Today, 40 percent of working mothers are the breadwinners in households with children as compared to 11 percent in 1960, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Women, meanwhile, continue to face challenges concerning compensation and advancement at work. In 2017, women earned only 82 percent of what men earned on average, according to a study from Pew Research Statistics. Women are also 18 percent less likely to be promoted into management positions than men, according to a study from McKinsey & Company.
Despite these imbalances, some states have better systems in place to support working mothers. For example, Washington, D.C., has one of the lowest gender pay gaps in the country, but has the highest childcare costs of any other state. Similarly, California ranked second for its work-life balance, but is in the bottom three for having one of the worst day care systems in the U.S.
WalletHub compared all U.S. states across 15 metrics, including work opportunities for women, average commute time and child-care quality, to determine the best states for working moms.
Here is a list of the top 10 best states for working mothers in ascending order:
10. New York
Child-care Rank: 26
Professional Opportunity Rank: 17
Work-Life Balance Rank: 7
New York was ranked number one in the U.S. for it’s child-care system. There are 4,313 child-care providers in New York, according to a report from the N.Y. Office of Children and Family Services.
9. Delaware
Child-care Rank: 5
Professional Opportunity Rank: 5
Work-Life Balance Rank: 35
In April, legislation was introduced that will make 12 weeks of paternal and maternal paid family leave mandatory for all Delaware state employees.
8. New Jersey
Child-care Rank: 7
Professional Opportunity Rank: 36
Work-Life Balance Rank: 13
New Jersey is among the top two states in pre-school enrollment rate, according to a report from the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). N.J. students go on to earn qualifying Advanced Placement credit at a higher percentage than any other state in the U.S., according to a report from the College Board.
7. Maine
Child-care Rank: 14
Professional Opportunity Rank: 6
Work-Life Balance Rank: 10
Maine ranked second for having the highest female executive-to-male executive ratio. The state also scored well for its low gender pay gap and low female unemployment rate, according to the report.
6. Rhode Island
Child-care Rank: 19
Professional Opportunity Rank: 24
Work-Life Balance Rank: 1
Rhode island was ranked number one in work-life balance for high scores for the states parental leave policies, commute times and length of the work week. Women have an average work week of 36 hours, according to the report.
5. Connecticut
Child-care Rank: 4
Professional Opportunity Rank: 46
Work-Life Balance Rank: 3
Connecticut offers one of the most generous family leave policies in comparison to other states, with eligible employees getting up to 16 weeks of unpaid leave without the risk of losing their job. The leave can be used for family and health related reasons, including a relative's serious health condition or the birth of a child, according to a report from the Connecticut General Assembly.
4. Washington, D.C.
Child-care Rank: 9
Professional Opportunity Rank: 2
Work-Life Balance Rank: 8
Washington, D.C., ranked fourth for its low gender wage gap. Women are paid 86 cents for every dollar paid to men, according to a recent report from The National Partnership for Women and Families.
3. Massachusetts
Child-care Rank: 2
Professional Opportunity Rank: 16
Work-Life Balance Rank: 14
Massachusetts received a first-place ranking in school quality. Women also have a shorter work week than in other top states, according to a report from Business Insider.
2. Minnesota
Child-care Rank: 1
Professional Opportunity Rank: 4
Work-Life Balance Rank: 9
Minnesota has the highest median women’s salary at $44,281 (adjusted for the cost of living) of any other state, and a high share of nationally accredited child-care providers, according the findings from WalletHub.
1. Vermont
Child-care: 3
Professional Opportunity: 1
Work-Life Balance: 5
Women in Vermont earn a higher median salary than most of the top 10 states, ($37,188 adjusted for the cost of living) The state also has the second-highest number of child-care workers per 1,000 children under the age of 14, according to a report from Business Insider.
The full report can be viewed here.
