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These Are The 10 States With The Highest Valet Salaries For 2026

By Chris Kolmar
Feb. 1, 2018
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 15, 2026

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Top 10 States with the Highest Valet Salaries in 2026




When it comes to job satisfaction, salary remains the top priority for many individuals across diverse demographics. If you’re wondering how much valets earn in your area, you’re not alone.

Understanding the average valet salaries across different states can provide valuable insights into what you can expect to earn, taking into account factors like seniority level and regional variations. While local salaries may fluctuate, these averages offer a useful benchmark.

In this article, we delve into the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding average valet salaries by state. Moreover, we have considered the cost of living in each state, as your earnings will have different purchasing power depending on where you reside. For instance, a salary in North Carolina will stretch further than the same amount in California.

So, which state offers the highest adjusted salary for valets? Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states:

  1. Illinois
  2. Nebraska
  3. Wyoming
  4. West Virginia
  5. Washington
  6. Utah
  7. Texas
  8. Maine
  9. Michigan
  10. Iowa

Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.

If you’re interested in further insights into the job market, check out these articles:

How We Determined Pay by State

To compile this information, we utilized the most recent annual salary data for valets from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their Occupational Employment Statistics. To ensure a fair comparison of salaries across states, we factored in the cost of living in each location.

We developed an index by calculating the average wage for each state in relation to its cost of living. For instance, if California has a cost of living index of 135.9 and an average pay of $25,580, our index value would be:

$25,580 * (100 / 135.9) = $18,822

We then ranked each state based on this index, highlighting the state with the highest salary index as the one offering the best average salary for valets.

Below is the complete ranking for all states.

For additional reading, check out:

Detailed List of Valet Salaries by State

Rank State Adjusted Salary Average Wage Cost Of Living
1 Illinois $26,754 $25,310 94.6
2 Nebraska $26,211 $24,010 91.6
3 Wyoming $26,023 $23,890 91.8
4 West Virginia $25,910 $24,200 93.4
5 Washington $24,933 $26,230 105.2
6 Utah $24,408 $22,700 93.0
7 Texas $24,399 $22,130 90.7
8 Maine $24,359 $26,990 110.8
9 Michigan $24,269 $21,600 89.0
10 Iowa $24,065 $21,900 91.0
11 Alabama $23,991 $21,880 91.2
12 Minnesota $23,888 $24,080 100.8
13 North Carolina $23,812 $22,360 93.9
14 Colorado $23,622 $24,520 103.8
15 Missouri $23,429 $21,180 90.4
16 Ohio $23,272 $21,830 93.8
17 Tennessee $23,221 $20,760 89.4
18 Arkansas $23,008 $20,040 87.1
19 South Carolina $22,983 $22,800 99.2
20 North Dakota $22,957 $22,820 99.4
21 Oklahoma $22,903 $20,430 89.2
22 New Mexico $22,829 $22,030 96.5
23 Kentucky $22,806 $20,640 90.5
24 Mississippi $22,805 $19,590 85.9
25 Georgia $22,658 $20,710 91.4
26 Wisconsin $22,654 $21,930 96.8
27 Nevada $22,633 $23,380 103.3
28 Arizona $22,571 $22,120 98.0
29 South Dakota $22,430 $23,260 103.7
30 Idaho $22,204 $20,450 92.1
31 Pennsylvania $22,011 $22,320 101.4
32 New Hampshire $21,991 $25,730 117.0
33 Virginia $21,964 $22,140 100.8
34 Indiana $21,731 $19,450 89.5
35 Delaware $21,656 $21,960 101.4
36 Louisiana $21,023 $19,930 94.8
37 Montana $21,021 $21,190 100.8
38 Florida $20,701 $20,350 98.3
39 Vermont $20,685 $25,050 121.1
40 Oregon $20,449 $23,640 115.6
41 Rhode Island $20,190 $24,370 120.7
42 New Jersey $19,360 $23,600 121.9
43 Connecticut $18,856 $24,080 127.7
44 California $18,822 $25,580 135.9
45 Alaska $18,611 $24,400 131.1
46 New York $17,938 $23,500 131.0
47 Maryland $17,235 $21,630 125.5
48 Hawaii $13,793 $23,160 167.9
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Author

Chris Kolmar

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.

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