How much does unemployment pay?
Unemployment pay is not one number — it's set state-by-state. Across all 50 states, the maximum WEEKLY unemployment benefit ranges from $235 (Mississippi) to $1,208 (Washington), with a national median maximum of $628/week. Your actual weekly benefit depends on your recent wages and your state's own formula — it is usually a fraction of your prior earnings, up to that state's maximum. Look up your exact state's maximum, duration, and formula below.
National range at a glance
- Lowest
- Mississippi
- National median
- 628
- Highest
- Washington
Computed live from 50 states' source-verified dataset (primary source, data verified 2026-08-11).
Look up your exact state
For your own state's exact number (not just the national range), use the calculator below.
Unemployment calculators by state →Related questions
- How much is unemployment?
- How much do you get for unemployment?
- How much unemployment will I get?
This page answers all of the above the same way — the underlying number doesn't change based on exact phrasing.