Workplace culture has become one of the defining issues of modern working life. It’s no longer just about salary. Today’s workers are paying closer attention to how many hours they’re expected to put in, whether they can take time off without guilt, how protected they feel at work and whether their pay is actually keeping up with the cost of living.

A new study by Excite OOH set out to identify which U.S. states are creating the best environments for workers and which are falling behind. By analyzing everything from average salaries and paid time off to labor protections, commute times and access to benefits, the study reveals where workplace culture thrives and where it struggles.

Ohio ranked in the middle, coming in at No. 24. Pennsylvania ranked No. 10.

The study found:

  • States with strong worker protections and paid time off consistently outperform high-salary states on overall workplace culture.
  • New York, Washington and California dominate due to policy strength, pay and benefits, even with long commutes.
  • Paid time off is a major divider, with top-ranked states offering up to three more days than bottom performers.
  • Remote work access boosts rankings, but only when paired with wage and labor protections.
  • Several high-income states underperform due to weak salary growth or long commute times.
  • The lowest-ranked states tend to combine long hours, weaker labor protections and limited paid leave.

This study analyzed 15 key workplace indicators. Each metric was normalized, weighted and combined into a composite score.

Here is a closer look at the top 10 states.

1. New York

New York claims the top spot due to its balance of pay, time off and some of the strongest worker protections in the country. Workers earn an average salary of $78,624, ranking second nationally, while working 37.8 hours per week, the eighth-lowest workload in the study. The state also records a relatively low quit rate of 11,380, ranking second, suggesting stronger job stability.

Benefits are another major strength. New York ranks first nationally for paid time off, with 11.4 days, while 90% of workers report access to paid sick leave (12th), 72.3% have paid vacation (19th) and 75.3% receive paid holidays (19th). Salary growth sits at 2.36%, ranking 18th, while 14.5% of workers work remotely (22nd).

Where New York truly separates itself is policy. It ranks first for protecting workers’ rights to organize, second for overall worker protection and fifth for wage protection, according to Oxfam. The trade-off is a long average commute of 33.2 minutes, the longest in the study, but strong pay, benefits and legal safeguards appear to offset that downside for many workers.

2. Washington

Washington ranks second due to exceptional benefits access and progressive labor policy. The state posts a quit rate of 11,497 (third), paired with an average workweek of 38 hours (13th). Workers earn $78,125 on average, ranking third nationally.

Washington leads the entire country for access to paid sick leave, with 95.7% of workers covered (first). It also performs strongly for paid vacation (74.7%, ninth) and paid holidays (77%, 14th), while offering 10 paid time off days (16th). Salary growth is more modest at 1.63% (31st).

Remote work is a standout strength, with 20.5% of workers working remotely, ranking second overall. On the policy side, Washington ranks first for wage protection, fourth for worker protection and 12th for union rights. Commute times average 27.3 minutes (41st), while employer insurance coverage sits mid-pack at 54,597 per 100,000 workers (14th).

3. California

California places third, driven by high-quality employers and strong worker protections. The state ranks first nationally for company ratings, with 19.44 highly rated companies per capita, indicating stronger workplace standards. Workers log 37.7 hours per week (fifth) and earn $76,960 on average, ranking fourth nationally.

The quit rate of 12,981 places California eighth, while paid time off averages 9.4 days (19th). Access to paid sick leave is among the best in the country at 95.7% (first), with 74.7% access to paid vacation (ninth) and 77% access to paid holidays (14th). Salary growth stands at 2.11% (21st), and 17.2% of workers work remotely (10th).

California ranks second for wage protection, second for worker protection and first for protecting the right to organize, but long commutes remain a drawback. The average commute time is 29.2 minutes, ranking 46th, while employer insurance coverage reaches 48,407 per 100,000 people (32nd).

4. New Jersey

New Jersey performs well across most metrics without extreme weaknesses. The state records a quit rate of 11,506 (fourth) and an average workweek of 38 hours (13th). Workers earn $73,986 on average, ranking fifth nationally.

Paid time off is a major advantage, with 11.4 days (first). Access to paid sick leave reaches 90% (12th), while 72.3% of workers receive paid vacation and 75.3% receive paid holidays (both 19th). Salary growth is slower at 1.53% (33rd), and 16.7% of workers work remotely (12th).

Policy scores remain strong, with New Jersey ranking sixth for wage protection, ninth for worker protection and seventh for union rights. The average commute time is 31.1 minutes (48th), but employer insurance coverage is comparatively high at 56,121 per 100,000 people (seventh).

5. Massachusetts

Massachusetts combines high pay with job stability. It has the lowest quit rate in the country at 10,904 (first) and one of the shortest workweeks at 37.7 hours (fifth). Workers earn an average of $80,330, ranking first nationally.

Employees receive 11.4 paid time off days (first), while 90.3% report access to paid sick leave (sixth). Access to paid vacation (68.3%) and paid holidays (71.7%) ranks lower at 41st and 33rd, respectively. A key weakness is salary growth, which sits at -0.86%, ranking 50th.

Remote work remains common at 18.4% (sixth). Massachusetts ranks 16th for wage protection, fifth for worker protection and seventh for union rights, while commute times average 29.4 minutes (47th). Employer insurance coverage is strong at 55,511 per 100,000 people (ninth).

6. Oregon

Oregon stands out for worker protections and manageable workloads. Employees work an average of 37.6 hours per week, ranking fourth, while earning $66,706 (11th). The quit rate is higher at 15,685 (34th), but benefits help offset that.

Paid time off averages 10 days (16th), while 95.7% of workers have access to paid sick leave (first). Access to paid vacation and holidays both sit at 74.7% and 77% (ninth and 14th). Salary growth reaches 2.26% (19th), and 19% of workers work remotely (fifth).

Oregon ranks first for worker protection and first for union rights, with wage protection ranking ninth. Commute times are relatively short at 23.3 minutes (15th), while employer insurance coverage stands at 51,269 per 100,000 workers (25th).

7. Connecticut

Connecticut posts a quit rate of 12,905 (seventh) and an average workweek of 37.8 hours (eighth). Workers earn $73,736, ranking sixth nationally.

Paid time off again reaches 11.4 days (first), while 90.3% have access to paid sick leave (sixth). Access to paid vacation and holidays remains lower at 68.3% and 71.7% (41st and 33rd). Salary growth sits at 1.70% (29th), and 15.9% of workers work remotely (17th).

Policy scores are solid but not standout, ranking 10th for wage protection, fifth for worker protection and 12th for union rights. Commute times average 26.4 minutes (36th), with employer insurance coverage at 51,253 per 100,000 people (26th).

8. Hawaii

Hawaii performs best on benefits rather than pay. Workers earn $65,042 on average (17th) while working 38.3 hours per week (23rd). The quit rate sits at 13,970 (14th).

The state ranks first for access to paid sick leave and first for paid time off days at 11.4. Access to paid vacation (74.7%) and paid holidays (77%) ranks ninth and 14th. Salary growth is weaker at 0.76% (42nd), and remote work access is limited at 9.5% (41st).

Hawaii ranks 17th for wage protection, 15th for worker protection and seventh for union rights. Commute times average 26.6 minutes (37th), while employer insurance coverage is strong at 55,138 per 100,000 people (10th).

9. Delaware

Delaware’s standout performance comes from time off and salary growth. Workers earn $65,998 (16th) and work 38.2 hours per week (18th), while the quit rate sits at 15,391 (30th).

The state ranks first nationally for access to paid vacation (78.3%) and paid holidays (79.3%), alongside 11.4 paid time off days (first). Salary growth is strong at 2.88% (13th), and 15.5% of workers work remotely (20th).

Policy scores are mixed, with Delaware ranking 13th for wage protection, 20th for worker protection and fourth for union rights. Commute times average 25.9 minutes (33rd), while employer insurance coverage is 46,842 per 100,000 workers (36th).

10. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania rounds out the top 10 with steady but uneven performance. The state has a quit rate of 11,522 (fifth) and an average workweek of 38.2 hours (18th). Workers earn $61,922 (20th).

Paid time off averages 11.4 days (first), with 90% access to paid sick leave (12th), 72.3% access to paid vacation and 75.3% access to paid holidays (both 19th). Salary growth sits at 1.37% (35th), and 15.2% of workers work remotely (21st).

Pennsylvania’s weakest area is policy. It ranks 38th for wage protection and 27th for worker protection, though union rights rank 12th. Commute times average 26.7 minutes (39th), while employer insurance coverage stands at 54,034 per 100,000 people (16th).

Elliot Ward, spokesperson for Excite OOH, said the findings reflect a shift in what workers truly value.

“People often assume workplace culture is all about salary, but the data tells a different story,” he said. “States that protect workers’ rights, offer real access to paid time off and support flexibility consistently perform better, even if they don’t have the very highest wages.”

Ward added that strong policy environments create ripple effects across the workforce.

“When employees feel protected and supported, they’re less likely to quit, more likely to stay engaged and more willing to invest in their work long term. That benefits not just workers, but employers and state economies as well.”

He also noted that lagging states have clear opportunities to improve.

“The lower-ranked states often struggle with long hours, weaker labor protections and limited benefits. Improving even one or two of these areas, like paid leave or wage protections, could make a measurable difference in workplace culture.”