Unemployment Benefits By State

United StatesUnited States
$474.44Max Unemployment BenefitsNational Average
Poverty RateNational Average
Snap RecipientsNational Total
Median Household IncomeNational Average
Max Unemployment Benefits 2021Question Mark
Map visualization
$235$823
1
MassachusettsMassachusetts
$823
2
WashingtonWashington
$790
3
MinnesotaMinnesota
$740
4
New JerseyNew Jersey
$713
5
ConnecticutConnecticut
$649
6
HawaiiHawaii
$648
6
OregonOregon
$648
8
ColoradoColorado
$618
8
North DakotaNorth Dakota
$618
10
Rhode IslandRhode Island
$586
11
UtahUtah
$580
12
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
$572
13
MontanaMontana
$552
13
KentuckyKentucky
$552
15
OklahomaOklahoma
$539
16
TexasTexas
$535
17
VermontVermont
$513
18
New MexicoNew Mexico
$511
19
WyomingWyoming
$508
20
New YorkNew York
$504
21
KansasKansas
$488
22
IllinoisIllinois
$484
23
NevadaNevada
$483
24
IowaIowa
$481
25
OhioOhio
$480
26
ArkansasArkansas
$451
27
CaliforniaCalifornia
$450
28
IdahoIdaho
$448
29
MaineMaine
$445
30
NebraskaNebraska
$440
31
MarylandMaryland
$430
32
New HampshireNew Hampshire
$427
33
West VirginiaWest Virginia
$424
34
South DakotaSouth Dakota
$414
35
DelawareDelaware
$400
36
IndianaIndiana
$390
37
VirginiaVirginia
$378
38
AlaskaAlaska
$370
38
WisconsinWisconsin
$370
40
GeorgiaGeorgia
$365
41
MichiganMichigan
$362
42
North CarolinaNorth Carolina
$350
43
South CarolinaSouth Carolina
$326
44
MissouriMissouri
$320
45
AlabamaAlabama
$275
45
TennesseeTennessee
$275
45
FloridaFlorida
$275
48
LouisianaLouisiana
$247
49
ArizonaArizona
$240
50
MississippiMississippi
$235
Unemployment Benefits By State
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Last updated February 28, 2026

Unemployment Benefits Across the United States

Unemployment, an issue of significant economic consequence, affects each state in the U.S. differently, with regional variations playing a crucial role. Unemployment not only disrupts individuals' lives but contributes profoundly to the overall health of the economy. With the surging impacts of the global pandemic, understanding the nuances of unemployment benefits across states in America has never been more crucial. In America, unemployment compensation varies by state, ranging from a maximum of $235 a week in Mississippi to a high of $823 in Massachusetts. Each state independently manages its unemployment compensation program, and many offer benefits for up to 26 weeks. However, this duration can be shorter or longer, depending on the state's policies. Several key findings based on the given dataset include:

  • States on the higher end of the weekly maximum unemployment benefits spectrum are Massachusetts ($823), Washington ($790), and Minnesota ($740).
  • States at the lower end with significantly smaller weekly payouts are Mississippi ($235), Arizona ($240), and Louisiana ($247).

All Metrics

Region ↕Max Unemployment Benefits 2021↕Poverty Rate 2023↕Snap Recipients 2025↕Median Household Income 2023↕
Massachusetts$823
Washington$790
Minnesota$740
New Jersey$713
Connecticut$649
Hawaii$648
Oregon$648
Colorado$618
North Dakota$618
Rhode Island$586
Utah$580
Pennsylvania$572
Montana$552
Kentucky$552
Oklahoma$539
Texas$535
Vermont$513
New Mexico$511
Wyoming$508
New York$504
Kansas$488
Illinois$484
Nevada$483
Iowa$481
Ohio$480
Arkansas$451
California$450
Idaho$448
Maine$445
Nebraska$440
Maryland$430
New Hampshire$427
West Virginia$424
South Dakota$414
Delaware$400
Indiana$390
Virginia$378
Alaska$370
Wisconsin$370
Georgia$365
Michigan$362
North Carolina$350
South Carolina$326
Missouri$320
Alabama$275
Tennessee$275
Florida$275
Louisiana$247
Arizona$240
Mississippi$235

Sources & Notes

Max Unemployment Benefits

Maximum unemployment compensation amount available to eligible individuals.

Poverty Rate

% of the population living below the national poverty line.

Snap Recipients

Number of people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Median Household Income

Middle household income value, with half of households earning more and half earning less.

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