The Layoff Guide
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Unemployment Benefits by State, 2026

Where you live decides how much unemployment pays. The gap between the best and worst states is roughly $31,320 in total possible benefits. All 50 states sortable below.

Highest weekly
$1,208
Washington
Lowest weekly
$235
Mississippi
Longest duration
30 wks
Massachusetts
No waiting week
7 states
paid from week 1
#
1Washington$1,20826Yes$31,408
2Massachusetts$1,15430Yes$34,620
3Minnesota$94826Yes$24,648
4New Jersey$90526No$23,530
5Oregon$90226Yes$23,452
6New York$86926Yes$22,594
7Hawaii$86826Yes$22,568
8Colorado$84426Yes$21,944
9Utah$80626Yes$20,956
10Iowa$79016No$12,640
11North Dakota$78626Yes$20,436
12Rhode Island$77726No$20,202
13Kentucky$74616Yes$11,936
14Connecticut$72126No$18,746
15Vermont$70526Yes$18,330
16Montana$69824Yes$16,752
17Kansas$66316Yes$10,608
18West Virginia$66226Yes$17,212
19Wyoming$65126Yes$16,926
20Maine$64926Yes$16,874
21Oklahoma$64916Yes$10,384
22Illinois$62826Yes$16,328
23Idaho$62426Yes$16,224
24Pennsylvania$60526Yes$15,730
25Texas$60526Yes$15,730
26Ohio$60026Yes$15,600
27New Mexico$59826Yes$15,548
28Nebraska$58226Yes$15,132
29South Dakota$55326Yes$14,378
30Michigan$53026No$13,780
31Virginia$47826Yes$12,428
32Nevada$46926No$12,194
33Arkansas$45112Yes$5,412
34California$45026Yes$11,700
35Delaware$45026Yes$11,700
36North Carolina$45012Yes$5,400
37Maryland$43026No$11,180
38New Hampshire$42726Yes$11,102
39Indiana$39026Yes$10,140
40Alaska$37026Yes$9,620
41Wisconsin$37026Yes$9,620
42Georgia$36514Yes$5,110
43South Carolina$35020Yes$7,000
44Tennessee$32512Yes$3,900
45Arizona$32026Yes$8,320
46Missouri$32020Yes$6,400
47Louisiana$28212Yes$3,384
48Alabama$27526Yes$7,150
49Florida$27512Yes$3,300
50Mississippi$23526Yes$6,110

Click any column header to sort. Click again to reverse.

Top 5 by weekly benefit

  1. 1.Washington,$1,208/wk
  2. 2.Massachusetts,$1,154/wk
  3. 3.Minnesota,$948/wk
  4. 4.New Jersey,$905/wk
  5. 5.Oregon,$902/wk

Bottom 5 by weekly benefit

  1. 1.Mississippi,$235/wk
  2. 2.Florida,$275/wk
  3. 3.Alabama,$275/wk
  4. 4.Louisiana,$282/wk
  5. 5.Missouri,$320/wk

Top 5 by total potential benefit

Max weekly × max weeks

  1. 1.Massachusetts,$34,620
  2. 2.Washington,$31,408
  3. 3.Minnesota,$24,648
  4. 4.New Jersey,$23,530
  5. 5.Oregon,$23,452

States with no waiting week (7)

Paid from your first eligible week

Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island

Shortest benefit duration

  1. 1.Tennessee,12 weeks
  2. 2.North Carolina,12 weeks
  3. 3.Louisiana,12 weeks

Longest benefit duration

  1. 1.Massachusetts,30 weeks
  2. 2.Alabama,26 weeks
  3. 3.Alaska,26 weeks

Methodology

Maximum weekly benefit amounts reflect each state's posted ceiling for 2026, sourced from each state's Department of Labor or workforce agency. Total potential benefits are calculated as the maximum weekly amount multiplied by the state's standard duration cap. Actual benefits received depend on the claimant's base period wages, and most claimants receive less than the maximum.

Several states pay supplemental dependent allowances on top of the base weekly benefit, which can raise the effective maximum in certain household configurations. The table above shows the base maximum without dependents.

For specific eligibility rules, filing instructions, and waiting period mechanics in any state, see that state's guide on the site. For a personalized estimate based on your own wages, use the benefit estimator on any state page or the eligibility quiz.

For journalists and researchers

This data is updated for 2026 and free to cite. Please link back to this page (thelayoffguide.com/compare) when using the figures.