RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most self-employed workers, US states · 2010

US states ranked by the share of employed residents who work for themselves in an incorporated or unincorporated business (2023 ACS). Alaska leads at 17.7%. 51 states qualify in total.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2010 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPSELF-EMPLOYED WORKERSVS 2000

01Alaska, AKAK735,70617.7%–

02New York, NYNY19,852,36616.3%–

03New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24616.1%–

04Wyoming, WYWY582,39715.8%–

05Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77914.8%–

06District of Columbia, DCDC681,29414.6%–

07Vermont, VTVT647,10614.5%–

08West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37314.3%–

09Montana, MTMT1,116,87514.1%–

10Kansas, KSKS2,947,19714.0%–

11North Dakota, NDND784,84114.0%–

12Louisiana, LALA4,611,96113.9%–

13Maine, MEME1,387,81713.7%–

14Maryland, MDMD6,206,01113.6%–

15Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05613.5%–

16Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39113.5%–

17Washington, WAWA7,816,11613.4%–

18Virginia, VAVA8,705,17013.3%–

19South Dakota, SDSD907,42813.3%–

20Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63413.2%–

21New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80913.2%–

22Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50813.1%–

23California, CACA39,287,37713.1%–

24Oregon, OROR4,254,29313.1%–

25South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22513.0%–

26North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40413.0%–

27Georgia, GAGA10,940,40713.0%–

28Alabama, ALAL5,086,76812.9%–

29Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23512.9%–

30Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82412.9%–

31New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86812.9%–

32Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80112.8%–

33Nebraska, NENE1,978,70712.7%–

34Utah, UTUT3,392,33112.7%–

35Iowa, IAIA3,210,50712.7%–

36Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83812.6%–

37Idaho, IDID1,934,26212.6%–

38Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38312.6%–

39Texas, TXTX30,188,42412.5%–

40Ohio, OHOH11,810,29312.4%–

41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44512.4%–

42Illinois, ILIL12,694,79812.3%–

43Colorado, COCO5,862,18912.2%–

44Delaware, DEDE1,021,19112.1%–

45Missouri, MOMO6,191,81412.1%–

46Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87211.9%–

47Michigan, MIMI10,077,76111.9%–

48Florida, FLFL22,416,07711.8%–

49Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63911.6%–

50Indiana, ININ6,851,07311.1%–

51Nevada, NVNV3,184,61210.2%–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest self-employed workers?

Alaska ranks #1 with 17.7% (2010 American Community Survey).

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

Alaska, New York, New Mexico, Wyoming, Mississippi.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2010 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 (2010).