense as many jobs in the state are based around farming.
Arkansas: 39.5 hours per week

In Arkansas, people typically work 42 minutes longer each week than the national average.
The state has a high concentration of agricultural workers – who tend to put in longer hours due to the nature of their work – and is also home to plenty of employees across transport, logistics, and manufacturing for the aerospace and defence industries.
Mississippi: 39.6 hours per week

The typical working week in Mississippi averages out at 39.6 hours, with men putting in 42.2 hours.
As much as 30% of the state's workforce is employed in farming; research has shown that gruelling farm work demands more of employees' time than many other professions.
Oklahoma: 39.6 hours per week

Workers in Oklahoma also put in 39.6 hours per week, meaning they work 48 minutes more than the national average.
Women in the state work 36.8 hours a week on average while men labor for 42.1 hours, which is a whole hour longer than the US median for their gender.
South Dakota: 39.7 hours per week

Both men and women in South Dakota work longer weeks than the national average. More than 40% of women in the state work in education and health services, with retail, finance, and hospitality also popular sectors.
Men are more evenly employed across a wider number of industries, including construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Louisiana: 39.8 hours per week

People in Louisiana have an average working week of 39.8 hours, which is precisely one hour more than the national median.
In addition to agriculture and commercial fishing jobs, roles in the oil and natural gas industry, which can often require workers to put in long days, are relatively numerous in the state.
Texas: 39.9 hours per week

Texas also has masses of energy industry workers, who can tend to put in longer hours than people in other occupations.
Unsurprisingly, the average working week is long: the typical state employee will rack up 39.9 hours over seven days.
Wyoming: 40.1 hours per week

People in Wyoming work 40.1 hours per week, which is an hour and 18 minutes more than the national average.
Despite this, women in Wyoming spend the same amount of time (36.2 hours a week) working as the national average for their gender. Retail accounts for a huge chunk of jobs, with the state's timber industry continuing to decline.
North Dakota: 40.1 hours per week

North Dakota's fracking boom has attracted many oil and mining industry workers, who are predominantly male.
As a result, the gap between the hours men and women work is among the largest in America, at a hefty 7.5 hours.
District of Columbia: 40.3 hours per week

Given its concentration of federal government jobs, D.C.'s workers toil away for more hours a week than people in other locations on the East Coast.
Interestingly, women in D.C. seem to labor the hardest, working just 2.5 hours less than their male counterparts across the typical week.
Alaska: 41.4 hours per week

Alaska is America's hardest-working state, with men putting in 44.7 hours a week and women 37.3 hours on average.
Jobs that call for long hours are common, largely thanks to Alaska's oil and natural gas industry. Workers are also less likely to slack given the state's high unemployment rate; as of February 2022, unemployment sat at 5.4%, compared to the US national average of 3.8%.
Don't worry, you won't have to labor forever – discover which US state is the best to retire to.
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