What do Seattle and Anchorage have in common? They're two of the top 10 hardest working cities in America 

  • Arlington, Virginia, home of the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, captures top spot
  • Anchorage residents come in second, logging an average of 41.5 hours per week on the job 
  • Lincoln, Nebraska; Plano, Texas; and Virginia Beach round out the top five 
  • Three of the top 10 cities are in Arizona - Chandler, Scottsdale, and Gilbert 

By Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

All work and no play makes Americans dull boys and girls? That may depend where they live.

While Americans’ reputations vary, the hard data suggests that we are an industrious bunch - the United States ranks 15th among industrialized nations in the number of hours worked.

The question remains, though: Which American city is the hardest working?

SmartAsset, a firm specializing in analysis of financial data, crunched the numbers and ranked American cities in terms of how hard they worked.

What they found may surprise you...

Arlington, Virginia, the second largest city in the metropolitan Washington area, is home to large federal government employers as well as private firms like Lockheed Martin

Arlington, Virginia, the second largest city in the metropolitan Washington area, is home to large federal government employers as well as private firms like Lockheed Martin

1. Arlington, Virginia

The second largest city in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area Arlington will likely never see a shortage of work due to the presence of federal government agencies like the Pentagon – which is also the largest office building in the world – and the Department of Homeland Security.

Those who are employed in Arlington log an average of 41.5 hours per week, making it the hardest working city in the country.

A night-time view of downtown Anchorage. Residents in Alaska's largest city work an average of 40.7 hours per week and 37 weeks per year

A night-time view of downtown Anchorage. Residents in Alaska's largest city work an average of 40.7 hours per week and 37 weeks per year

2. Anchorage, Alaska

An industrious population combined with tremendous wealth in natural resources make Alaska’s largest city a prime candidate for one of the country’s hardest working towns. 

The labor force in the city works an average of 40.7 hours a week and 37 weeks a year, primarily for companies that specialize in resource extraction such as ConocoPhillips and BP.

The skyline of Lincoln, Nebraska, home to a burgeoning cultural scene that is attracting creative-minded people who are looking for an affordable locale with a high quality of life

The skyline of Lincoln, Nebraska, home to a burgeoning cultural scene that is attracting creative-minded people who are looking for an affordable locale with a high quality of life

3. Lincoln, Nebraska

Not only is Lincoln an affordable town for creative-minded folks, but it is also one that is seeking to attract more residents. 

In the span between October 2014 and October 2015, hourly wages rose 8.5 percent.

With low unemployment, Lincoln is becoming an attractive option for those who might be deterred by the high cost of living on the East and West coasts.

Toyota and Hewlett Packard must be on to something if they've established a significant corporate presence in Plano (seen above), a growing suburb of Dallas

Toyota and Hewlett Packard must be on to something if they've established a significant corporate presence in Plano (seen above), a growing suburb of Dallas

4. Plano, Texas

Just 20 miles northeast of downtown Dallas, Plano has earned a reputation for being a business-friendly hub – one that hosts national and regional offices of industrial giants like Toyota, Alliance Delta, and Hewlett Packard.

Home to the world's largest pleasure beach, Virginia Beach has become a magnet for tourists from around the globe, with an estimated 13.2 million visitors per year

Home to the world's largest pleasure beach, Virginia Beach has become a magnet for tourists from around the globe, with an estimated 13.2 million visitors per year

5. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Tourism is the backbone of the economy here, with an estimated 13.2 million people visiting the city every year. 

Virginia Beach, the largest city in Virginia, is home to the largest pleasure beach in the world. 

This keeps people here busy, with residents working an average of 1,195 hours per year.

While it may rain plenty here, the wet weather hardly dampens locals' willingness to put in office hours. Seattlers work 37.32 weeks per year, third highest in the country

While it may rain plenty here, the wet weather hardly dampens locals' willingness to put in office hours. Seattlers work 37.32 weeks per year, third highest in the country

6. Seattle, Washington

Starbucks and Amazon have their headquarters in Seattle, and Boeing employs about 80,000 workers, so there must be a reason these companies have set up shop in this rainy Northwest metropolis. 

Seattlers also work 37.32 weeks per year, the third-highest in the country.

Chandler (seen above), an affluent suburb of Phoenix, counts Intel and Wells Fargo among high-profile companies that have set up shop in the area

Chandler (seen above), an affluent suburb of Phoenix, counts Intel and Wells Fargo among high-profile companies that have set up shop in the area

7. Chandler, Arizona

This affluent suburb of Phoenix, with a population of over a quarter million people, is the hardest working town in Arizona.

Its top employers include Intel, Wells Fargo, the Bank of America, and Verizon.

Scottsdale (seen above) is a popular tourist destination for visitors from cold-weather areas eager for a respite from the brutal winters

Scottsdale (seen above) is a popular tourist destination for visitors from cold-weather areas eager for a respite from the brutal winters

8. Scottsdale, Arizona

In Scottsdale, workers put in more hours than they do in Chandler, but because unemployment is higher in Scottsdale, Chandler residents work more per person on average.

Nonetheless, Scottsdale has carved out a niche as one of the most popular warm-weather tourist destinations for tourists from up north looking for a respite from the frigid winters.

Gilbert (seen above) is one of three Arizona towns to make the top 10 by virtue of its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the country

Gilbert (seen above) is one of three Arizona towns to make the top 10 by virtue of its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the country

9. Gilbert, Arizona

Cracking the top 10 is a significant achievement for a city that had a population of just 5,700 in 1980. 

Today, it is home to over 240,000 residents, making it one of the fastest growing communities in the country.

Texas' state capital has earned its reputation as a bubbling cultural hub while also seeing its residents show significant participation in the labor force

Texas' state capital has earned its reputation as a bubbling cultural hub while also seeing its residents show significant participation in the labor force

10. Austin, Texas

Texas’ state capital boasts an impressive 81.2 percent participation in the labor force.

Combined with the burgeoning number of career opportunities, Austin has earned a reputation in recent years as one of the country’s most dynamic up-and-coming cities. 

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