Despite what the government shutdowns might have you think, quite a lot of work goes into keeping the District running these days.
Realistically, a decent percentage of that work even goes into ensuring that the entire United States of America doesn’t come crashing to a standstill!
Now, Washingtonians can officially reaffirm our bragging rights thanks to a WalletHub study that analyzed and ranked the hardest-working cities across the country!
Where did Washington, D.C. rank among the hardest-working cities in America?
This year, Washington, D.C. was ranked the #3 hardest-working city in the country, one spot below where the District ranked in the same study’s 2025 version.
Here are the District’s metrics from the study:
- Overall rank – #3
- Total Score (out of 100) – 77.34
- Direct Work Factors Rank – #6
- Indirect WorkFactors Rank – #7
The study uncovered several interesting findings about the average Washingtonian’s work ethic:
- D.C. had the highest share of workers who leave vacation time unused in the country, with 64% of Washingtonians having leftover vacation days left unspent by the end of the year.
- Washingtonians, on average, work the fourth-most hours per week in the nation.
- Residents of D.C. commute an average of 30 minutes to work, adding a full hour to their daily workday.
- Roughly 31% of Washingtonians volunteer with local groups or organizations, meaning they still work hard in their free time.
What are the other hardest-working cities in America?
The top-10 hardest-working, according to the study, are as follows:
- Cheyenne, WY
- Anchorage, AK
- Washington, D.C.
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Irving, TX
- Nashville, TN
- Dallas, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- Denver, CO
- Austin, TX
What was the methodology of this study?
The study used 11 key metrics to measure each city included in the study, with each metric being given its own weight that, when combined, added up to a potential total score of 100.
Here is how those metrics and their respective weighted scores break down:
Direct Work Factors – 80 potential points
- Average Workweek Hours: 36.92 Points
- Employment Rate: 12.31 Points
- Share of Households where No Adults Work: 12.31 Points
- Share of Workers Leaving Vacation Time Unused: 6.15 Points
- Share of Engaged Workers: 6.15 Points
- Idle Youth (16-24) Rate: 6.15 Points
Indirect Work Factors – 20 potential points
- Average Commute Time: 4.00 Points
- Share of Workers with Multiple Jobs: 4.00 Points
- Annual Volunteer Hours per Resident: 4.00 Points
- Share of Residents Who Participate in Local Groups or Organizations: 4.00 Points
- Average Leisure Time Spent per Day: 4.00 Points