Texas Ranked Among Worst States for Working Mothers

Nearly half of the U.S. workforce is made up of women, but a new survey suggests Texas isn’t doing them many favors.

The Wallethub study evaluated states across three key areas: Child Care, Professional Opportunities, and Work-Life Balance—and Texas came up short in all of them. The state ranked 32nd in child care, 28th in professional opportunities, and a disappointing 38th in work-life balance, dragging down its overall standing.

Each category was built from multiple metrics. For example, child care included factors like cost and daycare quality, giving a fairly comprehensive look at the realities working women face on a daily basis. These aren’t abstract numbers—they reflect real challenges families deal with when trying to balance careers and raising children.

So what’s the fix? That’s the big question. Right now, it’s simply a tough time to be a working person in Texas, regardless of gender, with rising costs, inflation pressures, and employers tightening budgets or cutting back where they can. Still, other states are dealing with similar economic conditions and managing better results—so that excuse only goes so far.

Adding to the frustration, the survey also pointed to a gender pay gap, with women earning about 82% of what men make, which only compounds the strain.

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👶 Child Care Costs and Quality Drag Texas Down

This isn’t about men versus women—it’s about families. Many working moms are part of dual-income households, meaning these challenges affect entire households, not just individuals. It’s a broader issue, and one that deserves more attention moving forward.