Over 8 million U.S. citizens currently work more than one job, as rising living costs drive more people to look for additional income. A new study by the POS processing company SensaPay analysed all 50 US states to identify where residents are most desperate to secure second jobs.
The research developed a Second-Job Pressure Index that combined three economic and behavioral indicators: Google search activity for second-job related terms, the actual percentage of workers holding multiple jobs, and the gap between nominal wages and cost-of-living adjusted earnings. States received scores from 0-100, with higher scores indicating more interest in second jobs.
The data outcomes are:
| Rank | State | Average Hourly Earnings (USD) | Cost Of Living Index | Difference Between Earnings And Real (Hourly USD) | Actual % of People With More Than 1 Job | Second-Job Pressure Index (SJPI) |
| 1 | North Dakota | 34 | 92 | -3 | 8.0 | 82 |
| 2 | Wyoming | 32 | 96 | -2 | 8.1 | 81 |
| 3 | Montana | 32 | 95 | -2 | 8.7 | 79 |
| 4 | Kansas | 32 | 87 | -5 | 8.0 | 72 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 31 | 92 | -3 | 6.9 | 69 |
| 6 | Nebraska | 32 | 93 | -2 | 8.3 | 68 |
| 7 | Hawaii | 38 | 187 | 17 | 8.1 | 67 |
| 8 | Vermont | 35 | 114 | 4 | 6.7 | 62 |
| 9 | Maine | 32 | 112 | 4 | 7.3 | 60 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 35 | 113 | 4 | 6.6 | 58 |
Reviewing the patterns from the above table, North Dakota comes in first as the state where people are most desperate for second jobs. Workers here make 34 USD an hour, and nearly 8% of them already have multiple jobs, well above the national average. The work-related desperation shows up online too, with North Dakotans making 684 online searches per 100K people for additional work opportunities.
Wyoming takes second place, with locals searching for second jobs online at the highest rate, making 712 queries. People in Wyoming earn 32 USD an hour, and about 8.1% of local workers hold multiple jobs. The high search activity, combined with significant multiple-job rates, shows Wyoming residents are actively pursuing extra income.
Montana ranks third, registering the most people who actually work multiple jobs, 8.7% of local employees. Montana workers make 32 USD an hour, but put in just 33.7 hours weekly, the shortest among the top states. With nearly 1 in 10 workers already holding multiple positions, the demand for extra work shows up online too, with locals going on the Internet 615 times to look for more jobs.
Kansas lands in fourth place, with workers earning the same 32 USD an hour as Wyoming and Montana residents. People here search for extra opportunities 480 times, some of them even looking for jobs to do after 9-5. Nearly 8% of the Kansas workforce has multiple jobs, similar to the other Plains states.
South Dakota sits in fifth place, showing the lowest wages among the top 10 at 31 USD per hour. The state residents search for extra work 624 times, mostly looking for side hustles. About 7% of workers already have more than one job. Smaller salaries create clear motivation for South Dakota residents to actively seek any extra income opportunities.
Nebraska takes sixth place with the second-highest share of dual job workers at 8.3%. Employees here can expect 32 USD per hour compensation. The drive for extra income opportunities in Nebraska appears online, too, as residents look up second jobs 536 times.
Hawaii comes in seventh. Employees here earn the highest wages at 38 USD an hour, but living expenses are so high that a 38 USD hourly wage only buys what 20 USD would buy in a moderate-cost state. High earners still need additional income when everything costs twice as much. Hence, residents make 615 searches for second jobs, and 8% work multiple positions.
Vermont holds eighth place with workers earning 35 USD an hour. Despite higher salaries, Vermont workers lose 4 USD in purchasing power per hour due to high living costs, explaining the intense search activity for additional income. Vermont has one of the highest online search rates at 677 lookups for extra work. About 7% of people here work multiple jobs.
Maine ranks ninth in second-job desperation. Maine workers earn 32 USD an hour, but also cope with the second-highest living costs after Hawaii. Residents turn to the internet 598 times to find extra work, while 7% already work more than one job.
New Hampshire comes in 10th place with workers making 35 USD an hour but still feeling financial pressure. Living costs are high, pushing people towards second jobs, which translates to 640 online searches for side hustles. The state has a 6.6% rate of multiple-job workers.
