In terms of employment and earnings potential for women workers, Massachusetts is the state to go.

A comprehensive study, going back to 1996, by the Institute for Women's Policy Research found that, after the nonstate of Washington, D.C., the Bay State ranks at the top of its list.

The full study will be released in 2015, the institute said.

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West Virginia, the study suggests, is a longshot for financially rewarding work, which ranked at the bottom of the list.

Where else should women consider, and, perhaps, not consider?

Top 10:

  • Massachusetts
  • Connecticut
  • New Jersey
  • Maryland
  • New York
  • Vermont
  • Minnesota/Vermont (tied)
  • New Hampshire
  • Colorado

Bottom 10:

  • West Virginia
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas/Louisiana (tied)
  • Wyoming/Mississippi (tied)
  • Idaho
  • Indiana/Oklahoma (tied)
  • Kentucky

States came complete with a report card alphabetical score from A-F. Only D.C. received an A, while others in the Top 10 had to settle for Bs. The bottom feeders pulled mostly D marks, save for West Virgina and Alabama, who had to bring an F home for the folks to sign.

Other notable findings:

  • Alaska and California dropped out of the top rankings since the last survey in 2006;
  • New Mexico moved up the most, from 44 to 23;
  • Missouri dropped the most, from 19 in 2006 to 38;
  • Eight of the top states that received a grade of B or higher are in the Northeast;
  • Seven of the 14 lowest ranked states are in the South.

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.