Unemployment benefits by state 2026: how much unemployment pays, everywhere.
Every state's weekly minimum and maximum, weeks payable and what claimants actually received in 2026, from U.S. Department of Labor data, with a page for each state.
Unemployment pays a weekly benefit that replaces part of your past wages, up to a state maximum. Under state laws in effect in July 2026 (U.S. Department of Labor), the highest weekly maximums are Washington's $1,208, Massachusetts' $1,105 and New Jersey's $905; the lowest are Mississippi's $235 and Alabama's $275. Across the U.S., the average weekly check paid in April–June 2026 was $500.61, and DOL's average duration was 15.8 weeks. 37 of the 50 states and DC pay up to 26 weeks or more; 14 pay fewer.
Unemployment benefits by state, 2026
Weekly amounts and weeks: state law effective July 2026 (DOL). Average check and weeks: benefits paid April–June 2026. † higher maximum with dependents' allowance (see the state page).
| State | Weekly minimum | Weekly maximum | Weeks payable | Average weekly check, Q2 2026 | Average weeks, Q2 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45 | $275 | 14 weeks | $257.92 | 8.4 |
| Alaska | $56 | $370 † | 16 to 26 weeks | $310.03 | 16.8 |
| Arizona | $236 | $320 | 8 to 24 weeks | $314.94 | 15.4 |
| Arkansas | $81 | $451 | 9 to 12 weeks | $341.87 | 8.5 |
| California | $40 | $450 | 14 to 26 weeks | $375.89 | 18.2 |
| Colorado | $25 | $804 or $884 | 13 to 26 weeks | $652.36 | 14.8 |
| Connecticut | $44 | $721 † | 26 weeks | $508.03 | 15.5 |
| Delaware | $20 | $450 | 24 to 26 weeks | $382.97 | 18.0 |
| DC | $50 | $444 | 26 weeks | $412.37 | 20.8 |
| Florida | $32 | $275 | 9 to 12 weeks | $267.08 | 9.1 |
| Georgia | $55 | $365 | 6 to 26 weeks | $346.23 | 9.3 |
| Hawaii | $5 | $868 | 26 weeks | $720.43 | 14.5 |
| Idaho | $72 | $624 | 10 to 26 weeks | $507.97 | 10.1 |
| Illinois | $51 | $628 † | 26 weeks | $535.09 | 16.9 |
| Indiana | $37 | $390 | 26 weeks | $331.53 | 13.1 |
| Iowa | $96 | $644 † | 10 to 16 weeks | $548.45 | 9.6 |
| Kansas | $165 | $663 | 10 to 16 weeks | $529.77 | 10.0 |
| Kentucky | $39 | $720 | 16 to 24 weeks | $540.68 | 14.8 |
| Louisiana | $35 | $282 | 12 to 20 weeks | $248.90 | 9.1 |
| Maine | $113 | $649 † | 15 to 26 weeks | $536.23 | 15.7 |
| Maryland | $50 | $430 | 26 weeks | $399.50 | 19.9 |
| Massachusetts | $60 | $1,105 | 10 to 30 weeks | $732.21 | 17.8 |
| Michigan | $218 | $530 | 14 to 26 weeks | $460.54 | 13.3 |
| Minnesota | $37 | $611 or $948 | 9 to 26 weeks | $605.65 | 15.8 |
| Mississippi | $30 | $235 | 13 to 26 weeks | $224.16 | 13.8 |
| Missouri | $35 | $320 | 8 to 20 weeks | $294.70 | 12.6 |
| Montana | $227 | $767 | 8 to 24 weeks | $541.68 | 13.9 |
| Nebraska | $70 | $582 | 10 to 26 weeks | $472.10 | 13.1 |
| Nevada | $16 | $657 | 8 to 26 weeks | $504.39 | 15.8 |
| New Hampshire | $32 | $427 | 26 weeks | $384.23 | 12.6 |
| New Jersey | $186 | $905 | 20 to 26 weeks | $650.67 | 19.3 |
| New Mexico | $116 | $624 † | 14 to 26 weeks | $484.35 | 17.5 |
| New York | $140 | $869 | 26 weeks | $602.52 | 17.9 |
| North Carolina | $15 | $350 | 12 to 20 weeks | $313.18 | 9.5 |
| North Dakota | $43 | $815 | 12 to 26 weeks | $618.96 | 12.1 |
| Ohio | $176 | $624 † | 20 to 26 weeks | $517.95 | 14.9 |
| Oklahoma | $16 | $649 | 16 weeks | $494.29 | 12.0 |
| Oregon | $211 | $902 | 1 to 26 weeks | $598.59 | 15.6 |
| Pennsylvania | $68 | $605 † | 18 to 26 weeks | $483.41 | 15.8 |
| Puerto Rico | $60 | $240 | 26 weeks | $223.74 | 17.6 |
| Rhode Island | $82 | $777 † | 17 to 26 weeks | $506.33 | 16.2 |
| South Carolina | $42 | $350 | 13 to 20 weeks | $319.38 | 11.9 |
| South Dakota | $28 | $575 | 15 to 26 weeks | $477.44 | 15.7 |
| Tennessee | $55 | $325 | 12 to 20 weeks | $308.98 | 9.2 |
| Texas | $75 | $605 | 10 to 26 weeks | $521.12 | 16.6 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | $33 | $648 | 13 to 16 weeks | $461.54 | 14.6 |
| Utah | $47 | $806 | 10 to 26 weeks | $608.34 | 14.2 |
| Vermont | $96 | $751 | 23 to 26 weeks | $583.16 | 12.8 |
| Virginia | $160 | $478 | 12 to 26 weeks | $393.45 | 13.5 |
| Washington | $383 | $1,208 | 1 to 26 weeks | $776.80 | 16.7 |
| West Virginia | $24 | $662 | 26 weeks | $458.55 | 13.3 |
| Wisconsin | $54 | $370 | 14 to 26 weeks | $347.02 | 12.7 |
| Wyoming | $48 | $671 | 11 to 26 weeks | $532.82 | 13.9 |
How unemployment pay is calculated
Every state pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your wages in a base period, usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. Many state formulas take a fraction of your wages in your highest-paid quarter (for example 1/26 of it, which is about half of an average week's pay in that quarter) and cap the result at the state maximum. Some states add a dependents' allowance. You also need enough total base-period wages to qualify, and you must be out of work through no fault of your own, able and available to work, and searching for work.
The number of weeks varies: some states pay the same number of weeks to everyone (uniform duration), others scale it to your wages, and a few tie it to the state unemployment rate.
Highest weekly maximums
Base maximum without dependents' allowances, 50 states and DC.
| State | Weekly maximum | Weeks payable |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $1,208 | 1 to 26 weeks |
| Massachusetts | $1,105 | 10 to 30 weeks |
| New Jersey | $905 | 20 to 26 weeks |
| Oregon | $902 | 1 to 26 weeks |
| New York | $869 | 26 weeks |
| Hawaii | $868 | 26 weeks |
| North Dakota | $815 | 12 to 26 weeks |
| Utah | $806 | 10 to 26 weeks |
| Colorado | $804 or $884 | 13 to 26 weeks |
| Rhode Island | $777 | 17 to 26 weeks |
Weeks payable and actual weeks drawn, by state.
Open →StateFlorida unemploymentUp to $275 a week.
Open →StateCalifornia unemploymentUp to $450 a week.
Open →StateTexas unemploymentUp to $605 a week.
Open →StateOhio unemploymentUp to $624 a week.
Open →StateIllinois unemploymentUp to $628 a week.
Open →StateMichigan unemploymentUp to $530 a week.
Open →StateOklahoma unemploymentUp to $649 a week.
Open →Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Questions people ask
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How this page is built
Benefit amounts, weeks and qualifying rules come from the U.S. Department of Labor's Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, effective July 2026, which summarizes each state's law. What claimants actually received comes from DOL's UI Data Summary for April–June 2026 (state-reported). Waiting weeks come from DOL's 2023 Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, the latest edition: they are shown as of 2023 and not re-verified. We read every source on Nov 4, 2026 and re-read DOL before January 2027, when several states change their maximums. The pay examples are arithmetic from DOL's formula, not a benefit determination.
- Your amount: only the state agency can determine your benefit, after you file. Eligibility also depends on why you lost the job, being able to work, and searching for work.
- Extra weeks: DOL's weeks do not include the additional weeks some states pay in limited circumstances (such as high unemployment or approved training).
- Taxes: unemployment benefits count as taxable income for federal income tax; many states tax them too.
- Legal advice: this page summarizes official tables. For your claim, contact the state unemployment agency.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, Effective July 2026, read Nov 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Labor, ETA, Unemployment Insurance Data Summary, 2nd quarter 2026 (summary tables), read Nov 4, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Labor, ETA, Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2023, Chapter 3, Table 3-7 (initial waiting periods; the latest edition DOL has published).