California's hardest working — and laziest — cities revealed in new ranking

San Francisco tops the list, while Southern California cities lag behind

Mar. 3, 2026 at 3:23am

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A new WalletHub ranking of America's hardest working cities found that San Francisco residents are some of the hardest workers in the US, landing them at No. 8 on the nationwide list. Meanwhile, Southern California cities like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Diego ranked near the bottom, with LA coming in at a lowly 86th place.

Why it matters

The ranking highlights the work ethic and productivity differences between Northern and Southern California, with the Bay Area leading the state in terms of hours worked, employment rates, and minimizing vacation time. This could have implications for the state's economy and workforce dynamics.

The details

To determine the rankings, WalletHub compared 116 of the most populous cities using 'Direct Work Factors' and 'Indirect Work Factors' such as average hours worked per week, employment rate, vacation time, average commute time, and the share of workers with more than one job. The study also looked at the average amount of leisure time that a worker had per day. While cities like Cheyenne, Anchorage, and Washington D.C. topped the nationwide list, Southern California cities like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Diego ranked near the bottom.

  • The ranking was released on March 1, 2026.
  • Since 2009, Los Angeles has consistently ranked as having one of the lowest employment rates in the nation, except for a slight increase between 2016-2018.

The players

WalletHub

A personal finance website that conducted the ranking of America's hardest working cities.

Chip Lupo

A WalletHub analyst who commented on the findings of the study.

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What they’re saying

“Hard work is the backbone of America's economy and a big reason why the country has become so successful, as Americans outwork people in many other developed economies.”

— Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst

“While working long hours, minimizing time off, and having side jobs all lead to increased productivity, they can also have negative effects on people's physical and mental health. It's important for people to figure out how to work hard without overworking.”

— Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst

What’s next

The ranking highlights the need for further research and analysis into the factors driving the differences in work ethic and productivity between Northern and Southern California. Policymakers and employers may want to examine ways to promote a healthier work-life balance across the state.

The takeaway

This study underscores the stark regional divides in California when it comes to work culture and productivity. While the Bay Area leads the state in terms of work ethic, Southern California cities like Los Angeles lag behind, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach to work across the state.