MENU
SEARCHWork/Life balance refers to the harmony between the responsibilities of your professional and your personal lives. See which states scored the highest, and which came in at the bottom, according to data from Glassdoor.com.
A new ranking has revealed which states have the best employers for a work/life balance, based on employee reviews - with Washington crowned top.
The study, conducted by resume specialists ResumeBlaze, looked at the number of companies rated 4.5 stars and above for work/life balance in each state and scaled this against the total number of jobs listed in each area on Glassdoor.
Despite unemployment rates being at a half-century low (according to figures from the Federal Reserve), some people will still be looking to switch jobs before the festive season hits – and employer ratings is a key concern for many.
Washington is crowned top for those seeking a good work/life balance, with 20% of companies rated 4.5 stars and above - 54% more than the national average (13%).
Work/life balance refers to the harmony between the responsibilities of your professional life and your personal life (such as family, social activities, and hobbies), with a healthy balance key to maintaining good mental and physical health.
The second-best state to work for those who prioritize this harmony is California with 18% of employers rated 4.5 and above, while Massachusetts is the third best with 17%.
The ten states with the best employers for work/life balance ranked include Washington (19.7%); California (18.3%; Massachusetts (17%); Utah (16.6%), Colorado (16.6%); Texas (16.5%); Florida (16.4%) New York (15.3%); Virginia (15%) and Idaho (14.7%).
On the other end of the scale, West Virginia is named the state with the worst employers for work/life balance with only 9% of companies rated 4.5 stars – 55% fewer than Washington.
Kansas is named the second-worst state with 9% of companies rated 4.5 stars, and the third worst state for employees seeking a good work/life balance is New Mexico with 10%.
As well as looking at which states have the highest-rated employers for work/life balance, the analysis also looked at which job sectors have the top-performing companies - with, surprisingly, the legal sector placing first with19% of employers rated 4.5 stars and above.
The second and third best job sectors are engineering with 16% of companies rated well for work/life balance, followed by education with 16%.
Meanwhile, the job sector that struggles the most to maintain a good work/life balance is the retail and food services sector, with just 2% of employers rated well for this - 85% fewer than the national average.
Speaking on the findings, Darren Shafae, Founder of ResumeBlaze, said: “Those who are looking for a new job will almost definitely turn to employee reviews to judge the quality of a company - and those who are poorly rated are less likely to have enthusiastic applicants than those with glowing reviews”.
Data gathered from Glassdoor company reviews.
Axel and Marc Weiss are now leading Artègo USA's distribution operations, introducing a strategy focusing on strengthening relationships with salons, distributors, educators, and sales professionals.
AI, relentless change, employee burnout, economic insecurity. Individually, each presents a challenge, but together, they create what global leadership strategies Thom Dennis calls "the perfect storm." His new book, Rewilding the Corporate Mind, offers business leaders a radically different approach to leading people through today's uncertainty and division.
Timed to kick off New York Fashion Week, the intimate, artist-led event focuses on technique, storytelling, and the creative process.
JVN Hair's Summer Protection Duo is clinically proven to provide UV protection and deliver conditioning and texture to keep hair looking great all season long.
The Professional Beauty Association and Pivot Point team up to develop an ongoing study that measures the confidence of salon owners, stylists, school owners, and students.
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai
In October, volunteers plan to walk and take the plunge during at the annual event, HairToStay Does the Bay. Find out how you can participate and support the organization that grants subsidies to cancer patients so they can receive cold cap treatments to save their hair during chemotherapy.
At Premiere Orlando 2026, SALON TODAY catches up with Easihair Pro's Angela Gilmore, who talks about why stylists lose clients who are suffering from thinning hair and hair loss, and how their new Hairlosophy line can help.
Illuminated Paths is a boxed set of 52 cards, a guidebook, and an Oracolor Wheel, a visual framework that helps readers reconnect with the qualities they want to bring into everyday life.
