These cities rank as the hardest working places in America in 2026, data suggests

WalletHub looked at various data about Americans’ work week and side jobs to find the "hardest-working" city in the country. 

Here’s what their analysis found: 

Most hard-working cities in US

By the numbers

Here are the top 10 most hard-working cities: 

1. Cheyenne, WY
2. Anchorage, AK
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Sioux Falls, SD
5. Irving, TX
6. Nashville, TN
7. Dallas, TX
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Denver, CO
10. Austin, TX

See the full list from WalletHub here. 

1. Cheyenne, WY

Local perspective

According to WalletHub’s findings, Cheyenne has the most hardworking residents in the country in large part because it ranks highest for average workweek length, with employees averaging 40.7 hours per week. 

In addition, Cheyenne also has the fifth-highest share of workers holding multiple jobs.

2. Anchorage, AK

Local perspective

According to WalletHub’s findings, Anchorage residents are the second-hardest workers in the country due largely to the fact that it’s one of only four states where the average person works more than 40 hours per week. 

Anchorage also has a high employment rate, at over 96%, so almost all working-age residents are busy with a job – or even multiple jobs.

3. Washington, D.C.

Local perspective

According to WalletHub’s findings, Washington, D.C., is the third-most hardworking city in part because it has the highest share of workers who leave vacation time unused, at 64%. Residents of D.C. also work the fourth-most hours per week on average.

People in D.C. are willing to take relatively long commutes to work, at 30 minutes on average, which adds on to their workday. And outside of work, nearly 31% of the District’s residents are members of local volunteer groups or organizations, places where they put in time without being paid.

What they’re saying

WalletHub acknowledged that working hard is the "backbone" of America’s economy, but that it’s important to balance that with personal time. 

"While working long hours, minimizing time off, and having side jobs all lead to increased productivity, they can also have negative effects on people’s physical and mental health. It’s important for people to figure out how to work hard without overworking," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. 

Methodology

WalletHub analyzed data for the 116 largest cities that included the city’s average workweek hours, the employment rate, how likely workers were to use vacation time and how many workers held multiple jobs, as well as several other key metrics. 

The statistics came from Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and other data.