Guides: how the rules actually work, state by state
The calculators on StateTally give you a number. These guides explain the machinery behind it — which states use a formula and which leave it to a judge, why an unemployment check for the same salary differs across a state line, what an H-2A job order really promises a worker. Each guide is built from the same verified data as the calculators: every figure traces to a statute, an agency schedule or a Department of Labor file, and each page shows the date it was reviewed.
How to use them
Read the guide for your topic first, then open the calculator or data page for your state; the guide tells you which inputs matter and which parts of the outcome the law leaves open. Where a state has no formula, the guide says so plainly instead of pretending precision. Nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice — the point is to walk into a consultation, an application or a job offer already knowing the realistic range and the right questions.
Alimony
How U.S. States Calculate Alimony: Formula Families (2026)
Understand how U.S. states calculate alimony. Learn about formulaic states like Illinois (33.33% of payer's net) vs. discretionary states.
10 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
Types of Alimony by State: Formula vs. Discretion (2026)
Understand U.S. alimony types (temporary, rehabilitative, permanent) and how states calculate it. Learn which states use statutory formulas, like New York's $241,000 income cap, versus judicial discretion.
10 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
Unemployment benefits
States Paying Extra Unemployment for Dependents (2026)
Understand which U.S. states offer additional unemployment benefits for dependents in 2026, with Michigan adding $19.33 per dependent.
6 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
Unemployment Benefits 2026: How States Set the Weekly Amount
Understand how U.S. states calculate weekly unemployment benefits for 2026. Learn about base periods, highest-quarter methods, and why checks vary, from Florida's $275 cap to Washington's $1,208 maximum.
7 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
How Many Weeks of Unemployment Each State Pays (2026)
Discover how many weeks of unemployment benefits each U.S. state pays in 2026, from 12 weeks in Florida to 28 weeks in Montana. Understand sliding durations and maximum total benefits.
8 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
Child support
H-2A farm jobs
H-2A Housing, Meals, and Transport: What Job Orders Provide
Understand H-2A housing, meals, and transportation rules. Learn what open job orders actually provide, including that 96% offer employer-provided housing.
8 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
H-2A vs H-2B: Key Differences for Workers and Employers (2026)
Understand H-2A and H-2B visa differences for 2026. Learn about agricultural vs. non-agricultural work, housing, and wages. H-2A had 254,306 workers.
7 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
H-2A Wages by State: What Farms Offer in 2026
Explore H-2A agricultural worker wages by state for FY2026, with a national median wage of $15.67. Understand certified positions and live job offers.
7 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
How to Read an H-2A Job Order: Wages, Housing and Meals
Understand H-2A job orders (ETA-790/790A). Learn about wages (median $15.40/hr), housing, meals, and the 3/4 guarantee. Clear, specific guidance.
9 min read · reviewed September 20, 2026
H-2B seasonal jobs
How the site works
Where the numbers come from
Calculators encode the statute or agency schedule they cite. H-2A and H-2B pages come from the Department of Labor's disclosure files and, for open job orders, from its daily SeasonalJobs feed. City pages use Census Bureau population and county data. Guides are drafted from those same datasets, edited and checked against the cited sources before publication, and re-checked when the underlying figures change. Found something stale? Tell us — corrections are noted on the affected page. More on the process in About & methodology.