Regulatory Burden
Regulatory Burden by State: All 50 States Ranked
Red tape shapes how easy it is to get a job, start a business, or hire a worker — and it varies enormously by state. This ranking scores all 50 states on regulatory burden, folding in occupational licensing, labor rules, and the broader weight of state regulation, so you can see where it is lightest and where it is heaviest.
Score reflects occupational licensing, labor regulation, and the overall weight of state rules on workers and businesses. Darker green = stronger; click any state for its full breakdown.
All 50 states ranked
- 1IDIdaho10.0A+
- 2SDSouth Dakota9.8A+
- 3NDNorth Dakota9.6A+
- 4MTMontana9.4A+
- 5AKAlaska9.2A+
- 6AZArizona9.0A+
- 7NVNevada8.8A
- 8WYWyoming8.6A
- 9KSKansas8.4A-
- 10NENebraska8.2A-
- 11MIMichigan8.0A-
- 12VTVermont7.8B+
- 13SCSouth Carolina7.6B+
- 14INIndiana7.3B
- 15UTUtah7.1B
- 16MOMissouri6.9B-
- 17RIRhode Island6.7B-
- 18MNMinnesota6.5B-
- 19WVWest Virginia6.5B-
- 20ARArkansas6.5B-
- 21CTConnecticut6.3C+
- 22DEDelaware6.1C+
- 23HIHawaii5.9C
- 24NCNorth Carolina5.7C
- 25GAGeorgia5.5C
- 26ALAlabama5.3C-
- 27TNTennessee5.1C-
- 28KYKentucky4.9D+
- 29MSMississippi4.7D+
- 30MDMaryland4.5D+
- 31MEMaine4.3D
- 32NMNew Mexico4.1D
- 33NHNew Hampshire3.9D-
- 34OKOklahoma3.7D-
- 35VAVirginia3.5D-
- 36IAIowa3.3F
- 37PAPennsylvania3.1F
- 38WIWisconsin2.9F
- 39COColorado2.7F
- 40FLFlorida2.4F
- 41LALouisiana2.2F
- 42MAMassachusetts2.0F
- 43WAWashington1.8F
- 44OROregon1.6F
- 45OHOhio1.4F
- 46TXTexas1.2F
- 47ILIllinois1.0F
- 48NJNew Jersey0.8F
- 49NYNew York0.6F
- 50CACalifornia0.4F
Further reading
Right-to-Work States: The Full List (2026)
In a right-to-work state, no worker can be forced to join a union or pay dues to keep their job. Here is what that means, the 26 states that have it, and the debate around it.
Minimum Wage by State (2026): Highest, Lowest & the Federal Floor
The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009 — but 30 states now set their own higher. Here is who’s still at the floor, who’s highest, and how it all fits together.
States That Banned Non-Compete Agreements (2026)
After the FTC’s national non-compete ban was struck down, state law is what decides whether your non-compete is enforceable. Four states ban them outright — here is the map.
Common questions
Which states have the lightest regulatory burden?
Idaho ranks #1 for regulatory freedom, scoring 10.0/10 — typically a state with lighter licensing requirements and fewer restrictions on hiring and business. The full ranking is above.
What is a right-to-work state?
A right-to-work state bars employers and unions from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment. 26 states have such laws. See our right-to-work explainer for the full list.
Which states are the most heavily regulated?
California ranks lowest on regulatory freedom, reflecting heavier occupational licensing and labor regulation.
Where does the regulatory-burden data come from?
The regulatory-burden score draws on occupational-licensing data, the Mercatus Center’s RegData, and labor-regulation measures. See the methodology page for sources.