The best states for working moms in 2024

With Mother’s Day right around the corner it’s a good time to celebrate the 74% of moms with children under 18 who are members of the US workforce. While we might celebrate women on Mother’s Day, many working moms still face an uphill battle when it comes to equitable pay. 

A new study by Wallet Hub, a personal finance company, found that even though women make up nearly half of the US workforce, their average hourly wage is only 82% of what men make. While some states are working to improve working conditions for women, especially mothers, parental leave policies and legal support services vary state by state. 

“Working moms have to carefully balance career opportunities with factors that provide a good environment for their children to live. The best states provide equitable pay for women and the potential for career advancement, along with robust parental leave policies and high-quality child care, health care and schools. This gives working moms both the financial ability and peace of mind to not have to choose between a career and a family,” said Cassandra Happe, Wallethub Analyst. 

The study found that the highest ranking state for working moms in 2024 is Massachusetts. The state comes in second for child care, seventh for professional opportunities and first for work-life balance. Massachusetts also had one of the lowest unemployment rates for women last year – at just 2.8%. The state is followed by Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Minnesota and New Jersey for best opportunities for working moms. 

Related: Half of working moms believe doing so has held them back professionally

The study ranked New York, first for the best day-care systems, followed by Washington and a three-way tie between North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas. The states with the lowest child-care costs, as a percentage of median women’s income, included South Dakota, Missouri, West Virginia, Arkansas and Mississippi.