The cost of misclassification to workers, low and high estimates, net difference relative to W-2 workers, 2024 dollars

  Construction workers Customer service reps/call center workers Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Home health and personal care aides Janitors and cleaners Landscaping workers Light truck delivery drivers Housekeeping cleaners Manicurists and pedicurists Retail sales workers Security guards
State Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate Low estimate High estimate
Alabama $7,852 $12,242 $6,181 $8,696 $12,656 $21,146 $4,838 $6,816 $5,350 $7,510 $6,933 $9,771 $10,495 $17,498 $5,291 $7,426 $5,677 $8,323 $5,165 $7,153 $5,675 $7,974
Alaska $11,990 $18,764 $7,954 $11,198 $14,860 $24,691 $7,846 $11,074 $7,734 $10,885 $9,474 $13,364 $12,848 $21,320 $6,920 $9,726 $9,234 $13,531 $6,830 $9,473 $9,919 $13,997
Arizona $9,834 $15,249 $7,524 $10,523 $10,936 $18,008 $7,225 $10,135 $6,384 $8,909 $7,348 $10,273 $11,290 $18,598 $6,859 $9,581 $6,941 $10,077 $6,131 $8,431 $7,135 $9,971
Arkansas $8,043 $12,251 $6,989 $9,657 $11,505 $18,684 $5,913 $8,187 $5,673 $7,816 $7,211 $9,968 $10,623 $17,237 $5,975 $8,238 $5,740 $8,231 $5,384 $7,323 $7,207 $9,963
California $13,124 $20,554 $9,285 $13,094 $13,959 $23,181 $8,119 $11,463 $7,657 $10,776 $8,259 $11,633 $11,274 $18,683 $8,101 $11,408 $7,285 $10,644 $6,830 $9,473 $8,178 $11,518
Colorado $10,049 $15,586 $8,180 $11,450 $13,088 $21,592 $7,122 $9,953 $8,780 $12,300 $10,548 $17,363 $7,547 $10,555 $11,276 $16,461 $6,369 $8,763 $7,862 $11,001
Connecticut $12,478 $19,439 $8,661 $12,221 $14,673 $24,450 $8,854 $12,573 $7,823 $11,026 $10,283 $14,534 $12,364 $20,569 $8,725 $12,312 $6,762 $9,975 $6,968 $9,730 $8,385 $11,827
Delaware $10,421 $15,951 $7,484 $10,335 $12,915 $20,915 $7,111 $9,831 $6,373 $8,783 $7,492 $10,346 $10,955 $17,712 $6,169 $8,497 $5,818 $8,285 $5,768 $7,827 $6,334 $8,729
District of Columbia $10,309 $15,779 $10,081 $13,964 $14,002 $22,691 $7,594 $10,508 $7,628 $10,536 $9,225 $12,768 $7,643 $10,558 $6,868 $9,805 $6,779 $9,220 $10,250 $14,201
Florida $8,462 $12,920 $7,577 $10,466 $12,619 $20,431 $6,672 $9,217 $5,853 $8,057 $7,231 $9,982 $10,119 $16,345 $6,239 $8,595 $6,872 $9,811 $5,668 $7,690 $6,375 $8,786
Georgia $8,297 $12,666 $7,104 $9,805 $13,645 $22,108 $6,232 $8,600 $5,943 $8,182 $7,377 $10,186 $10,657 $17,225 $6,029 $8,302 $5,612 $7,987 $5,337 $7,234 $6,879 $9,490
Hawaii $14,200 $22,254 $7,764 $10,928 $13,394 $22,235 $7,724 $10,899 $7,300 $10,267 $8,006 $11,273 $8,287 $11,673 $5,348 $7,775 $6,688 $9,273 $7,936 $11,173
Idaho $9,272 $14,368 $7,084 $9,899 $12,003 $19,785 $6,383 $8,939 $6,787 $9,479 $7,836 $10,964 $10,986 $18,092 $5,811 $8,097 $7,060 $10,252 $5,639 $7,745 $6,622 $9,245
Illinois $14,641 $23,594 $8,176 $11,820 $14,659 $25,240 $7,816 $11,356 $7,612 $10,995 $9,641 $13,964 $13,740 $23,644 $8,289 $11,986 $7,955 $12,044 $6,520 $9,294 $7,858 $11,355
Indiana $11,439 $18,392 $7,459 $10,772 $14,375 $24,747 $7,026 $10,194 $6,725 $9,697 $8,004 $11,569 $11,400 $19,577 $6,764 $9,754 $5,907 $8,902 $5,773 $8,213 $8,037 $11,617
Iowa $10,719 $17,352 $7,634 $11,090 $12,396 $21,470 $7,435 $10,855 $6,320 $9,156 $8,076 $11,740 $11,588 $20,056 $8,574 $12,473 $7,062 $10,731 $5,676 $8,110 $7,584 $11,016
Kansas $9,193 $14,854 $7,642 $11,102 $14,235 $24,689 $7,662 $11,191 $6,042 $8,748 $8,167 $11,874 $11,213 $19,399 $6,684 $9,693 $5,998 $9,089 $5,810 $8,306 $6,725 $9,752
Kentucky $9,129 $14,263 $6,789 $9,565 $12,276 $20,504 $6,163 $8,718 $5,888 $8,278 $7,155 $10,089 $10,827 $18,058 $5,453 $7,657 $6,936 $10,203 $5,262 $7,289 $6,122 $8,612
Louisiana $8,958 $13,664 $7,147 $9,878 $11,071 $17,972 $5,112 $7,061 $4,919 $6,761 $6,175 $8,519 $10,626 $17,241 $4,972 $6,835 $5,481 $7,852 $5,226 $7,105 $5,969 $8,230
Maine $10,995 $17,108 $8,192 $11,552 $12,754 $21,225 $8,521 $12,095 $8,335 $11,755 $10,362 $14,646 $12,889 $21,452 $8,326 $11,743 $15,516 $23,085 $7,102 $9,920 $8,883 $12,537
Maryland $10,155 $15,540 $7,994 $11,047 $13,075 $21,177 $7,533 $10,422 $7,206 $9,946 $7,815 $10,797 $11,401 $18,440 $6,221 $8,571 $7,258 $10,370 $6,111 $8,300 $7,816 $10,800
Massachusetts $15,717 $24,530 $10,184 $14,393 $15,040 $25,066 $9,019 $12,811 $8,295 $11,699 $10,632 $15,031 $13,134 $21,863 $8,547 $12,059 $7,515 $11,102 $7,192 $10,048 $9,168 $12,944
Michigan $11,112 $17,861 $7,957 $11,500 $12,684 $21,809 $7,375 $10,707 $6,824 $9,842 $8,023 $11,596 $11,561 $19,857 $7,383 $10,660 $6,893 $10,415 $6,072 $8,645 $7,565 $10,926
Minnesota $13,040 $21,151 $8,408 $12,229 $14,497 $25,148 $8,000 $11,691 $7,847 $11,403 $9,639 $14,041 $11,841 $20,498 $7,729 $11,230 $7,519 $11,436 $6,569 $9,408 $8,995 $13,093
Mississippi $7,781 $12,130 $6,500 $9,152 $12,843 $21,461 $5,307 $7,488 $4,655 $6,517 $6,154 $8,658 $10,354 $17,261 $4,704 $6,587 $6,891 $10,136 $4,976 $6,886 $5,515 $7,746
Missouri $11,330 $18,352 $7,653 $11,117 $12,752 $22,094 $7,496 $10,945 $6,306 $9,135 $7,756 $11,269 $11,005 $19,035 $6,524 $9,457 $7,026 $10,675 $5,776 $8,256 $7,979 $11,597
Montana $10,167 $15,772 $6,787 $9,479 $13,273 $21,900 $6,769 $9,488 $7,213 $10,082 $7,849 $10,982 $11,270 $18,565 $8,788 $12,311 $5,277 $7,627 $5,971 $8,208 $6,800 $9,498
Nebraska $10,308 $16,678 $7,488 $10,876 $14,516 $25,181 $7,441 $10,864 $6,302 $9,129 $8,197 $11,919 $11,322 $19,589 $6,051 $8,760 $5,656 $8,082 $7,681 $11,159
Nevada $10,151 $15,746 $7,340 $10,262 $13,033 $21,500 $6,227 $8,717 $5,769 $8,038 $7,232 $10,108 $10,240 $16,850 $6,460 $9,017 $6,835 $9,920 $5,806 $7,977 $7,099 $9,920
New Hampshire $11,468 $17,851 $8,536 $12,043 $15,091 $25,152 $8,677 $12,319 $8,256 $11,643 $9,945 $14,052 $11,969 $19,905 $7,404 $10,429 $6,617 $9,758 $6,973 $9,738 $10,175 $14,380
New Jersey $13,808 $22,442 $8,726 $12,643 $15,272 $26,253 $8,301 $12,022 $7,414 $10,721 $9,141 $13,250 $11,083 $18,990 $7,646 $11,060 $6,771 $10,126 $6,604 $9,383 $7,849 $11,357
New Mexico $8,079 $12,496 $7,277 $10,173 $10,460 $17,216 $6,043 $8,455 $5,758 $8,022 $7,255 $10,141 $10,205 $16,791 $5,851 $8,154 $8,887 $12,943 $5,415 $7,432 $6,337 $8,842
New York $12,940 $21,018 $8,952 $12,973 $13,958 $23,976 $7,999 $11,580 $7,717 $11,164 $8,239 $11,929 $11,145 $19,098 $8,133 $11,774 $7,259 $10,866 $6,868 $9,764 $8,024 $11,613
North Carolina $8,460 $12,917 $7,171 $9,897 $12,045 $19,493 $6,344 $8,757 $5,770 $7,940 $7,311 $10,093 $10,494 $16,959 $5,686 $7,823 $6,102 $8,696 $5,517 $7,481 $6,283 $8,658
North Dakota $10,818 $17,513 $6,607 $9,579 $14,707 $25,516 $8,456 $12,366 $7,468 $10,846 $9,394 $13,680 $11,751 $20,341 $7,598 $11,037 $6,458 $9,246 $7,675 $11,150
Ohio $11,665 $18,759 $7,831 $11,315 $13,757 $23,673 $6,939 $10,065 $6,477 $9,334 $7,810 $11,285 $11,152 $19,147 $6,419 $9,250 $7,665 $11,598 $5,795 $8,245 $6,609 $9,528
Oklahoma $8,416 $12,827 $7,528 $10,412 $12,007 $19,508 $5,379 $7,437 $6,029 $8,314 $7,349 $10,161 $10,808 $17,540 $5,542 $7,633 $5,465 $7,830 $5,354 $7,282 $5,782 $7,968
Oregon $11,062 $17,297 $8,231 $11,593 $14,730 $24,474 $8,351 $11,795 $7,578 $10,664 $9,127 $12,869 $11,276 $18,687 $8,051 $11,337 $7,307 $10,677 $6,630 $9,192 $8,130 $11,449
Pennsylvania $10,949 $17,755 $7,498 $10,843 $14,135 $24,282 $7,860 $11,376 $6,633 $9,575 $7,871 $11,390 $11,204 $19,201 $6,482 $9,355 $5,966 $8,902 $5,786 $8,205 $7,587 $10,974
Rhode Island $13,934 $21,728 $8,506 $11,999 $15,532 $25,893 $9,058 $12,866 $8,084 $11,399 $10,085 $14,252 $12,846 $21,379 $8,833 $12,465 $8,044 $11,894 $6,914 $9,654 $8,727 $12,315
South Carolina $8,384 $12,800 $7,217 $9,963 $12,470 $20,187 $6,325 $8,731 $5,704 $7,848 $7,307 $10,088 $10,357 $16,733 $6,149 $8,470 $5,747 $8,183 $5,347 $7,248 $6,365 $8,772
South Dakota $9,187 $14,843 $7,006 $10,166 $14,658 $25,429 $7,830 $11,439 $6,567 $9,520 $7,555 $10,974 $11,688 $20,230 $9,443 $13,752 $8,112 $12,351 $6,241 $8,931 $7,576 $11,004
Tennessee $8,659 $13,520 $7,131 $10,053 $12,966 $21,668 $6,187 $8,752 $5,854 $8,229 $7,480 $10,553 $10,846 $18,091 $6,642 $9,356 $5,607 $8,219 $5,330 $7,384 $6,266 $8,818
Texas $8,274 $12,607 $7,501 $10,374 $12,266 $19,932 $5,899 $8,167 $5,895 $8,126 $7,293 $10,082 $11,006 $17,865 $6,321 $8,723 $6,990 $10,053 $5,460 $7,428 $6,134 $8,461
Utah $9,929 $15,398 $7,454 $10,423 $13,152 $21,698 $7,243 $10,160 $5,927 $8,261 $7,766 $10,864 $9,873 $16,238 $7,293 $10,195 $5,931 $8,589 $5,894 $8,101 $7,460 $10,431
Vermont $10,978 $17,081 $8,433 $11,896 $13,373 $22,265 $8,312 $11,795 $8,284 $11,683 $10,623 $15,019 $15,549 $25,923 $8,927 $12,600 $7,536 $11,134 $7,169 $10,015 $8,920 $12,591
Virginia $8,289 $12,653 $7,268 $10,033 $13,030 $21,103 $7,146 $9,879 $6,136 $8,451 $7,731 $10,680 $11,188 $18,093 $6,682 $9,215 $7,444 $10,639 $5,771 $7,832 $7,781 $10,751
Washington $12,462 $19,509 $8,861 $12,490 $14,399 $23,918 $8,835 $12,485 $7,847 $11,046 $9,646 $13,609 $12,227 $20,279 $8,299 $11,690 $9,698 $14,219 $6,999 $9,711 $9,412 $13,275
West Virginia $8,316 $12,695 $6,984 $9,636 $10,910 $17,638 $6,197 $8,552 $5,556 $7,641 $5,978 $8,231 $10,614 $17,154 $5,215 $7,165 $7,745 $11,076 $5,173 $7,008 $5,708 $7,853
Wisconsin $11,622 $18,688 $7,978 $11,530 $13,844 $23,823 $7,775 $11,296 $7,123 $10,280 $8,611 $12,457 $11,753 $20,192 $6,822 $9,839 $6,559 $9,901 $6,003 $8,545 $7,823 $11,303
Wyoming $8,905 $13,793 $7,359 $10,289 $13,462 $22,215 $6,098 $8,534 $5,928 $8,264 $7,526 $10,525 $10,392 $17,103 $10,355 $14,529 $5,374 $7,375 $6,918 $9,665

Notes: Estimates represent the difference between a value job to a W-2 employee compared to an independent contractor under two models. The low estimates refer to the difference when an independent contractor receives full compensation for health and retirement benefits. The high estimate is calculated as the difference when the independent contractor receives no compensation for health and retirement benefits.

Source: EPI analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Employer Cost for Employee Compensation (ECEC) 2024Q2 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Research Estimates by State and Industry May 2023 data.

View the underlying data on epi.org.