Introduction
Unlike programs such as Social Security and Medicare, unemployment benefits change across state lines. Unemployment is defined as working age adults who are without employment and are able and actively seeking work. Likewise, the unemployment rate is the percentage of the working force that is unemployed. Persons who are not employed and not seeking work are not included in the definition of unemployment or the unemployment rate.
Unemployment benefits are paid out to qualified persons for a set amount of time; the amount to be paid by the state is typically a percentage of the unemployed person’s salary before termination. When comparing unemployment benefits by state, it is important to note there are two components: length of benefits and amount paid (typically expressed as the average across the state). All but nine states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and South Carolina) allow claimants to receive unemployment benefits for twenty-six weeks or more.
Learn for yourself how the unemployment benefits differ by state by scrolling the data in the charts.
| # | State | Unemployment Benefits | Unemployment Rate | Unemployed Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $512 | 3.6% | 134,742 |
| 2 | Washington | $491 | 3.7% | 149,242 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $483 | 4% | 27,354 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $476 | 4% | 188,221 |
| 5 | Montana | $465 | 2.8% | 15,868 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $462 | 2.3% | 9,277 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $432 | 1.9% | 58,258 |
| 8 | Utah | $432 | 2% | 35,505 |
| 9 | Iowa | $424 | 2.6% | 44,698 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $420 | 3.1% | 9,071 |
| 11 | Kansas | $416 | 2.5% | 38,170 |
| 12 | Texas | $415 | 4.1% | 594,584 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $393 | 4.2% | 272,464 |
| 14 | Oregon | $391 | 3.7% | 81,977 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $389 | 2.8% | 16,348 |
| 16 | Vermont | $388 | 2.1% | 6,995 |
| 17 | Colorado | $387 | 3.4% | 111,878 |
| 18 | Ohio | $382 | 4% | 228,949 |
| 19 | New York | $373 | 4.7% | 445,097 |
| 20 | Nevada | $372 | 4.4% | 66,464 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $367 | 4.1% | 77,702 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $366 | 3.8% | 78,292 |
| 23 | Illinois | $363 | 4.5% | 290,027 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $359 | 2.3% | 11,000 |
| 25 | Idaho | $356 | 2.7% | 25,697 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $353 | 2.1% | 22,363 |
| 27 | Maine | $346 | 3.1% | 21,092 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $340 | 4.4% | 41,821 |
| 29 | Michigan | $339 | 4.3% | 200,680 |
| 30 | Maryland | $334 | 4.3% | 138,107 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $331 | 3.1% | 57,484 |
| 32 | California | $315 | 4.1% | 783,822 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $305 | 3.1% | 96,262 |
| 34 | Virginia | $295 | 2.6% | 114,105 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $294 | 2% | 15,542 |
| 36 | Georgia | $289 | 2.8% | 149,654 |
| 37 | Delaware | $288 | 4.5% | 22,331 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $277 | 3.9% | 30,979 |
| 39 | Alaska | $276 | 4.6% | 16,661 |
| 40 | Missouri | $263 | 2.5% | 76,156 |
| 41 | Alabama | $259 | 2.6% | 58,913 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $257 | 3.5% | 179,521 |
| 43 | Indiana | $256 | 2.8% | 95,218 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $248 | 3.1% | 74,521 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $247 | 3.4% | 45,636 |
| 46 | Florida | $240 | 2.7% | 292,609 |
| 47 | Arizona | $237 | 3.5% | 125,050 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $224 | 3.4% | 114,679 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $200 | 3.6% | 45,237 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $186 | 3.5% | 73,895 |
Unemployment Benefits by State
Alabama
Unemployment Benefits
$259
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#10
Unemployed Population
58,913
Ranked in the US
#29
Alaska
Unemployment Benefits
$276
Ranked in the US
#39
Ranked in the US
#49
Unemployed Population
16,661
Ranked in the US
#45
Arizona
Unemployment Benefits
$237
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#27
Unemployed Population
125,050
Ranked in the US
#15
Arkansas
Unemployment Benefits
$247
Ranked in the US
#45
Ranked in the US
#24
Unemployed Population
45,636
Ranked in the US
#32
California
Unemployment Benefits
$315
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#39
Unemployed Population
783,822
Ranked in the US
#1
Colorado
Unemployment Benefits
$387
Ranked in the US
#17
Ranked in the US
#25
Unemployed Population
111,878
Ranked in the US
#18
Connecticut
Unemployment Benefits
$367
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#40
Unemployed Population
77,702
Ranked in the US
#23
Delaware
Unemployment Benefits
$288
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#47
Unemployed Population
22,331
Ranked in the US
#42
Florida
Unemployment Benefits
$240
Ranked in the US
#46
Ranked in the US
#13
Unemployed Population
292,609
Ranked in the US
#4
Georgia
Unemployment Benefits
$289
Ranked in the US
#36
Ranked in the US
#15
Unemployed Population
149,654
Ranked in the US
#11
Hawaii
Unemployment Benefits
$483
Ranked in the US
#3
Ranked in the US
#36
Unemployed Population
27,354
Ranked in the US
#39
Idaho
Unemployment Benefits
$356
Ranked in the US
#25
Ranked in the US
#14
Unemployed Population
25,697
Ranked in the US
#40
Illinois
Unemployment Benefits
$363
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#48
Unemployed Population
290,027
Ranked in the US
#5
Indiana
Unemployment Benefits
$256
Ranked in the US
#43
Ranked in the US
#16
Unemployed Population
95,218
Ranked in the US
#20
Iowa
Unemployment Benefits
$424
Ranked in the US
#9
Ranked in the US
#11
Unemployed Population
44,698
Ranked in the US
#34
Kansas
Unemployment Benefits
$416
Ranked in the US
#11
Ranked in the US
#8
Unemployed Population
38,170
Ranked in the US
#36
Kentucky
Unemployment Benefits
$366
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#34
Unemployed Population
78,292
Ranked in the US
#22
Louisiana
Unemployment Benefits
$186
Ranked in the US
#50
Ranked in the US
#28
Unemployed Population
73,895
Ranked in the US
#26
Maine
Unemployment Benefits
$346
Ranked in the US
#27
Ranked in the US
#19
Unemployed Population
21,092
Ranked in the US
#43
Maryland
Unemployment Benefits
$334
Ranked in the US
#30
Ranked in the US
#43
Unemployed Population
138,107
Ranked in the US
#13
Massachusetts
Unemployment Benefits
$512
Ranked in the US
#1
Ranked in the US
#30
Unemployed Population
134,742
Ranked in the US
#14
Michigan
Unemployment Benefits
$339
Ranked in the US
#29
Ranked in the US
#44
Unemployed Population
200,680
Ranked in the US
#8
Minnesota
Unemployment Benefits
$432
Ranked in the US
#7
Ranked in the US
#1
Unemployed Population
58,258
Ranked in the US
#30
Mississippi
Unemployment Benefits
$200
Ranked in the US
#49
Ranked in the US
#31
Unemployed Population
45,237
Ranked in the US
#33
Missouri
Unemployment Benefits
$263
Ranked in the US
#40
Ranked in the US
#9
Unemployed Population
76,156
Ranked in the US
#24
Montana
Unemployment Benefits
$465
Ranked in the US
#5
Ranked in the US
#17
Unemployed Population
15,868
Ranked in the US
#47
Nebraska
Unemployment Benefits
$353
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#4
Unemployed Population
22,363
Ranked in the US
#41
Nevada
Unemployment Benefits
$372
Ranked in the US
#20
Ranked in the US
#45
Unemployed Population
66,464
Ranked in the US
#28
New Hampshire
Unemployment Benefits
$294
Ranked in the US
#35
Ranked in the US
#2
Unemployed Population
15,542
Ranked in the US
#48
New Jersey
Unemployment Benefits
$476
Ranked in the US
#4
Ranked in the US
#37
Unemployed Population
188,221
Ranked in the US
#9
New Mexico
Unemployment Benefits
$340
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#46
Unemployed Population
41,821
Ranked in the US
#35
New York
Unemployment Benefits
$373
Ranked in the US
#19
Ranked in the US
#50
Unemployed Population
445,097
Ranked in the US
#3
North Carolina
Unemployment Benefits
$257
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#29
Unemployed Population
179,521
Ranked in the US
#10
North Dakota
Unemployment Benefits
$462
Ranked in the US
#6
Ranked in the US
#6
Unemployed Population
9,277
Ranked in the US
#50
Ohio
Unemployment Benefits
$382
Ranked in the US
#18
Ranked in the US
#38
Unemployed Population
228,949
Ranked in the US
#7
Oklahoma
Unemployment Benefits
$331
Ranked in the US
#31
Ranked in the US
#20
Unemployed Population
57,484
Ranked in the US
#31
Oregon
Unemployment Benefits
$391
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#32
Unemployed Population
81,977
Ranked in the US
#21
Pennsylvania
Unemployment Benefits
$393
Ranked in the US
#13
Ranked in the US
#42
Unemployed Population
272,464
Ranked in the US
#6
Rhode Island
Unemployment Benefits
$389
Ranked in the US
#15
Ranked in the US
#18
Unemployed Population
16,348
Ranked in the US
#46
South Carolina
Unemployment Benefits
$248
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#21
Unemployed Population
74,521
Ranked in the US
#25
South Dakota
Unemployment Benefits
$359
Ranked in the US
#24
Ranked in the US
#7
Unemployed Population
11,000
Ranked in the US
#49
Tennessee
Unemployment Benefits
$224
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#26
Unemployed Population
114,679
Ranked in the US
#16
Texas
Unemployment Benefits
$415
Ranked in the US
#12
Ranked in the US
#41
Unemployed Population
594,584
Ranked in the US
#2
Utah
Unemployment Benefits
$432
Ranked in the US
#8
Ranked in the US
#3
Unemployed Population
35,505
Ranked in the US
#37
Vermont
Unemployment Benefits
$388
Ranked in the US
#16
Ranked in the US
#5
Unemployed Population
6,995
Ranked in the US
#52
Virginia
Unemployment Benefits
$295
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#12
Unemployed Population
114,105
Ranked in the US
#17
Washington
Unemployment Benefits
$491
Ranked in the US
#2
Ranked in the US
#33
Unemployed Population
149,242
Ranked in the US
#12
West Virginia
Unemployment Benefits
$277
Ranked in the US
#38
Ranked in the US
#35
Unemployed Population
30,979
Ranked in the US
#38
Wisconsin
Unemployment Benefits
$305
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#22
Unemployed Population
96,262
Ranked in the US
#19
Wyoming
Unemployment Benefits
$420
Ranked in the US
#10
Ranked in the US
#23
Unemployed Population
9,071
Ranked in the US
#51
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