Key takeaways
- California spent about $452.7 billion in fiscal 2024, far more than any other state, according to NASBO data compiled by KFF.
- New York ($234.9 billion), Texas ($144.6 billion), Illinois ($139.8 billion) and Florida ($130.6 billion) round out the top five.
- All states together spent just over $3 trillion in fiscal 2024.
- Total spending includes general funds, federal funds, other state funds and bonds — so it covers Medicaid, schools, transportation, prisons and everything else.
Largest state governments by spending
Every state, plus the District of Columbia, ranked by total state expenditures in state fiscal year 2024. Search by state.
Showing all 50 states and DC
| # | State | Total spending, FY2024 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CaliforniaState government | $452.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 2 | New YorkState government | $234.9 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 3 | TexasState government | $144.6 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 4 | IllinoisState government | $139.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 5 | FloridaState government | $130.6 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 6 | PennsylvaniaState government | $119.0 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 7 | OhioState government | $99.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 8 | ArizonaState government | $96.4 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 9 | New JerseyState government | $91.3 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 10 | MichiganState government | $85.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 11 | VirginiaState government | $84.0 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 12 | MassachusettsState government | $83.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 13 | GeorgiaState government | $76.4 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 14 | WashingtonState government | $74.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 15 | North CarolinaState government | $70.4 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 16 | MarylandState government | $67.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 17 | WisconsinState government | $66.3 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 18 | MinnesotaState government | $63.5 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 19 | OregonState government | $58.5 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 20 | TennesseeState government | $53.1 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 21 | KentuckyState government | $50.9 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 22 | IndianaState government | $50.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 23 | LouisianaState government | $43.3 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 24 | ConnecticutState government | $42.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 25 | ColoradoState government | $42.6 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 26 | MissouriState government | $41.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 27 | South CarolinaState government | $40.2 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 28 | AlabamaState government | $38.1 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 29 | ArkansasState government | $33.5 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 30 | IowaState government | $31.6 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 31 | OklahomaState government | $27.9 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 32 | New MexicoState government | $27.7 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 33 | UtahState government | $25.9 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 34 | West VirginiaState government | $25.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 35 | MississippiState government | $25.6 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 36 | KansasState government | $24.3 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 37 | HawaiiState government | $20.2 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 38 | NevadaState government | $19.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 39 | District of ColumbiaState government | $18.9 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 40 | NebraskaState government | $18.5 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 41 | DelawareState government | $16.1 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 42 | AlaskaState government | $14.3 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 43 | MaineState government | $13.1 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 44 | Rhode IslandState government | $12.8 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 45 | IdahoState government | $12.1 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 46 | MontanaState government | $10.0 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 47 | New HampshireState government | $8.5 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 48 | VermontState government | $8.3 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 49 | North DakotaState government | $7.5 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 50 | South DakotaState government | $6.9 billion | NASBO via KFF |
| 51 | WyomingState government | $5.6 billion | NASBO via KFF |
Where state money goes
- Medicaid is the largest category of total state spending, at 29.8% of the total in fiscal 2024 (NASBO via Barrett and Greene).
- Total state spending grew an estimated 5.7% in fiscal 2025, close to the report's long-run average (NASBO State Expenditure Report).
- Most states run a July–June fiscal year; see our fiscal year calendar and state budget calendar to time outreach.
Selling to state governments
State agencies buy through central procurement offices, statewide contracts and agency-level purchasing, and each state sets its own rules and thresholds.
- Register on the state portal. Each state has its own vendor registration and bid site.
- Target statewide contracts. A statewide or NASPO ValuePoint contract can open sales to every agency and often to cities, counties and schools too.
- Time it to the budget. Agency requests are built months before the legislature acts; new money shows up after the budget is signed.
- Know the thresholds. Small purchases below the state's bid limit can move quickly.
See state procurement portals, state procurement thresholds and vendor registration checklist.
Sources
- KFF, Total State Expenditures (from NASBO State Expenditure Report, December 2025)
- NASBO, State Expenditure Report
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