The Best and Worst States for Remote Workers

The rise of remote and flexible work has increased interest since many workers began to work from home in 2020.

But which states are the best and which are the worst for people working from home? Take a look at this list and find out.

#1 California: 13.67%

california 2
Canva
Canva

California tops the list of most remote jobs available in the entire country.

Most major tech companies call California home, with headquarters in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay area.

ADVERTISEMENT

#2 Texas: 8.53%

ADVERTISEMENT
US-MEXICO-POLITICS-SECURITY-BORDER
PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images
PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Coming in second is Texas, with many California-based companies moving to Texas thanks to the lower living costs and more flexible tax laws.

ADVERTISEMENT

Most notable is Tesla, which relocated to the lone star state in December 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

#3 New York: 6.42%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
MapChart_Map
Mapchart.net
Mapchart.net
ADVERTISEMENT

New York is another state that boasts happy remote workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Considering the average commute times when not working remotely, it makes sense that New York functions better as a remote working location. It also has one of the highest internet speeds.

ADVERTISEMENT

#4 Florida: 5.07%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jorge-vasconez-CpeUoLVTAs8-unsplash
Jorge Vasconez/Unsplash
Jorge Vasconez/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks to its lack of state income tax for individuals, Florida has slowly risen to the top as one of the states those seeking remote jobs are calling home.

ADVERTISEMENT

A more affordable cost of living also attracts remote workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

#5 Illinois: 4.67%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
joseph-frank-XGC_1eH_ZGI-unsplash
Joseph Frank/Unsplash
Joseph Frank/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Winters in Illinois can be pretty brutal, with sweltering summers.

ADVERTISEMENT

The extreme weather is why so many people enjoy remote working in order to avoid traveling in such severe weather conditions.

ADVERTISEMENT

#6 Pennsylvania: 4.05%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
nicole-wolf-CZ9AjMGKIFI-unsplash
Nicole Wolf/Unsplash
Nicole Wolf/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

With many cities that make working from home accessible, Pennsylvania offers workers an excellent work-life balance, with a low cost of living and the ability to explore nature and amenities when the work day is over.

ADVERTISEMENT

#7 Massachusetts: 3.67%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
MapChart_Map (1)
Mapchart.net
Mapchart.net
ADVERTISEMENT

Massachusetts ranked third in the work environment category in a report posted by WalletHub.

ADVERTISEMENT

The article examined the number of workers working from home or in roles that translate remotely and how many people have internet access at home.

ADVERTISEMENT

#8 Georgia: 3.44%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
andreas-dress-ZtD4DdClWGI-unsplash
Andreas Dress/Unsplash
Andreas Dress/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Georgia ranks as the best southeastern state for remote workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

The city of Atlanta, in particular, finds that roughly 41% of people in the metro Atlanta area worked remotely occasionally.

ADVERTISEMENT

#9 North Carolina: 3.32%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
daniel-weiss-aj2Os9mYgJU-unsplash
Daniel Weiss/Unsplash
Daniel Weiss/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Beginning in 2021, North Carolina saw many new residents moving to the state.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is thanks to flexible opportunities to work from home and a lower cost of living compared to other states.

ADVERTISEMENT

#10 Ohio: 3.20%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050469
Vlada Karpovich/Pexels
Vlada Karpovich/Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

In Ohio, the top industries for remote jobs are HR and recruiting, data entry, computer, and IT.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cities throughout the state offer amenities that attract families, with a broader range of childcare options compared to other states.

ADVERTISEMENT

#11 Virginia: 3.18%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
windows-NIAwQT3mB98-unsplash
Windows/Unsplash
Windows/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Virginia is the home of several companies that offer remote work opportunities, from mortgage consulting services to Information Technology services to remote teaching opportunities.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many co-working centers offer remote workers a chance to feel like they're in an office.

ADVERTISEMENT

#12 Washington: 2.91%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
tim-gouw-NSFG5sJYZgQ-unsplash
Tim Gouw/Unsplash
Tim Gouw/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks to the low retail price of electricity, and the large size of the average home, Washington manages to outshine other Pacific Northwest states in providing remote workers with a happy work environment.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is why many residents are still working remotely.

ADVERTISEMENT

#13 Michigan: 2.26%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
christin-hume-slbqShqAhEo-unsplash
Christin Hume/Unsplash
Christin Hume/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

While the state of Michigan offers excellent remote work opportunities, the city of Ann Arbor offers the most agreeable cost of living, including transportation, rent, internet, and gym, balanced with high salaries.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is the perfect place for people interested in working from home.

ADVERTISEMENT

#14 Arizona: 2.45%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ganapathy-kumar-L75D18aVal8-unsplash
Ganapathy Kumar/Unsplash
Ganapathy Kumar/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

The southern United States has quite a few states offering positive opportunities to work remotely.

ADVERTISEMENT

Arizona is no different, with many virtual business companies, such as cloud storage solutions and project management apps. The yearlong good weather is another plus.

ADVERTISEMENT

#15 Colorado: 2.14%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
colorado
Canva
Canva
ADVERTISEMENT

Colorado might be the place to go if you're the more outdoorsy type and want to work remotely.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although other states like California also offer plenty of outdoor activities, Colorado boasts a much lower cost of living that is more accessible to prospective new residents.

ADVERTISEMENT

#16 Minnesota: 2.14%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
eastman-childs-ycazg-6lTS0-unsplash
Eastman Childs/Unsplash
Eastman Childs/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Minnesota is home to over 11,000 lakes, making it a haven for outdoors enthusiasts.

ADVERTISEMENT

It also has low crime rates, affordable housing, and many remote jobs, particularly in healthcare and social assistance, making it attractive for remote workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

#17 Maryland: 2.12%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
bonnie-kittle-GiIZSko7Guk-unsplash
Bonnie Kittie/Unsplash
Bonnie Kittie/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Parts of Maryland are in the metro Washington, D.C., which also has a high percentage of remote workers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maryland is slowly encouraging more remote work through its telework program, which already sees reduced carbon emissions as one of the many benefits.

ADVERTISEMENT

#18 New Jersey: 2.03%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pexels-ekaterina-bolovtsova-4049988
Ekaterina Bolovtsova/Pexels
Ekaterina Bolovtsova/Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

New Jersey is another state that favors working remotely, with many people having high-speed internet at home and low internet costs.

ADVERTISEMENT

The state also has the highest number of employees who can easily transition to working from home.

ADVERTISEMENT

#19 Tennessee: 1.93%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
MapChart_Map (2)
Mapchart.net
Mapchart.net
ADVERTISEMENT

Chattanooga, Tennessee, is one of the best southern cities for remote workers, thanks to its internet speeds compared to other cities.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Tennessee is not the best place for new homeowners to move, with sales prices higher than the national average.

ADVERTISEMENT

#20 Oregon: 1.70%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
flipsnack-ZeqUBBqsH0k-unsplash
Flipsnack/Unsplash
Flipsnack/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Oregon has roughly 9.4% of its workforce working remotely, perfect for workers seeking an active lifestyle.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was one of the few states already to have many remote employees before 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

#21 Missouri: 1.68%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
andrew-neel-ADjcacMLblo-unsplash
Andrew Neel/Unsplash
Andrew Neel/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

More and more companies based in Missouri have been increasing their remote offerings, including those in marketing, customer service, and business.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, they still have a long way to go to catch up to the number of offerings in other states.

ADVERTISEMENT

#22 Wisconsin: 1.62%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
thought-catalog-Nv-vx3kUR2A-unsplash
Thought Catalog/Unsplash
Thought Catalog/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Wisconsin sees much remote work in management positions, software analysis, web development, and HR.

ADVERTISEMENT

Madison, in particular, with its lower cost of living and number of outdoor activities, helps Wisconsin in this regard.

ADVERTISEMENT

#23 Indiana: 1.52%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
MapChart_Map (3)
Mapchart.net
Mapchart.net
ADVERTISEMENT

Indiana is trying to pass legislation allowing more employees to work from home.

ADVERTISEMENT

The legislation would work by paying new employees to move to the state and receive grants throughout the program.

ADVERTISEMENT

#24 Connecticut: 1.35%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mohammad-shahhosseini-6pKiZtDsis8-unsplash
Mohammad Shahhosseini/Unsplash
Mohammad Shahhosseini/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

The pandemic has redefined Connecticut's workforce, with many jobs becoming remote.

ADVERTISEMENT

While this is the case, some cities, like West Hartford, are struggling to keep up with the demand for apartments and condos for new residents.

ADVERTISEMENT

#25 Utah: 1.29%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
brent-pace-iGpIf75390Q-unsplash
Brent Pace/Unsplash
Brent Pace/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

In Utah, the number of remote workers might not be very high, but a few towns throughout the state have been secret havens for remote work for years, even before 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

Of such town is Heber.

ADVERTISEMENT

#26 South Carolina: 1.17%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
MapChart_Map (4)
Mapchart.net
Mapchart.net
ADVERTISEMENT

The offerings for remote work in South Carolina are primarily start-up companies, particularly those that appeal to millennials.

ADVERTISEMENT

Most of these opportunities are in Charleston, with the rest of the state still needing to catch up with remote work opportunities.

ADVERTISEMENT

#27 Alabama: 0.93%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
alizee-baudez-QElq3IdWzlQ-unsplash
Alizee Baudez/Unsplash
Alizee Baudez/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

While Alabama does have a low cost of living, the state is prone to hurricanes, poor health care, and slower internet speeds.

ADVERTISEMENT

The state has a program called Remote Shoals which is trying to bring remote workers to the Shoals area.

ADVERTISEMENT

#28 Kentucky: 0.87%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pexels-pixabay-221011
Pixabay/Pexels
Pixabay/Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

According to a report by Career Cloud, Kentucky has one of the country's lowest employment rates.

ADVERTISEMENT

With a low number of the population having access to in-home internet, remote work is still relatively new.

ADVERTISEMENT

#29 Oklahoma: 0.85%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
jason-strull-KQ0C6WtEGlo-unsplash
Jason Strull/Unsplash
Jason Strull/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Oklahoma is steadily becoming a place for remote workers to call home.

ADVERTISEMENT

The city of Tulsa, for example, offers a program to entice remote workers to move and start a new life, with cash incentives to cover the cost of relocating.

ADVERTISEMENT

#30 Iowa: 0.77%

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
iowa
Canva
Canva
ADVERTISEMENT

If there's anything that every remote worker needs, it's fast and reliable internet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, Iowa still has some catching up to do in this department, leaving much to be desired despite the low living costs.