Women account for nearly half of the U.S. workforce and research shows 74% of moms with kids under 18 were working in 2025. But since women only earn about 82% of what men make per hour, working moms are still fighting an uphill battle in the workplace. It’s even tougher for those who don’t live somewhere that helps support working mothers’ needs and a new report highlights which states are doing a good job with that and which ones could do better.
- WalletHub’s annual list of the Best and Worst States for Working Moms has just come out.
- They ranked all 50 states and Washington, D.C. on 17 key metrics in the main areas of child care, professional opportunities and work-life balance for mothers.
- States were rated on child care costs, pediatricians per capita, median women’s salary, parental leave policy, and more.
- This year, Connecticut tops the list as the best state for working moms. It’s first for child care, second for professional opportunities, and eighth for work-life balance.
- Massachusetts, number two overall, is first for work-life balance.
- Maryland, 11th overall, is number one for professional opportunities.
- At the bottom of the list is Louisiana, making it the worst state for working moms.
The Top 10 States for Working Moms
(Click here to see where your state lands on the list)
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- New Jersey
- Vermont
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Washington, D.C.
- New York
- North Dakota
The 10 Worst States for Working Moms
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- New Mexico
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- Arizona
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Texas
- Idaho
Source: WalletHub
photo: GETTY