diff --git a/burr/core/state.py b/burr/core/state.py
index a9a31ac1d..d82e6f4b7 100644
--- a/burr/core/state.py
+++ b/burr/core/state.py
@@ -22,7 +22,18 @@
 import inspect
 import logging
 from functools import cached_property
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Generic, Iterator, Mapping, Optional, TypeVar, Union
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    Callable,
+    Dict,
+    Generic,
+    Iterator,
+    List,
+    Mapping,
+    Optional,
+    TypeVar,
+    Union,
+)
 
 from burr.core import serde
 from burr.core.typing import DictBasedTypingSystem, TypingSystem
@@ -460,6 +471,14 @@ def __len__(self) -> int:
     def __iter__(self) -> Iterator[Any]:
         return iter(self._state)
 
+    def keys(self):
+        """Returns a list of the state keys only (without values for cleaner display).
+        
+        Returns:
+            list: A list of state keys
+        """
+        return list(self._state)
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return self.get_all().__repr__()  # quick hack
 
diff --git a/tests/core/test_state.py b/tests/core/test_state.py
index dede0e99e..1c19b8571 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_state.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_state.py
@@ -226,3 +226,17 @@ def test_state_apply_keeps_typing_system():
     state = State({"foo": "bar"}, typing_system=SimpleTypingSystem())
     assert state.update(foo="baz").typing_system is state.typing_system
     assert state.subset("foo").typing_system is state.typing_system
+
+
+def test_state_keys_returns_list():
+    """Test that State.keys() returns a list (fixes #409)"""
+    state = State({"a": 1, "b": 2, "c": 3})
+    keys = state.keys()
+    
+    # Should return a list with the correct keys
+    assert isinstance(keys, list)
+    assert keys == ["a", "b", "c"]
+    
+    # Test with empty state
+    empty_state = State()
+    assert empty_state.keys() == []