New York is among the best states for working fathers, a new WalletHub study found.
According to WalletHub, 85% of Americans in 1972 depended on a single outcome in which the fathers were typically away working every day, while the brunt of childcare and home care was placed on mothers. Now, 72.1% of married mothers are part of the workforce, while 94.4% of married fathers are also part of the workforce, the study states.
As the gap between working mothers and working fathers continues to narrow, WalletHub stated that more fathers are working from home and taking on greater childcare responsibilities. Ahead of Father’s Day, WalletHub analyzed which states are the best for working fathers.
“Working dads have to worry about much more than just how much income they’re bringing home to support their kids. They also have to make sure that their children’s childcare and education are adequate, their health is properly looked after, and they get enough quality time with their father,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “The best states for working dads provide the conditions for all these needs to be met, while also helping dads maintain their own physical and mental health.”
To determine the best states for men taking on more of a balanced role as parent and provider, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 22 indicators of support for working fathers, ranging from the average workday to childcare costs and the percentage of men in good or better health.
Here is what to know about New York’s ranking.
Is NY a good state for working dads?
New York was ranked as the 14th-best state for working dads with an overall score of 59.64, according to WalletHub.
The Empire State scored the No. 10 spot for both the work-life balance rank and the child care rank and No. 11 for the health rank. It was ranked as having the fifth-highest life expectancy for men and tied for fourth place with Mexico for having the lowest average work day length for men.
NY, however, fell short in some areas: it was ranked second-highest in unemployment among dads with young kids, had the third-highest child care costs, and ranked No. 42 in economic and social well-being.
WalletHub’s 15 best states for working dads
WalletHub’s 15 worst states for working dads
How WalletHub assessed best states for working dads
To determine the best and worst states for working dads, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across four dimensions: economic & social well-being, work-life balance, child care and health.
The economic & social well-being category analyzed these factors:
The work-life balance category analyzed these factors:
The child care category analyzed these factors:
The health category analyzed these factors:
Data used to create the ranking was collected as of May 12, 2026 and was sourced from multiple entities, including WalletHub research, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Partnership for Women & Families.
—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New York ranks among best states for working dads, study finds
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Madison Scott, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
