Best and Worst States for Working Women

Oxfam’s Best States for Working Women index shines a light on the best and worst states for working women in 2026. This index emphasizes policies tracked in our Best States to Work Index (BSWI) that either directly or disproportionately impact working women, including equal pay protections, sexual harassment protections, paid leave, paid pumping breaks, and collective bargaining for teachers.

Now in its sixth edition, we take a fresh look at which states are treating women with dignity and respect in the workplace—and which states are falling short. The state a woman works in can determine whether she can legally be paid a poverty wage, whether she could be forced to lose her income to recover from childbirth, and how she will be treated on the job. While some states are stepping up, we need federal policy reform to fill these gaps, so that all women can enjoy equal rights and economic security, regardless of which state they call home.

Last updated: September 1, 2026

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Methodology

All data is based on laws and policies in effect as of July 1, 2026.

The index is based on state policies in three dimensions: wages (20% of overall score); worker protections (60% of overall score); and rights to organize (20% of overall score).

View full spreadsheets of the data.

Wage policies

This dimension considers whether the state has raised the tipped minimum wage above the federal minimum of $2.13; women make up the vast majority of the tipped workforce.

  • What is the ratio of the tipped minimum wage to cost of living for one earner and two dependents?

Worker protection policies

This dimension considers policies affecting quality of life for working women, especially mothers. Among the data points in this dimension:

  • Paid pumping breaks for breastfeeding workers.
  • Mandates for equal pay.
  • Paid family and medical leave; paid sick leave.
  • Fair and flexible scheduling.
  • Protection against sexual harassment in the workplace.
  • Protections for domestic workers.
  • Caregiver discrimination protections.

Right to organize policies

This dimension considers policies affecting public school teachers, more than three-quarters of whom are women.

  • Right to organize for public school teachers.