Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of food runner salary by state for the United States:
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Vermont has the highest food runner salary of $28,023
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Wyoming has the lowest food runner salary of $20,464
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The national average salary for food runners is $25,536
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The national hourly pay for food runners is $12.28
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains a key consideration for job seekers, particularly in the food service industry. Many individuals wonder how much food runners earn in their area and what factors influence these earnings.
While salary expectations can vary based on location and experience, our comprehensive data provides a clear picture of average food runner salaries across the United States, adjusted for regional differences. While local averages may differ slightly, these figures offer a reliable benchmark for what you can expect in your salary negotiations.
As of 2026, Vermont leads the way with the highest average salary for food runners.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for food runner salaries:
Let’s take a deeper look at how these figures were determined and a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Food Runners By State
| Rank | State | Average Food Runner Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $28,023 | $23,000 | $33,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $27,472 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 3 | California | $27,036 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $26,695 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 5 | Maryland | $26,561 | $19,000 | $36,000 |
| 6 | Oregon | $26,208 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 7 | New York | $25,921 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $25,839 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $25,663 | $23,000 | $28,000 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $25,559 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 11 | Maine | $25,380 | $21,000 | $29,000 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $25,117 | $18,000 | $33,000 |
| 13 | Illinois | $24,571 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 14 | Ohio | $24,507 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 15 | Indiana | $24,414 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 16 | Colorado | $24,322 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $24,240 | $17,000 | $34,000 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $24,142 | $20,000 | $27,000 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $23,815 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 20 | Kansas | $23,803 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $23,738 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $23,729 | $18,000 | $29,000 |
| 23 | Virginia | $23,710 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $23,699 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $23,687 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $23,638 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $23,438 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 28 | Texas | $23,389 | $16,000 | $34,000 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $23,320 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 30 | Georgia | $23,299 | $16,000 | $33,000 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $23,150 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $22,952 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 33 | Michigan | $22,950 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 34 | Alabama | $22,858 | $15,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $22,523 | $16,000 | $30,000 |
| 36 | Montana | $22,521 | $16,000 | $30,000 |
| 37 | Missouri | $22,407 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 38 | Idaho | $22,339 | $16,000 | $30,000 |
| 39 | Florida | $22,292 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 40 | Arizona | $22,241 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | Utah | $22,187 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $22,114 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 43 | Nevada | $22,024 | $15,000 | $31,000 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $21,938 | $16,000 | $29,000 |
| 45 | Delaware | $21,699 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $21,384 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $21,368 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $20,882 | $14,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $20,778 | $14,000 | $28,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $20,464 | $14,000 | $28,000 |
Methodology: Food Runner Salary By State
To gain insights into food runner pay by state, Zippia has collected data from various reputable sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Additionally, we analyzed current job listings to supplement our findings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for food runners by state.
We utilized the average annual salary data for food runners from these estimates to rank each state according to their average salary.
Food Runner Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for food runners?
The highest-paid state for food runners is Vermont with an average salary of $28,023 per year.
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What city pays food runners the most?
Seattle, WA pays food runners the most with an average salary of $27,492 per year.
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What is the worst state for food runners?
The worst state for food runners is Wyoming with an average salary of $20,464 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
