2021's Hardest-Working Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterFeb 22, 2021

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Feb 22, 2021

Many Americans view hard work as the path to achieving the American Dream. We work so hard, in fact, that we put in more hours at our jobs than several other industrialized countries. The average U.S. worker puts in 1,779 hours per year – 135 hours more than the average in Japan, 241 more than the U.K. and 393 more than Germany. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have adapted to work from home, which can end up extending work hours even further.

But some U.S. cities represent the strong work ethic that helped to build the world’s biggest economy better than others. In order to determine which cities outwork the rest of America, WalletHub compared the 116 largest cities across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the employment rate to average weekly work hours to the share of workers with multiple jobs.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Employment Rate Over Time Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Hardest-Working Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Direct Work Factors	Indirect Work Factors
1	Anchorage, AK	80.46	1	12
2	Cheyenne, WY	77.21	3	46
3	Virginia Beach, VA	75.46	5	15
4	Washington, DC	75.00	7	11
5	Irving, TX	74.29	4	64
6	San Francisco, CA	73.81	6	42
7	Austin, TX	72.90	2	83
8	Norfolk, VA	72.79	10	18
9	Corpus Christi, TX	71.63	9	99
10	Denver, CO	71.59	12	33
11	Plano, TX	71.58	8	56
12	Chesapeake, VA	71.16	16	10
13	Dallas, TX	70.73	11	54
14	Sioux Falls, SD	70.12	14	60
15	Aurora, CO	69.96	17	20
16	Fort Worth, TX	68.69	15	53
17	Salt Lake City, UT	68.50	35	4
18	Garland, TX	68.35	20	47
19	Billings, MT	68.18	30	14
20	Arlington, TX	68.16	18	50
21	Seattle, WA	68.03	34	8
22	Omaha, NE	67.83	28	24
23	Oklahoma City, OK	67.76	13	71
24	Charlotte, NC	67.68	23	22
25	Raleigh, NC	67.49	22	31
26	Houston, TX	67.11	19	72
27	Durham, NC	67.07	24	79
28	Nashville, TN	66.82	21	59
29	Chandler, AZ	66.10	25	44
30	Manchester, NH	65.84	36	37
31	Fargo, ND	65.52	32	69
32	Colorado Springs, CO	65.34	40	23
33	Portland, ME	65.09	38	38
34	Scottsdale, AZ	64.99	31	49
35	Gilbert, AZ	64.81	37	28
36	Laredo, TX	64.68	33	87
37	Kansas City, MO	63.80	42	30
38	Tampa, FL	63.77	26	90
39	Atlanta, GA	63.59	27	94
40	Fremont, CA	63.34	43	39
41	Tulsa, OK	63.07	44	77
42	San Jose, CA	62.27	39	61
43	Indianapolis, IN	62.14	54	16
44	Jacksonville, FL	61.87	29	101
45	Boston, MA	61.82	59	13
46	Minneapolis, MN	61.76	62	6
47	Jersey City, NJ	61.61	48	51
48	Des Moines, IA	61.13	52	67
49	Lincoln, NE	61.12	58	29
50	Lubbock, TX	60.96	46	108
51	St. Petersburg, FL	60.74	41	95
52	Irvine, CA	60.56	45	92
53	Oakland, CA	60.04	55	45
54	El Paso, TX	60.02	56	73
55	Lexington-Fayette, KY	59.93	53	88
56	Little Rock, AR	59.86	47	116
57	Phoenix, AZ	59.65	60	40
58	Honolulu, HI	59.59	68	19
59	San Antonio, TX	59.54	49	96
60	Portland, OR	59.39	82	1
61	San Diego, CA	59.01	51	82
62	Baltimore, MD	58.74	83	3
63	Wichita, KS	58.72	66	55
64	Louisville, KY	58.69	64	34
65	St. Louis, MO	58.49	71	21
66	Fort Wayne, IN	58.11	63	75
67	St. Paul, MN	58.03	81	5
68	Orlando, FL	57.88	50	106
69	Santa Ana, CA	57.51	57	92
70	Anaheim, CA	56.63	65	78
71	Glendale, AZ	56.59	74	25
72	Boise, ID	56.17	73	58
73	Chula Vista, CA	55.78	72	62
74	Columbus, OH	55.77	69	74
75	Reno, NV	55.37	61	115
76	Wilmington, DE	55.13	78	43
77	Charleston, WV	54.73	67	114
78	Mesa, AZ	54.47	84	41
79	Long Beach, CA	54.44	75	70
80	Los Angeles, CA	54.40	76	65
81	Bakersfield, CA	54.07	80	81
82	Winston-Salem, NC	53.89	79	91
83	Chicago, IL	53.61	88	32
84	Miami, FL	53.54	70	110
85	Madison, WI	52.40	91	26
86	Greensboro, NC	52.16	87	89
87	Henderson, NV	51.89	77	105
88	Jackson, MS	51.72	85	111
89	Sacramento, CA	51.18	86	97
90	New York, NY	51.07	92	48
91	Philadelphia, PA	50.44	101	9
92	Cincinnati, OH	50.24	98	35
93	Milwaukee, WI	49.91	108	2
94	Albuquerque, NM	49.58	93	103
95	Pittsburgh, PA	49.29	102	17
96	North Las Vegas, NV	48.88	90	98
97	Stockton, CA	48.88	100	27
98	Riverside, CA	48.47	97	76
99	Columbia, SC	48.09	94	113
100	Birmingham, AL	48.05	89	109
101	Las Vegas, NV	47.26	96	100
102	Memphis, TN	47.22	99	63
103	Toledo, OH	46.96	103	66
104	Tucson, AZ	46.78	105	57
105	Hialeah, FL	46.64	95	112
106	Baton Rouge, LA	44.74	106	107
107	Fresno, CA	44.63	107	85
108	New Orleans, LA	43.76	104	104
109	San Bernardino, CA	41.80	109	86
110	Providence, RI	41.54	110	80
111	Bridgeport, CT	41.53	111	7
112	Cleveland, OH	40.06	112	36
113	Newark, NJ	37.26	113	51
114	Buffalo, NY	34.53	114	102
115	Burlington, VT	33.38	115	84
116	Detroit, MI	32.12	116	68

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Employment Rate Over Time

rankings 2009 2019 employment rate

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Ask the Experts

The American work structure contrasts with that of other countries. For additional insight, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:

Research shows that Americans work 25% more hours than their counterparts in Europe. Why do Americans work so much more, and is it worth it?
Research points to an increase in the average workday length since March last year. What factors do you think prompted this change when working from home (no commuting, having difficulty in drawing the line between work and home etc.)?
Does working more hours always translate into higher productivity? Does this vary by industry or job type?
What is the ideal number of hours to work per week?
What policies should governments and firms adopt to improve the quality of life of American workers?

Ask the Experts

: Gordon Lafer
Ph.D. – Professor, Labor Education & Research Center – University of Oregon
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: John W. Budd
Industrial Relations Land Grant Chair and Professor of Work and Organizations, Carlson School of Management – University of Minnesota, and author of The Thought of Work (Cornell)
Read More

: Jorgen Harris
Assistant Professor of Economics – Occidental College
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: Steve Striffler
Director, Labor Resource Center; Professor, Anthropology – University of Massachusetts Boston
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: Cesar F. Rosado Marzan
Ph.D., JD – Professor of Law – University of Iowa College of Law
Read More

: L. Camille Hebert
JD – Carter C. Kissell Professor of Law – Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine where the hardest-working Americans live, WalletHub compared 116 of the most populated cities across two key dimensions, “Direct Work Factors” and “Indirect Work Factors.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 11 key metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the “hardest-working.” Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

For our sample, we ensured that at least one city from each of the 50 states was represented. Each city refers to city proper and excludes the surrounding metro area.

Direct Work Factors – Total Points: 80

Average Workweek Hours: Triple Weight (~36.92 Points)
Employment Rate: Full Weight (~12.31 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Civilian Population Age 16 and Over Employed / Total Civilian Population Age 16 and Over in Labor Force.
Share of Households where No Adults Work: Full Weight (~12.31 Points)
Share of Workers Leaving Vacation Time Unused: Half Weight (~6.15 Points)
Share of Engaged Workers*: Half Weight (~6.15 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of employees who are “involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace,” as defined by Gallup.
Idle Youth (16-24) Rate: Half Weight (~6.15 Points)
Note: This metric measures the rate of residents ages 16-24 who are neither in school nor working.

Indirect Work Factors – Total Points: 20

Average Commute Time: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Share of Workers with Multiple Jobs*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as a percentage of total employment.
Annual Volunteer Hours per Resident: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Share of Residents Who Participate in Local Groups or Organizations: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Average Leisure Time Spent per Day*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Travel Association, Gallup, Social Science Research Council and Corporation for National & Community Service.

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