on the clock

3 Dallas-area cities hustle as top 10 hardest-working places in U.S.

Dallasites are the fourth most hardworking Americans, the report said.

North Texas residents living in Irving, Dallas, and Arlington are truly some of the most industrious Americans in the country, according to a new WalletHub study ranking the "Hardest-Working Cities in America" in 2025.

Irving and Dallas land at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, and Arlington comes in at No. 10 out of the 116 U.S. cities included in the report.

Three more Dallas-Fort Worth cities also rank among the top 25: Plano (No. 13), Fort Worth (No. 16), and Garland (No. 21).

WalletHub evaluated each city based on 11 key indicators across "direct" and "indirect" work factors, such as an individual's average workweek hours, average commute times, employment rates, and more.

Anchorage, Alaska (No. 1) and Washington, D.C. (No. 2) were the only two U.S. cities that outperformed Irving and Dallas, and Cheyenne, Wyoming rounded out the top five.

The report's findings show Irving has the smallest share of households where no adults are employed – at just 12 percent – which is the lowest rate nationwide. The city also has the third-highest percentage of committed workers that are enthusiastic about their jobs. That's a huge plus for the local community because it means residents are happy with their careers and their employers.

"Hard work is the backbone of America’s economy and a big reason why the country has become so successful, as Americans outwork people in many other developed economies," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

In 2024, Texas proved its tenacity on WalletHub's top 10 list of the most hardworking states in America.

The nearby techy Dallas suburb of Frisco has also shown its diligence as the No. 1 hotspot for remote workers in the U.S.

But being a hard working American can have its downsides, such as less time at home with families and less time for winding down after a long day. Irving workers know that feeling all too well, according to the study.

"One consequence of Irving residents’ hard work is the fact that they have a much lower amount of leisure time compared to people in most cities, the sixth-least in the nation," the report says. "While Irving workers should be applauded for their dedication, it’s also important to avoid overwork and take some time to relax."

Between 40 and 64 percent of Americans don't use all of their allotted vacation time, Lupo added, which can negatively affect an individual's mental and physical health.

Other industrious cities in Texas
Austin also worked its way into WalletHub's top 10 list of the most hardworking American cities, landing in the No. 6 spot.

Six additional Texas cities that earned spots in the report include Corpus Christi (No. 14), Laredo (No. 15), Houston (No. 28), Lubbock (No. 38), El Paso (No. 39), and San Antonio (No. 47).

The top 10 most hardworking cities in America for 2025 are:

No. 1 – Anchorage, Alaska
No. 2 – Washington, D.C.
No. 3 – Irving, Texas
No. 4 – Dallas, Texas
No. 5 – Cheyenne, Wyoming
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – Denver, Colorado
No. 8 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
No. 9 – San Francisco, California
No. 10 – Arlington, Texas

dallas irving wallethub rankings reports

One hot dog

DFW Airport pup sniffs out victory in TSA’s cutest canine contest

Photo courtesy of Transportation Security Administration

Say "cheese," Bolt!

The next time you fly through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, you might bump into the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s new top dog.

No, we’re not talking about the TSA’s top boss. We’re talking about a doggone cute canine.

Bolt, a three-year-old, brown-coated German shorthaired pointer, just won the TSA’s annual Cutest Canine Contest. All entrants in the contest were TSA bomb-sniffing dogs.

Travelers voted on social media for the agency’s most precious pup, choosing from among four finalists in different regions of the U.S. TSA canine handlers at U.S. airports initially nominated 85 dogs. Agency employees then voted online to whittle the list to four finalists.

Bolt bomb-sniffing dog Bolt is a three-year-old, brown-coated German shorthaired pointer.Photo courtesy of TSA

Bolt’s handler, Daphne Wang, describes him as “such a character and a hard-working little guy.”

“He absolutely loves his job and coming to work,” Wang says in a release.

“I am so happy he gets to show the world his quirky personality. It’s definitely an adventure working with Bolt every day,” she adds. “There is nothing ordinary about him. He works hard and plays even harder. He is always in working mode, even at home. He is never short on energy and is always 1,000 percent excited to go to work.”

WebMD describes German shorthaired pointers like Bolt as a “loyal and loving breed” known for its hunting prowess.

“They’re intelligent and full of energy, so they won’t be happy lazing about all day,” says WebMd.

TSA canines like Bolt and their handlers move through groups of people to sniff out the odor of explosives. A handler learns to notice subtle changes in their canine’s behavior if an explosive device appears to have aroused the dog’s senses.

“Explosives-detection canine teams are one of TSA’s most effective and visible layers of security,” says TSA Administrator David Cummins. “These highly trained dogs and their handlers help detect threats in dynamic transportation environments, deter potential attacks, and give travelers confidence that TSA is using proven, adaptable capabilities to protect the traveling public.”

Bolt TSA dog Bolt moves through groups of people to sniff out the odor of explosives. Photo courtesy of TSA

Photo courtesy of Transportation Security Administration

Say "cheese," Bolt!

TSA canines and handlers undergo training at a facility in San Antonio.

The federal government launched canine training in 1972. The training program came under TSA’s control following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

TSA-led bomb-sniffing teams began by screening air cargo in 2008. Three years later, the agency expanded the program to include passengers.

“Canines are an essential part of our team at TSA,” says Ha Nguyen McNeill, the agency’s deputy administrator. “As cute as Bolt and our other canines are, the work they do is vital for TSA’s national security mission.”

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