It Might Come as a Shock to Know This Capital City Is Also the Hardest Working in the Nation

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• We use WalletHub’s most recent scores on the 116 most-populated cities.
• Additional data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics adds unemployment figures.
• The #1 city will probably be a surprise.
• Also, 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

It may be surprising to learn about the hardest-working city in America. Some may feel jaded by politics or have faith falling on the spectrum of little to great in the federal government or Congress. Despite these feelings, WalletHub recently announced that Washington, DC, is the hardest-working city nationwide among 116 major cities ranked.

To find the hardest-working cities, WalletHub scored these 116 most populated cities based on 11 metrics in two dimensions: direct work factors, which include average workweek hours, employment rate, and share of households where no adults work, among others, and indirect work factors, which include average commute time and share of workers with multiple jobs among others. See the full methodology here.

24/7 Wall St. lists the 50 cities with the highest hard-working scores. We also added from the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment and unemployment figures as of January 2024. It is important to note that BLS statistics are for the encompassing metro and those are noted.

In 28 of the 42 cities with BLS data, the city’s share of employed people out of total state employment is higher than its share of the state’s unemployed population. This implies that, at least compared to the state as a whole, the city has relatively more people working and relatively fewer who are unemployed.

And are there states that are harder working? Well, 12 of the 50 hardest-working cities are in Texas, four are in Florida, and four are in Arizona. Virginia, California, North Carolina, and Colorado each have three cities on the list. Unrepresented states include Mississippi, New York, and Oregon, among many others. However, the top four hardest-working cities after Washington, D.C., are Irving, Texas; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Anchorage, Alaska.

Why Is This Important?

A city with the distinction of being the “hardest-working” has several helpful characteristics, such as low unemployment and many jobs. These cities also tend to have a large working-age population and multiple types of jobs available. Having so many of these cities helped America to be the economic powerhouse they are today.

50. San Jose, California

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 65.19 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #42 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara): 1,066,204 (5.5% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 47,230 (4.3% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.4% (state unemployment: 5.7%)

49. Kansas City, Missouri

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 65.25 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #50 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Kansas City): 1,151,186 (37.4% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 38,418 (32.7% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.3% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

48. Little Rock, Arkansas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 65.32 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #38 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway): 366,079 (26.8% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 13,127 (24.8% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.6% (state unemployment: 3.9%)

47. Fargo, North Dakota

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 65.52 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #48 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Fargo): 149,713 (36.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 3,531 (33.7% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.4% (state unemployment: 2.5%)

46. Durham, North Carolina

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 65.8 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #43 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Durham-Chapel Hill): 324,270 (6.2% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 9,957 (5.2% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.1% (state unemployment: 3.6%)

45. Phoenix, Arizona

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 65.9 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #41 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale): 2,682,579 (71.8% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 91,435 (64.8% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.4% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

44. Salt Lake City, Utah

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.02 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #66 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Salt Lake City): 730,715 (40.8% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 21,718 (40.4% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3% (state unemployment: 3%)

43. San Antonio, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.14 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #35 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (San Antonio-New Braunfels): 1,293,794 (8.5% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 48,547 (7.8% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.8% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

42. Baltimore, Maryland

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.38 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #71 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Baltimore-Columbia-Towson): 1,474,160 (46.6% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 40,887 (46.6% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.8% (state unemployment: 2.8%)

41. Lubbock, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.4 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #39 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Lubbock): 171,795 (1.1% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 5,789 (0.9% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.4% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

40. Jacksonville, Florida

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.42 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #18 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Jacksonville): 847,620 (7.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 27,803 (8.0% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.3% (state unemployment: 3.1%)

39. Orlando, Florida

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.71 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #21 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford): 1,476,393 (13.4% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 47,444 (13.7% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.2% (state unemployment: 3.1%)

38. St. Petersburg, Florida

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.78 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #28 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater): 1,698,178 (15.4% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 56,825 (16.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.3% (state unemployment: 3.1%)

37. Indianapolis, Indiana

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.91 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #47 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson): 1,107,466 (33.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 37,605 (29.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.4% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

36. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 66.95 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #22 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Oklahoma City): 758,455 (38.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 25,818 (35.0% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.4% (state unemployment: 3.7%)

35. Colorado Springs, Colorado

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 67.43 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #52 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Colorado Springs): 379,967 (11.9% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 14,815 (12.1% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.9% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

34. Portland, Maine

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 67.72 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #40 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Portland-South Portland): 209,363 (30.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 6,375 (24.6% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

33. Atlanta, Georgia

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 67.86 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #32 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell): 3,243,190 (60.8% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 98,367 (59.3% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3% (state unemployment: 3.1%)

32. Seattle, Washington

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 68.05 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #51 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue): 2,239,916 (56.1% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 106,794 (49.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.8% (state unemployment: 5.4%)

31. Fremont, California

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 68.22 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #37 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Fremont): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

30. Boston, Massachusetts

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 68.45 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #49 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Boston-Cambridge-Nashua): 2,814,205 (74.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 89,618 (67.7% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.2% (state unemployment: 3.5%)

29. Tampa, Florida

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 68.55 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #19 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater): 1,698,178 (15.4% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 56,825 (16.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.3% (state unemployment: 3.1%)

28. Gilbert, Arizona

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 68.75 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #31 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Gilbert): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

27. Houston, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 69.24 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #26 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land): 3,646,931 (24.1% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 159,198 (25.7% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.4% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

26. Scottsdale, Arizona

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 69.7 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #17 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale): 2,682,579 (71.8% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 91,435 (64.8% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.4% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

25. Chandler, Arizona

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 69.74 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #20 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Chandler): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

24. Charlotte, North Carolina

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 69.89 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #33 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia): 1,458,838 (27.9% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 51,113 (26.9% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.5% (state unemployment: 3.6%)

23. Raleigh, North Carolina

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 69.92 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #29 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Raleigh): 801,036 (15.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 25,711 (13.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.2% (state unemployment: 3.6%)

22. Omaha, Nebraska

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 70 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #36 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Omaha-Council Bluffs): 499,612 (47.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 14,977 (53.2% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3% (state unemployment: 2.7%)

21. Manchester, New Hampshire

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 70.24 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #34 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Manchester): 121,985 (16.0% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 3,028 (15.3% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.5% (state unemployment: 2.6%)

20. Nashville, Tennessee

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 70.52 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #13 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin): 1,146,841 (34.0% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 31,677 (26.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.8% (state unemployment: 3.5%)

19. Garland, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 70.9 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #25 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Garland): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

18. Laredo, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 70.98 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #23 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Laredo): 122,143 (0.8% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 5,195 (0.8% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.3% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

17. Aurora, Colorado

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 71.68 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #24 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood): 1,721,623 (53.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 66,270 (54.0% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.8% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

16. Chesapeake, Virginia

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 71.85 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #30 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Chesapeake): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

15. Arlington, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 72.12 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #15 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington): 4,394,336 (29.0% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 169,582 (27.4% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.9% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

14. Fort Worth, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 72.14 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #16 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington): 4,394,336 (29.0% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 169,582 (27.4% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.9% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

13. Plano, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 72.84 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #14 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Plano): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

12. Corpus Christi, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 73.44 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #10 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Corpus Christi): 207,718 (1.4% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 9,247 (1.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.5% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

11. Sioux Falls, South Dakota

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 73.56 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #11 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Sioux Falls): 161,882 (34.2% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 3,277 (32.2% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2% (state unemployment: 2.2%)

10. Austin, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 73.82 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #2 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Austin): 1,464,619 (9.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 50,280 (8.1% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.4% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

9. Denver, Colorado

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 73.93 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #12 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood): 1,721,623 (53.7% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 66,270 (54.0% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.8% (state unemployment: 3.8%)

8. San Francisco, California

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 74.67 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #6 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward): 2,513,030 (13.0% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 113,023 (10.2% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.5% (state unemployment: 5.7%)

7. Dallas, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 75.21 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #5 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington): 4,394,336 (29.0% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 169,582 (27.4% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.9% (state unemployment: 4.1%)

6. Norfolk, Virginia

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 75.27 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #9 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News): 881,381 (19.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 25,527 (20.4% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.9% (state unemployment: 2.7%)

5. Anchorage, Alaska

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 75.55 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #3 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Anchorage): 201,989 (57.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 9,103 (49.3% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 4.5% (state unemployment: 5.2%)

4. Virginia Beach, Virginia

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 75.79 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #8 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News): 881,381 (19.3% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 25,527 (20.4% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.9% (state unemployment: 2.7%)

3. Cheyenne, Wyoming

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 76.15 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #7 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Cheyenne): 48,922 (16.9% of state employment)
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 1,858 (17.5% of state unemployed)
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 3.8% (state unemployment: 3.7%)

2. Irving, Texas

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 76.39 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #1 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Irving): N/A
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: N/A
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: N/A

1. Washington, District of Columbia

• WalletHub hardest-working score: 76.97 out of 100
• Direct work factors rank: #4 out of 116 cities considered
• Employment, Jan 2024 (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria): 3,478,030
• Unemployed, Jan 2024: 97,566
• Unemployment rate, Jan 2024: 2.8%

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