WASHINGTON — It’s hard being a mom. Throw in a career and things can get a little hairy.
But some states are more challenging than others for a working mother to get by. Rising costs of childcare or the gender pay gap can add financial stress to the already expensive business of raising a little human.
To examine the trend across the United States, WalletHub has released its 2015 list of best and worst states for working moms.
While overall Vermont takes the top spot, Virginia does make the top 10, coming at No. 9. Maryland ties with Connecticut for the 12th spot.
The District of Columbia, however, ranks toward the bottom, snagging the 34th place overall. And, when it comes to child care costs as a percentage of women’s income, the District fairs worst of all, coming in at No. 51.
But while D.C. didn’t score well in these categories, it did come in at No. 2 for the lowest gender pay gap and highest female-to-male executive ratio.
A few key statistics from WalletHub’s research:
- Day care quality is five times better in New York than in Idaho.
- Child care costs (adjusted for the median woman’s salary) are two times higher in the District of Columbia than in Tennessee.
- Pediatric services are 12 times more accessible in Vermont than in New Mexico.
- The ratio of female to male executives is three times higher in Alabama than in Utah.
- The percentage of single-mom families in poverty is two times higher in Mississippi than in Alaska.
- The median women’s salary (adjusted for cost of living) is two times higher in Virginia than in Hawaii.
- The female unemployment rate is four times higher in Nevada than in North Dakota.
To see how all the state’s fared, checked out the interactive map below.
