Worst States for Women

Rhode Island ranks as one of the top states for women largely because female workers tend to have relatively high earnings. The median annual earnings for female workers in the state is $49,452, more than $3,000 higher than is typical nationwide. Though this is still 14.5% lower than the median annual earnings for male workers, that is one of the 10 smallest gender wage gaps in the U.S.

Positions of power in Rhode Island are nearly evenly split between men and women. Women account for more than 45% of the seats in the state legislature and more than 46% of all management positions. Both shares rank as the third highest among states.

California is the West Coast’s top state for women. The state has the second-lowest gender wage gap among all states. Female workers in California earn a median of $51,636 per year – 87.6% of what male workers earn.

California’s health outcomes and laws also help make it one of the best states for women. California women have the second-highest life expectancy at birth, at over 83 years. The state also offers mandatory sick leave, parental leave, and expanded eligibility for coverage of family planning services under Medicaid.

Women nationwide tend to be slightly more likely to have college degrees than men – 33.9% to 32.3% – but the gap is much more pronounced in Vermont, with 42.0% of the state’s women aged 25 and older holding at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to just 35.2% of men. Vermont also has a smaller wage gap than in most other states, with female median annual earnings amounting to 83.7% of male earnings.

Vermont also has a relatively high share of women in leadership positions both in the public and private sectors. Women hold 41.5% of legislative seats in the state, the eighth highest share, and 44.1% of management jobs, the fifth highest share.

Oregon ranks as one of the best states for women in large part because of its high ranking in leadership measures. The state has had more female representation in government than the vast majority of other states. It is one of just 10 states to have had multiple female governors, including its current governor, Kate Brown. Women also hold 42.2% of state legislative seats, the seventh highest share in all states.

Oregon’s health outcomes for women also outpace those of most other states. The life expectancy at birth of female residents is nearly 82 years, ranking 11th out of all states. It is also one of just six states to mandate paid sick and family leave as well as expanded eligibility for family planning services under Medicaid.

Though female workers in Washington tend to make relatively high wages, with median annual earnings just over $51,000, the state’s gender pay gap is larger than most, with female workers earning just over 80% of what male workers do. Still, Washington is one of the 10 best states for women, in large part because of the positive health outcomes.

Washington female residents have a life expectancy at birth of 82.1 years, which ranks as the 10th highest among all states. It also has the fifth-lowest infant death rate among states, at 4.3 per 1,000 live births. The nationwide rate is 5.6 per 1,000 live births.