Recent study ranked WA state among best in the nation for working parents. Here’s why

Finding a balance between work and raising children can be difficult in today’s world. With the rising cost of housing, groceries and childcare, being able to provide and care for children can mean parents have to take on multiple jobs and long work hours.

But if you live in Washington state and have a family, or are planning to start a family sometime soon, you might be happy to know that the Evergreen State was ranked the fifth-best state for working parents in a new study.

An online team of HR tech experts, SelectSoftware Experts, compared all 50 states in the country and ranked them from the best state for working parents to the worst.

Here’s which states topped the list and where exactly Washington state ranked.

Best states for working parents

The five main categories the study used to determine the ranking of best states for working parents were public-school rankings, the duration of available maternity leave, the current cost of living, the percentage of income needed to pay for childcare, and maternity leave pay.

The top five best states for working parents by these metrics, according to the study, are:

• Connecticut

• Maryland

• Colorado

• New Jersey

• Washington

Why is WA a good state for working parents?

Washington state received a score of 49 out of 60 and was ranked the fifth-best state for working parents.

The average income in Washington state is about $81,245 according to the state’s Office of Financial Management. Parents living in the Evergreen State spend about $1,196 a month on childcare, according to a 2023 report based on U.S. Census data.

Washingtonian parents also benefit from some of the best secondary schools in the country.

Washington also offers mothers on paid maternity leave up to 90% of their income while out, according to Washington Paid Medical and Family Leave.

This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Recent study ranked WA state among best in the nation for working parents. Here’s why."

Rosemary Montalvo

The News Tribune

Rosemary Montalvo was previously a service journalism reporter based in Tacoma, WA. She started as a summer news intern after graduating from California State University, Fullerton in May 2023. She has also worked as the photo editor and reporter for her university’s student-run newspaper. She was born in Inglewood, California.