Minnesota Ranks 2nd Best for Women in 2025
March marks Women’s History Month, and while this is a time to celebrate all the steps that have been made towards gender equality, there is still much more work to be done- especially in pay equity and representation. Despite this, some states are still making significant progress, and Minnesota is one of them. A recent study by WalletHub reveals the North Star State is the second best in the country when it comes to opportunities for women, weighing two dozen key “metrics” like median earnings and quality healthcare.
Competitive wages for women
Minnesota is home to multiple Fortune 500 companies and can be a great place to build a career with many opportunities. This study shows women in Minnesota are getting a larger piece of the financial pie. Minnesota has the second-highest median income for women, at just more than $44,000 (adjusted for the cost of living), and one of the country’s lowest female unemployment and poverty rates. It’s also home to many female business owners, which helped earn us the number two spot.
Progress is being made toward closing the gender pay gap, but there is still much room for improvement. According to new data from the Pew Research Center, women still only earn about 85% of what men earn.
Making a mark in the classroom and at the ballot box
Women in Minnesota prioritize education and civic duty. The Land of 10,000 Lakes ranks near the top when it comes to four-year high school graduation rates for women, and the education system helps support females’ dreams and visions. Minnesota also saw the second-highest female voter turnout rate in the 2020 presidential election, which proves it is a priority to make their mark at the ballot box.
Health is a top priority
Home to 180 parks and 55 miles of biking and walking paths in Minneapolis alone, Minnesota is a place where getting out and being active is encouraged- no matter the weather! Health and fitness are both priorities for Minnesota women, with our state topping the list when it comes to women in “good or better” health. The study also found women in Minnesota have the fifth-highest life expectancy compared with 49 other states and the District of Columbia.
Minnesota also ranked near the top when measuring the quality of women’s hospitals and in female preventative healthcare, which measures the number of women who have current breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings.
Related Article: Minnesota Just Ranked as a Top State for Families—Find Out Why!
Mary McGuire is a mother of two young girls and freelance journalist based in the Twin Cities. Her current interests include searching for lost pacifiers, cleaning up crushed Cheerios, and sharing everything our great state has to offer with other families. Born and raised in Edina, Mary has worked in broadcast television for more than a decade at TV stations across the country.
