The 5 states where workers are the happiest in America
The happiest employees live in places where high pay meets a healthy work-life balance, a new report finds
Across the country, many employees are rethinking what makes a job worth keeping. And a new study from the digital business‑card provider Wave Connect shows that where you live can make a big difference.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Gallup’s workplace engagement surveys, Wave Connect compared all 50 states across several measures of well-being. Analysts considered everything from income growth and average work hours to job stability and emotional connection to work.
It found the happiest workers tend to live in states where decent pay, shorter hours, and genuine connections to work all line up.
“Looking across the data, the trend is hard to miss,” said George El-Hage, the CEO of Wave Connect. “Northeastern states dominate the top of the list because they offer stronger pay and better access to community resources, yet people there aren’t working longer hours than anyone else."
“Meanwhile, most of the lowest-ranking states are in the South and Midwest, where lower wages and heavier workloads leave employees feeling overextended. It’s a clear reminder that balance drives happiness,” he added.
Continue reading to see which states have the happiest workers and why.
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5th happiest: Connecticut
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Connecticut made the top five thanks to a rare mix of high earnings and remarkable job stability. Workers here make around $66,000 per year on average, and only about 1.3% leave their jobs, which is the lowest quit rate in the nation.
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4th happiest: South Dakota
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South Dakota employees report solid satisfaction, helped by shorter average workweeks and steady wage growth. With a 2.1% turnover rate, most workers stick with their employers, suggesting widespread approval of local work conditions.
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3rd happiest: Maine
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In Maine, employees enjoy a slower pace and a strong sense of loyalty to their workplaces. A quit rate under 2% shows people seem content to stay put, supported by decent pay and an overall culture that values time off as much as time on the job.
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2nd happiest: Delaware
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Delaware’s 32-hour average workweek gives residents more time for rest, family, and recreation than anywhere else in America. That balance helps explain its 36% employee engagement rate — the highest in the country — meaning people here seem to actually like what they do and feel emotionally attached to it.
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Happiest : Hawaii
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Hawaii claims the top spot with workers who are both well-compensated and deeply connected to their jobs. Average pay tops $63,000 a year, engagement rates exceed the national average, and a relaxed island pace completes the formula for America’s most content workforce.