America's Best Cities for Women in the Workforce: 2026 Rankings

The 2026 US labor market looks very different from the one women faced just a few years ago. Automation, artificial intelligence, and new ways of working are reshaping jobs across every industry. After the pandemic‑era “women's recession” pushed millions of women out of the workforce, women are returning to work in record numbers and moving into higher‑paying, leadership roles. By 2024, the labor force participation rate for women aged 25 to 54 hit a record high of 78.4%. Yet progress remains uneven, with some US cities offering far better conditions for women’s careers than others.

To understand where women have the strongest opportunities today, we analyzed US Census Bureau data on the 100 largest US cities. We examined five key employment factors across the 100 largest US cities. Each factor was weighted, scaled, and combined into a workforce score. The results highlight the cities that offer the best mix of career growth, earning potential, and leadership opportunities.

Key factors

Let’s begin by looking at the best—and worst—cities in the country for our five critical factors related to women in the workforce.

*Data analyzed by Checkr from US Census Bureau

Topping the list for 2026 is Knoxville, TN, which emerges as the standout city for women in the workforce this year. Knoxville earned high marks across nearly every key metric, from workforce participation and salary growth to women in leadership. The city's expanding healthcare and technology sectors have created a pipeline of well-paying roles, and its relatively low cost of living means earnings go further here than in many competing cities.

Coming in second place is Portland, ME, a city that has made impressive gains in both salary growth and management representation for women. Portland's tight-knit professional community and growing economy have created strong conditions for women seeking upward mobility. The city's narrowing gender wage gap reflects broader commitments to workplace equity.

North Port, FL, claims third place and is one of Florida's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. North Port's growing economy has created significant opportunities in business, healthcare, and retail management for women, and its rising median wages signal a strong trajectory for earning potential.

Fourth place goes to Lakeland, FL, a perennial top performer in this report and a city that continues to offer outstanding conditions for women in the workforce. Lakeland ranked highly in workforce growth and women's median income, maintaining its reputation as a prime destination for career-focused women in the Southeast.

Rounding out the top five is Jacksonville, FL, which earns its place thanks to significant growth in the number of women in the workforce and consistently strong performance in women's median income. Jacksonville's diverse professional landscape—spanning finance, logistics, and healthcare—continues to provide meaningful opportunities for women.

The rest of the top ten cities for women in the workforce include Charleston, SC; Spokane, WA; Chattanooga, TN; Indianapolis, IN; and Jackson, MS. These cities have demonstrated strong performance in key employment metrics and are promising locations for women seeking career growth in 2026.

At the bottom of the rankings for 2026, Oxnard, CA lands in last place, struggling across multiple key metrics. Despite California's overall strong economy, Oxnard faces persistent challenges in wage equity and women's representation in management, making it difficult terrain for women seeking leadership advancement and competitive compensation.

Not far behind is Hartford, CT, a city that has also ranked low in previous years. Hartford continues to face challenges in closing the gender wage gap, and growth in women's workforce participation remains slower than in top‑performing cities.

Third from the bottom is Honolulu, HI, where the high cost of living compounds the impact of wage disparities. While Hawaii’s economy is strong overall, women in Honolulu face significant gaps in earning potential and representation in leadership compared with men.

Rounding out the bottom five are Syracuse, NY, and Madison, WI, both of which struggle with limited workforce growth for women and below-average median incomes.

Other cities rounding out the bottom ten include Milwaukee, WI; New Haven, CT; Kiryas Joel, NY; Durham, NC; and Buffalo, NY, all of which have shown persistent challenges in closing the wage gap, increasing women's workforce participation, and providing leadership opportunities.

Next, let's dive into the individual scores for women's earning potential in the workforce, starting with the top cities where women's salaries have grown the most over the past few years.

*Data analyzed by Checkr from US Census Bureau

In 2026, several cities have seen remarkable gains in median earnings for women. Leading the way is Portland, ME, which takes the top spot for women's salary growth this year. The city's professional services and healthcare sectors have driven meaningful wage increases, and Portland's commitment to pay equity has created a competitive environment that rewards skilled women workers.

Closely behind are North Port, FL, and Lakeland, FL, both of which reflect the continued economic momentum across Florida's mid-sized metros. These cities have seen sustained investment in sectors such as healthcare, retail management, and professional services, which has directly translated into wage gains for women.

In fourth place, Denver, CO, remains one of the most dynamic cities for women's earning potential in the country. Denver's thriving technology, aerospace, and financial services sectors have helped raise median wages for women, and the city continues to attract employers committed to competitive, equitable compensation.

Fifth place belongs to Knoxville, TN, the overall top-ranked city, which also performs strongly in salary growth. Knoxville's expanding professional workforce and growing corporate presence have created upward wage pressure, benefiting women across a wide range of industries.

Further down the list, Austin, TX, and Miami, FL, continue to demonstrate strong salary gains for women, driven by their respective technology and international business hubs.

Provo, UT, and Salt Lake City, UT, round out the near-top performers, reflecting Utah's broader economic growth and rising wages across professional sectors. Rounding out the top ten is Deltona, FL, another Florida metro where economic expansion has supported steady salary gains for women.

Now, let's take a look at the leaders in the growth of women in management positions.

*Data analyzed by Checkr from US Census Bureau

Women's representation in leadership roles has been steadily increasing across the country. In 2026, several cities stand out for their impressive growth in the number of women in management positions.

Leading all cities is Bakersfield, CA, which has seen a notable increase in female managers across industries, including agriculture, healthcare, and government. This growth reflects significant investment in workforce development programs and a corporate culture increasingly focused on promoting women into decision-making roles.

In second place, North Port, FL, continues its strong showing across categories, with women rapidly moving into leadership positions in its growing business and healthcare sectors. Deltona, Florida, ranks third, with expanding industries and a growing professional base opening more pathways to management for women.

Fresno, California, takes fourth, with meaningful growth in women holding managerial roles, particularly across agriculture, logistics, and public administration. Close behind, Dayton, Ohio, ranks fifth, with healthcare and manufacturing driving an increase in women’s leadership across the metropolitan area.

The Southeast continues to perform well, with Raleigh, NC, in sixth, a city where the presence of major universities and a growing tech corridor has supported women's advancement into leadership.

Knoxville, TN, and Chattanooga, TN, occupy seventh and eighth, respectively, highlighting Tennessee’s growing strength as a state where women are increasingly taking on management responsibilities across industries.

Rounding out the top ten are Greensboro, NC, and Baton Rouge, LA, both of which have shown consistent growth in women’s representation in management. As business communities in these cities expand, more women are securing leadership roles.

Next, we explore the industries that currently offer the strongest opportunities for women in the workforce.

*Data analyzed by Checkr from US Census Bureau

Choosing the right industry can be as important as choosing the right city. The sectors at the top of this list share two traits: strong demand for skilled professionals and a shift toward recognizing women as essential contributors at every level.

Taking the top spot is life and physical sciences, where women have made significant progress in recent years. Demand for researchers, scientists, and technical professionals has increased, and employers in this sector are prioritizing closing the gender pay gap to compete for talent.

Architecture and engineering ranks second. This field has historically been male‑dominated, but has seen an influx of women at both entry and leadership levels, supported by targeted recruitment and retention programs.

Third place goes to community and social services, an industry where women have long played a central role and continue to advance into supervisory and director‑level positions.

Business and finance ranks fourth, reflecting the progress women have made in banking, investment, and corporate finance, including a growing share of senior management roles.

The creative sector appears in fifth place with arts, design, and media, which offers opportunities for women across advertising, publishing, digital media, and entertainment.

Legal follows in sixth, where women now represent a growing share of attorneys, paralegals, and legal professionals, with more women leading their own practices and rising to partner.

Office and administrative support, in seventh, is an industry where women have historically been well represented and are increasingly moving into supervisory and operational leadership roles.

Computer and math takes eighth place, with the technology sector seeing growth in women’s representation, particularly in data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity.

Rounding out the top ten is management, in ninth, reflecting the growing number of women in general management and executive roles across industries, and food service, in tenth, where women are increasingly moving from frontline roles into ownership and management positions in restaurants and hospitality.

Below is the full ranking of United States cities and how they compare across the key metrics that define strong environments for women in the workforce.

For more information on Checkr’s research or to request graphics or commentary about this study, please contact press@checkr.com.  

To rank America’s best cities for women in the workforce in 2026, Checkr analyzed five key factors from the US Census Bureau: the change in the size of the workforce; the change in the number of women in management positions; the change in median income; the change in the wage gap between women and men; and the change in the unemployment rate. Each factor was weighted appropriately by Checkr and scaled, resulting in the final rankings of the 100 largest cities in the country for women in the workforce. 

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.

About the author

As VP of Product & Customer Marketing at Checkr, Bryan is responsible for educating current and prospective customers about the value and use of our products. He is passionate about understanding the needs of companies and candidates who use Checkr, and helping them get the most from the platform.