Massachusetts may offer ideal conditions for jobseekers, according to a new study from WalletHub.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, the finance company ranked states based on criteria like median annual income, commute time and job availability. Strong worker protections and job opportunities rocketed Massachusetts to the top spot.

Not only did the Bay State rank No. 1 in the nation for worker protections like equal pay mandates, pay secrecy, flexible scheduling and protections for pregnant or breastfeeding women or those with no salary history, Massachusetts placed fourth for employment growth and third for job security — meaning job options are growing and residents tend to keep their jobs.

Unsurprisingly, the state lagged in cost categories. When adjusted for cost of living, Massachusetts ranked No. 14 for monthly average starting salary and No. 13 for median annual income.

“Massachusetts is the best state for jobs, in part because it has one of the highest worker protection scores,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Also, the number of available jobs in Massachusetts increases by around 2.4% per year, the fourth-highest in the nation, so there will be even more opportunities in the future. Once people get jobs in Massachusetts, they’re also likely to keep them, as the state has the third-best job security. To top things off, Massachusetts has the third-lowest percentage of the workforce living in poverty, which demonstrates that workers are generally receiving reasonable pay.”