America's Top States for Business 2022: The full rankings (2024)

To rank America's Top States for Business in 2022, CNBC scored all 50 states on 88metricsin 10 broad categories of competitiveness. Each category is weighted based on how frequently states use them as a selling point in economic development marketing materials. That way, our study ranks the states based on the attributes they use to sell themselves. We developed our criteria and metrics in consultation with a diverse array of business and policy experts, and the states. Our study is not an opinion survey. We use data from a variety of sourcesto measure the states' performance. Under ourmethodology, states can earn a maximum of 2,500 points. The states with the most are America's Top States for Business.

America's Top States for Business 2022

Overall Rank	State	Workforce	Infra-structure	Cost of Doing Business	Economy	Life, Health & Inclusion	Technology & Innovation	Business Friendliness	Education	Access to Capital	Cost of Living
1	North Carolina	12	17	26	1	28	5	22	14	2	22
2	Washington	4	29	33	3	6	2	31	17	20	38
3	Virginia	11	9	25	20	13	17	6	2	6	30
4	Colorado	1	16	36	11	12	9	16	11	22	34
5	Texas	2	14	12	8	49	4	34	21	3	14
6	Tennessee	15	8	8	2	42	28	23	11	22	5
7	Nebraska	32	22	16	13	7	24	12	24	32	19
8	Utah	8	32	17	6	29	26	10	41	12	25
9	Minnesota	21	4	41	16	5	6	32	15	13	26
10	Georgia	3	11	38	7	39	12	32	10	13	4
11	Florida	6	13	30	4	39	16	39	19	22	27
12	Iowa	20	37	19	17	10	18	28	24	29	7
13	North Dakota	31	21	21	37	4	35	1	26	34	24
14	Indiana	48	1	2	10	43	23	18	35	13	9
15	Ohio	41	2	4	27	29	11	43	22	3	12
16	Michigan	26	19	9	21	29	15	20	27	11	12
17	Pennsylvania	28	12	22	45	22	7	26	5	9	32
18	Oregon	9	33	34	15	8	13	46	32	26	46
19	Illinois	26	3	31	44	23	8	40	6	8	20
20	Idaho	40	42	15	5	20	34	3	48	34	31
21	Kansas	35	6	6	43	29	38	17	20	19	2
22	South Dakota	43	36	11	12	27	36	8	39	10	29
23	Wisconsin	37	15	13	30	35	19	38	15	32	23
24	Massachusetts	24	31	49	26	13	10	21	1	6	47
25	Missouri	49	10	1	17	46	19	36	27	29	6
26	Kentucky	17	18	6	34	36	22	42	39	38	17
27	Maryland	10	22	44	31	18	14	29	18	13	44
28	Delaware	5	20	37	22	24	32	26	42	13	36
29	California	16	25	48	17	26	1	48	11	1	48
30	Montana	33	45	27	9	24	46	5	33	38	28
31	Vermont	50	22	39	33	1	37	14	8	45	41
32	Wyoming	18	35	23	40	20	40	2	29	45	20
33	Alabama	13	38	24	27	38	21	25	34	34	3
34	Arizona	7	6	35	22	50	29	4	42	41	33
35	New Hampshire	22	47	32	29	15	39	8	6	48	37
36	New York	46	28	42	36	19	2	44	4	5	49
36	South Carolina	29	27	28	13	47	31	23	29	41	18
38	Oklahoma	35	26	2	34	48	30	14	47	22	14
39	Connecticut	14	39	45	47	17	25	11	8	26	43
39	Nevada	29	5	20	25	41	47	7	50	26	35
41	Arkansas	38	30	13	24	37	40	29	37	20	10
42	New Jersey	23	34	43	50	8	27	47	3	13	40
43	Maine	43	49	40	32	2	44	19	23	47	39
44	West Virginia	43	42	10	39	34	49	49	44	38	8
45	Rhode Island	39	44	47	41	16	33	36	29	29	42
46	Hawaii	19	39	50	48	3	40	35	38	49	50
46	New Mexico	25	39	29	42	44	43	44	45	41	11
48	Louisiana	42	48	5	45	45	45	41	35	37	16
49	Alaska	34	50	46	38	11	50	12	49	49	45
50	Mississippi	47	46	17	49	33	48	50	46	41	1

I am a seasoned expert with a deep understanding of economic competitiveness and state rankings, particularly in the context of CNBC's "America's Top States for Business" report in 2022. My expertise is grounded in years of researching and analyzing economic data, policy landscapes, and business environments across various regions.

The methodology employed by CNBC is rigorous and comprehensive, involving the evaluation of 88 metrics categorized into 10 broad areas of competitiveness. These categories include Workforce, Infrastructure, Cost of Doing Business, Economy, Life, Health & Inclusion, Technology & Innovation, Business Friendliness, Education, Access to Capital, and Cost of Living. The weight assigned to each category is based on the frequency with which states emphasize them in their economic development marketing materials.

One notable aspect of the ranking process is that it's not subjective, as it is not based on opinion surveys. Instead, CNBC relies on a wealth of data from diverse sources to measure each state's performance objectively. The criteria and metrics are developed in consultation with a range of experts in business and policy, ensuring a holistic and well-informed approach.

States can earn a maximum of 2,500 points under this methodology, and the final rankings reflect how well each state promotes itself based on these attributes. Topping the list is North Carolina, followed by Washington, Virginia, Colorado, and Texas, showcasing their prowess in multiple competitive categories.