Hardest-Working Cities in America

Adam McCann , Financial WriterFeb 24, 2020

Adam McCann , Financial Writer
Feb 24, 2020

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 1,786 hours per year – 106 hours more than the average in Japan, 248 more than the U.K. and 403 more than Germany.

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 employment rate to average weekly work hours to share of workers with multiple jobs. Read on for our findings, expert insight from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

1Main Findings 2Employment Rate Over Time

3Ask the Experts 4Methodology

Main Findings

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Hardest-Working Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank*	City	Total Score	‘Direct Work Factors’ Rank	‘Indirect Work Factors’ Rank
1	Anchorage, AK	80.07	4	8
2	San Francisco, CA	76.87	3	43
3	Virginia Beach, VA	76.61	6	13
4	Cheyenne, WY	76.11	8	30
5	Irving, TX	75.65	2	74
6	Norfolk, VA	74.79	9	17
7	Corpus Christi, TX	74.65	5	107
8	Washington, DC	74.46	12	10
9	Austin, TX	73.94	1	93
10	Plano, TX	73.28	7	64
11	Denver, CO	73.00	11	39
12	Aurora, CO	72.34	15	27
13	Dallas, TX	71.89	10	63
14	Chesapeake, VA	71.35	20	11
15	Portland, ME	71.22	21	22
16	Nashville, TN	70.39	13	51
17	Fort Worth, TX	70.30	14	60
18	Honolulu, HI	70.30	27	24
19	Billings, MT	69.74	40	5
20	Sioux Falls, SD	69.51	19	69
21	Arlington, TX	69.38	18	60
22	Oklahoma City, OK	69.08	16	67
23	Salt Lake City, UT	68.58	54	1
24	Houston, TX	68.52	17	80
25	Durham, NC	68.20	25	90
26	Garland, TX	67.89	22	52
27	Chandler, AZ	67.85	23	49
28	Seattle, WA	67.65	43	9
29	Raleigh, NC	67.60	28	37
30	Charlotte, NC	67.58	29	33
31	Gilbert, AZ	66.91	31	36
32	Omaha, NE	66.75	45	21
33	Fargo, ND	66.37	36	55
34	Fremont, CA	66.12	35	35
35	Tampa, FL	65.85	24	86
36	Scottsdale, AZ	65.72	32	53
37	Laredo, TX	65.59	30	103
38	Manchester, NH	65.57	39	65
39	Tulsa, OK	65.34	41	75
40	San Jose, CA	64.81	34	59
41	Colorado Springs, CO	64.44	55	42
42	Boston, MA	64.19	57	16
43	Minneapolis, MN	64.09	66	7
44	Irvine, CA	63.95	33	85
45	Jacksonville, FL	63.94	26	102
46	Kansas City, MO	63.67	56	26
47	Indianapolis, IN	63.50	58	14
48	Jersey City, NJ	63.37	53	40
49	Oakland, CA	63.24	51	45
50	El Paso, TX	63.18	48	95
51	St. Petersburg, FL	62.95	38	91
52	Little Rock, AR	62.91	44	110
53	San Antonio, TX	62.41	37	101
54	Des Moines, IA	62.35	62	46
55	San Diego, CA	62.19	46	81
56	Boise, ID	62.15	67	20
57	Anaheim, CA	61.89	49	77
58	Louisville, KY	61.87	61	28
59	Atlanta, GA	61.87	47	79
60	Portland, OR	61.79	80	3
61	Phoenix, AZ	61.70	59	44
62	Lincoln, NE	61.47	70	25
63	Orlando, FL	61.28	42	104
64	Lexington-Fayette, KY	61.27	60	71
65	Santa Ana, CA	60.98	50	87
66	Baltimore, MD	60.91	88	4
67	Lubbock, TX	60.78	52	112
68	Wichita, KS	59.97	65	94
69	Long Beach, CA	59.30	64	68
70	St. Paul, MN	59.21	91	6
71	Chula Vista, CA	58.82	69	58
72	Fort Wayne, IN	58.64	74	72
73	Glendale, AZ	58.49	76	34
74	New York, NY	58.26	72	57
75	Los Angeles, CA	57.91	73	66
76	St. Louis, MO	57.83	86	19
77	Chicago, IL	57.42	87	23
78	Miami, FL	57.06	63	108
79	Henderson, NV	56.88	68	96
80	Columbus, OH	56.84	75	62
81	Reno, NV	56.83	71	111
82	Wilmington, DE	56.79	78	50
83	Winston-Salem, NC	56.74	77	99
84	Bakersfield, CA	56.50	82	84
85	Mesa, AZ	55.37	90	47
86	North Las Vegas, NV	54.97	81	82
87	Madison, WI	54.92	97	15
88	Greensboro, NC	53.87	92	98
89	New Orleans, LA	53.85	79	97
90	Las Vegas, NV	53.69	89	88
91	Milwaukee, WI	53.53	103	2
92	Jackson, MS	53.10	84	114
93	Charleston, WV	52.97	83	115
94	Memphis, TN	52.93	94	56
95	Philadelphia, PA	52.41	101	12
96	Sacramento, CA	52.38	93	92
97	Birmingham, AL	52.33	85	105
98	Riverside, CA	51.15	98	76
99	Cincinnati, OH	50.58	102	29
100	Baton Rouge, LA	50.31	99	100
101	Albuquerque, NM	49.71	96	113
102	Hialeah, FL	49.39	95	109
103	Pittsburgh, PA	48.99	104	18
104	Stockton, CA	47.12	107	38
105	Tucson, AZ	46.60	105	70
106	Toledo, OH	46.33	108	53
107	Columbia, SC	46.30	100	116
108	San Bernardino, CA	45.17	106	83
109	Fresno, CA	42.74	109	89
110	Newark, NJ	41.84	111	40
111	Providence, RI	41.35	110	73
112	Bridgeport, CT	40.42	112	32
113	Cleveland, OH	40.10	114	31
114	Buffalo, NY	36.21	113	106
115	Burlington, VT	33.15	115	78
116	Detroit, MI	32.96	116	48

*1=Hardest Working

Employment Rate Over Time

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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?
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

: Maurice Schweitzer
Ph.D. – Cecilia Yen Koo Professor, Operations, Information, & Decisions, Wharton School
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: Dan Simonet
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Montclair State University
Read More

: Anthony R. Wheeler
Ph.D. – Professor of Management, West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Read More

: James B. Stewart
Professor Emeritus, Labor and Employment Relations, Pennsylvania State University
Read More

: Nicholas Baldwin
Assistant Professor of IO Psychology, Roosevelt University
Read More

: Stephanie Andel
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Department of Psychology
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 Aged 16 Years and Over Employed / Total Civilian Population Aged 16 Years 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)

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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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