RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most self-employed workers, US states

US states ranked by the share of employed residents who work for themselves in an incorporated or unincorporated business (2024 ACS). Alaska leads at 18.9%. 51 states qualify in total.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2010 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPSELF-EMPLOYED WORKERSVS 2010

USUnited States334,922,49913.1%–

01Alaska, AKAK735,70618.9%+7%

02Wyoming, WYWY582,39717.4%+10%

03New York, NYNY19,852,36616.7%+2%

04New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24616.4%+2%

05Vermont, VTVT647,10616.2%+11%

06West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37315.3%+7%

07North Dakota, NDND784,84115.0%+7%

08Kansas, KSKS2,947,19714.6%+4%

09Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77914.5%−2%

10Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23514.3%+10%

11District of Columbia, DCDC681,29414.2%−3%

12Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05614.2%+5%

13Maine, MEME1,387,81714.1%+3%

14South Dakota, SDSD907,42814.0%+5%

15Oregon, OROR4,254,29313.9%+6%

16Maryland, MDMD6,206,01113.9%+2%

17Montana, MTMT1,116,87513.9%−2%

18Louisiana, LALA4,611,96113.9%−0%

19California, CACA39,287,37713.8%+5%

20Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44513.7%+11%

21Nebraska, NENE1,978,70713.7%+8%

22Washington, WAWA7,816,11613.7%+2%

23Virginia, VAVA8,705,17013.6%+2%

24New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80913.5%+3%

25Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50813.4%+2%

26Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39113.3%−1%

27Iowa, IAIA3,210,50713.3%+5%

28Delaware, DEDE1,021,19113.2%+9%

29Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63413.1%−1%

30Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82413.0%+1%

31Illinois, ILIL12,694,79813.0%+6%

32New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86812.9%+1%

33Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80112.9%+1%

34South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22512.9%−1%

35Ohio, OHOH11,810,29312.8%+3%

36Alabama, ALAL5,086,76812.8%−1%

37Utah, UTUT3,392,33112.8%+1%

38Idaho, IDID1,934,26212.7%+1%

39Colorado, COCO5,862,18912.7%+4%

40Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87212.4%+4%

41Missouri, MOMO6,191,81412.3%+2%

42Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38312.3%−2%

43North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40412.3%−6%

44Texas, TXTX30,188,42412.2%−2%

45Georgia, GAGA10,940,40712.2%−6%

46Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63912.1%+4%

47Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83811.9%−6%

48Indiana, ININ6,851,07311.7%+5%

49Michigan, MIMI10,077,76111.6%−2%

50Florida, FLFL22,416,07710.8%−9%

51Nevada, NVNV3,184,61210.5%+3%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest self-employed workers?

Alaska ranks #1 with 18.9% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by self-employed workers?

Alaska, Wyoming, New York, New Mexico, Vermont.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is self-employed workers measured?

Share of the employed civilian population 16+ who are self-employed (own incorporated or unincorporated business). Source: ACS B24080. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).