As a CEO of a public relations and storytelling agency in Tulsa, OK, Kristi Eaton is no stranger to working long hours. She started her business in 2023 after consulting for several years.
“People tend to think consultants or those who own their own business work fewer hours, but my friends will tell you that I work the same—sometimes more—hours,” Eaton tells Realtor.com®.
The hours she puts in should come as no surprise. After all, Eaton lives in Oklahoma, determined by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data as one of the top 10 states in 2024 where people work the longest hours. In the Sooner State, people work an average of 140 hours a month.
Eaton’s labor of love, ke comms, doesn’t feel like work, she says.
“The difference is I set my own schedule so I can work odd hours. I still put in a lot of time at my agency, particularly time that I don’t get paid for like networking events and potential client meetings. But it’s all worth it to be able to work for myself,” says Eaton.
Working hard
Americans are not showing any signs of slowing down, and it appears the hustle and bustle isn’t isolated to big metros, like New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles.
The BLS sifted through the hours worked for each state in 2024, and Realtor.com ranked states by the average weekly hours. BLS data reveals Louisiana residents worked the longest hours with a monthly average of 146 hours, or an average of 36.5 hours a week. The average weekly earnings there for 2024 were $1,047.55.
In Oklahoma, which ranked seventh, the average weekly earnings registered at $1,055.95.
“I think there are several factors at play here. People from Oklahoma tend to have a strong work ethic, yes, but we also have a low minimum wage ($7.25. per hour—the same as the federal minimum wage), so people may be having to work longer hours to make ends meet and juggle multiple jobs,” Eaton explains. “Although the cost of living is more affordable than other places, studies show that people must still make much more than minimum wage to afford housing.”
Overall, labor productivity in 2024 increased in 48 states and Washington, DC. Hours worked increased in 29 states and DC, with Indiana experiencing the highest growth in labor productivity, according to the BLS.
Several of the states that came out on top as a place where people work the longest hours are located in the South. When it comes to housing inventory, the South is one of the regions where inventory grew the fastest last month at 17%, according to the Realtor.com October 2025 Monthly Housing Market Trends report.
How does hours worked each day factor in? The BLS takes each state’s annual contribution to national productivity growth by multiplying the state’s productivity growth rate by its average share of total current dollar national output.
The economic size of each state influences its contribution to national and regional estimates. California has the largest influence on the country’s productivity growth.
But for many of the states in the Top 10, there’s a quality of life when people aren’t working. Eaton explains how Tulsa offers that exact balance.
“I do think people enjoy life outside of work. Here in Tulsa, we have a thriving arts and culture scene, nice restaurants, and events happening all the time,” Eaton says.
These states rank at the top for where Americans are working the longest hours. In states where residents worked the same number of average weekly hours, average weekly earnings were factored into the ranking.
1. Louisiana
- Average monthly hours: 146
- Average weekly hours: 36.5
- Average weekly earnings: $1,047.55
2. Washington, DC
- Average monthly hours: 143.2
- Average weekly hours: 35.8
- Average weekly earnings: $1,835.47
3. Texas
- Average monthly hours: 143.2
- Average weekly hours: 35.8
- Average weekly earnings: $1,184.26
4. North Dakota
- Average monthly hours: 140.8
- Average weekly hours: 35.2
- Average weekly earnings: $1,192.58
5. West Virginia
- Average monthly hours: 140.4
- Average weekly hours: 35.1
- Average weekly earnings: $1,007.02
6. Arizona
- Average monthly hours: 140
- Average weekly hours: 35
- Average weekly earnings: $1,164.97
7. Oklahoma
- Average monthly hours: 140
- Average weekly hours: 35
- Average weekly earnings: $1,055.95
8. Kentucky
- Average monthly hours: 140
- Average weekly hours: 35
- Average weekly earnings: $1,015.70
9. Arkansas
- Average monthly hours: 140
- Average weekly hours: 35
- Average weekly earnings: $999.89
10. Mississippi
- Average monthly hours: 139.6
- Average weekly hours: 34.9
- Average weekly earnings: $928.34
