The Top 10 States With the Most Remote Jobs — and All 50 States Ranked

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.

The appeal of working from home and ditching your commute is undeniable. But even in a remote role, where you live can still affect your job prospects.

While there are fully remote, location-independent jobs that let you work from anywhere in the world, the majority of remote jobs still have some form of location requirement — whether it’s a specific country, state, or even city. Searching by location can open up more opportunities and increase your chances of landing a remote job that aligns with your location and your needs.

In the following, we’re sharing WalletHub’s ranking of the top states with the most remote jobs in the United States, along with companies hiring and high-paying remote jobs within those states.

We’re also sharing a more comprehensive list of all U.S. states ranked according to the most to least remote jobs.

The Top 10 States With the Most Remote Jobs

Wondering which state has the most job opportunities for remote work?

FlexJobs referenced WalletHub’s list of the Best States for Working From Home, which is based on an evaluation of “work environment” and “living environment” using 12 weighted metrics, to share the top states with the most remote jobs.

Each state includes a few leading employers in FlexJobs’ database headquartered within that state that are hiring now, as well as examples of high-paying remote jobs with salary data sourced from Payscale.

10. North Carolina

With a growing technology sector and strong financial services industry, North Carolina is a great place for remote work. The state is home to many Fortune 500 companies and emerging startups offering flexible job options.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in North Carolina:

• Anomaly Squared
• Honeywell
• Truist

Recent high-paying remote jobs in North Carolina:

• Client Success Manager, Average Salary: $76,547
• IT Compliance Specialist, Average Salary: $64,799
• Sales Manager, Average Salary: $71,166

9. Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a leader in healthcare, education, and biotech, offering remote opportunities in research, finance, and IT. The innovation-driven economy in Massachusetts supports remote work in various industries.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Massachusetts:

• Creative Financial Staffing – CFS
• Motion Recruitment
• Thermo Fisher Scientific

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Massachusetts:

• Data Acquisition Manager, Average Salary: $78,857
• Executive Assistant, Average Salary: $65,307
• Tax Accountant, Average Salary: $62,386

8. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s diverse economy includes finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, with many companies offering remote work. Pennsylvania is home to major financial institutions and national healthcare providers.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Pennsylvania:

• Liberty Healthcare
• Lincoln Financial Group
• PNC

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Pennsylvania:

• Actuarial Analyst, Average Salary: $72,239
• Development Operations (DevOps) Engineer, Average Salary: $107,178
• Writer, Average Salary: $62,995

7. Washington

A leader in technology, ecommerce, and aerospace, Washington offers a range of remote work opportunities, especially in software and data-driven roles. Washington is also home to major real estate and cloud computing companies.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Washington:

• SAP
• Smartsheet
• Zillow

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Washington:

• Business Development Manager, Average Salary: $82,677
• Human Resources Manager, Average Salary: $75,514
• Software Engineer, Average Salary: $95,195

6. Connecticut

Connecticut has a strong financial services and healthcare presence, making it a great state for remote job seekers in these fields. Connecticut is also home to major insurance companies and Fortune 500 employers.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Connecticut:

• CVS Health
• Synchrony Financial
• The Hartford

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Connecticut:

• Business Information Analyst, Average Salary: $68,257
• Data Scientist, Average Salary: $101,337
• Registered Nurse Navigator, Average Salary: $81,947

5. District of Columbia

As the nation’s capital, the District of Columbia (D.C.) is a major center for government, nonprofit, and consulting jobs, many of which offer remote options. Washington, D.C., is also home to national organizations that support fully remote work.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in DC:

• American Red Cross
• CoStar Group
• Guidehouse

Recent high-paying remote jobs in DC:

• Cloud Solutions Engineer, Average Salary: $106,127
• Field Marketing Manager, Average Salary: $85,642
• Government Affairs Director, Average Salary: $110,855

4. Maryland

Maryland is a hub for biotech, healthcare, and government-related industries, providing numerous remote work opportunities. Many national organizations and global brands have a strong presence in Maryland.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Maryland:

• GEICO
• Pearson
• Under Armour

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Maryland:

• Engineering Manager, Average Salary: $121,560
• Penetration Tester, Average Salary: $97,931
• Strategic Account Manager, Average Salary: $88,202

3. Delaware

With its business-friendly policies, Delaware attracts financial services, tech, and healthcare companies. Many firms headquartered in Delaware offer remote and hybrid roles, especially in finance and biotech.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Delaware:

• Best Egg
• RateHawk
• W. L. Gore & Associates

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Delaware:

• Business Information Consultant, Average Salary: $82,391
• Quality Analyst Supervisor, Average Salary: $69,474
• Reference Data Specialist, Average Salary: $67,689

2. Utah

Utah has a thriving tech scene, often referred to as the “Silicon Slopes,” making it a hot spot for remote work. Utah is also home to several education-focused and renewable energy companies offering flexible job options.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in Utah:

• Everlight Solar
• FranklinCovey
• Western Governors University – WGU

Recent high-paying remote jobs in Utah:

• Contract Administrator, Average Salary: $67,094
• Cybersecurity Engineer, Average Salary: $102,478
• Strategic Partnership Manager, Average Salary: $91,438

1. New Jersey

Known for its strong pharmaceutical, finance, and technology sectors, New Jersey offers a range of remote job opportunities across industries. Major employers in New Jersey include global healthcare companies, IT services firms, and financial institutions.

Companies hiring for remote jobs in New Jersey:

• BD – Becton, Dickinson and Company
• Cognizant
• SHI International Corp.

Recent high-paying remote jobs in New Jersey:

• Business Analyst, Average Salary: $68,661
• Development Manager, Average Salary: $109,274
• Project Director, Average Salary: $103,112

Remote Jobs in the United States: Every State Ranked

Beyond the top 10 states, remote jobs can be found across the United States, though availability varies.

Following is WalletHub’s ranking of all 50 states with the most remote jobs (plus Washington, D.C.). This list of states with the most remote jobs is ordered from highest to lowest:

1. New Jersey
2. Utah
3. Delaware
4. Maryland
5. District of Columbia
6. Connecticut
7. Washington
8. Pennsylvania
9. Massachusetts
10. North Carolina
11. Colorado
12. Virginia
13. New Hampshire
14. Rhode Island
15. Texas
16. Tennessee
17. Florida
18. Arizona
19. Minnesota
20. Oregon
21. Kentucky
22. Nevada
23. Georgia
24. Illinois
25. Michigan
26. Ohio
27. Indiana
28. South Carolina
29. California
30. New York
31. Wisconsin
32. Hawaii
33. Nebraska
34. Kansas
35. Alabama
36. Louisiana
37. Vermont
38. Missouri
39. New Mexico
40. Iowa
41. Idaho
42. North Dakota
43. Maine
44. West Virginia
45. Mississippi
46. Oklahoma
47. South Dakota
48. Wyoming
49. Arkansas
50. Montana
51. Alaska

Why Does Location Matter for Remote Jobs?

While remote work offers the flexibility to work from anywhere, location can still play a crucial role in job eligibility. Many remote jobs require employees to live in specific states or regions due to legal, tax, or logistical reasons.

Here are reasons why location matters in remote work:

• Legal and tax considerations: Employers must comply with state labor laws, tax regulations, and industry licensing requirements, which affect hiring decisions. Some states have unique employment laws regarding benefits, overtime pay, and worker classification that companies must follow when hiring remote employees.
• Time zones and collaboration needs: Time zones impact communication and productivity. Companies operating on Eastern Standard Time (EST), for example, may prefer employees within that time zone to keep schedules aligned. This is often especially important for roles requiring real-time collaboration, such as customer service, project management, or sales.
• Hybrid and location-restricted roles: Some remote jobs are hybrid roles that require regular office days, occasional office visits, training sessions, or in-person meetings. To streamline payroll, benefits administration, and HR functions, companies often limit hiring to specific locations.
• Company infrastructure and equipment support: Employers that provide work equipment, like laptops and monitors, may only ship them to certain locations. Additionally, reliable internet access factors into hiring decisions, particularly for roles involving videoconferencing, large file transfers, or cloud-based applications.
• Client or market proximity: Some roles require employees to be near specific clients, markets, or service areas. This is common in fieldwork, localized customer support, and region-specific sales and marketing. For example, a remote account manager may need to be in the same state as key clients to attend meetings or understand local market dynamics.