Best states for a cafe worker

Q: What is the best state for cafe workers?

The best state to be a cafe worker is Washington based on cafe worker salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for cafe workers?

The highest paying state for cafe workers is Louisiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for cafe workers?

The worst state for cafe workers is Hawaii, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and food preparation and restaurant careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to cafe worker jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for cafe workers.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for cafe worker jobs.

The median salary for cafe workers in Washington is $34,499. Compare that to the median salary in Hawaii of $24,643, which ranked worst for cafe workers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the South is best for cafe workers, and the Northeast is the worst. Waltham, MA is the best city in the country for cafe worker jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.

10 best states for cafe workers in 2026

1. Washington
Total cafe worker jobs: 920
Average annual salary: $34,499
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.83
Cafe worker jobs in Washington
2. West Virginia
Total cafe worker jobs: 228
Average annual salary: $31,857
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
2.17
Cafe worker jobs in West Virginia
3. New Hampshire
Total cafe worker jobs: 259
Average annual salary: $31,608
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
2.15
Cafe worker jobs in New Hampshire
4. Michigan
Total cafe worker jobs: 36
Average annual salary: $33,881
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
0.07
Cafe worker jobs in Michigan
5. Oregon
Total cafe worker jobs: 512
Average annual salary: $31,790
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
1.79
Cafe worker jobs in Oregon
6. Maine
Total cafe worker jobs: 5
Average annual salary: $32,575
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
0.05
Cafe worker jobs in Maine
7. Illinois
Total cafe worker jobs: 41
Average annual salary: $32,386
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
0.05
Cafe worker jobs in Illinois
8. New York
Total cafe worker jobs: 46
Average annual salary: $33,369
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.05
Cafe worker jobs in New York
9. New Jersey
Total cafe worker jobs: 26
Average annual salary: $33,326
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.05
Cafe worker jobs in New Jersey
10. Delaware
Total cafe worker jobs: 108
Average annual salary: $31,070
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Cafe worker jobs in Delaware

Cafe worker jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a cafe worker

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a cafe worker

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington	$34,499	$28,000	7,405,743	920
2	West Virginia	$31,857	$26,000	1,815,857	228
3	New Hampshire	$31,608	$26,000	1,342,795	259
4	Michigan	$33,881	$27,000	9,962,311	36
5	Oregon	$31,790	$25,000	4,142,776	512
6	Maine	$32,575	$27,000	1,335,907	5
7	Illinois	$32,386	$26,000	12,802,023	41
8	New York	$33,369	$27,000	19,849,399	46
9	New Jersey	$33,326	$27,000	9,005,644	26
10	Delaware	$31,070	$25,000	961,939	108
11	Connecticut	$30,894	$25,000	3,588,184	384
12	Missouri	$28,322	$23,000	6,113,532	802
13	California	$31,481	$25,000	39,536,653	3,511
14	Minnesota	$31,784	$26,000	5,576,606	17
15	Massachusetts	$32,582	$27,000	6,859,819	23
16	District of Columbia	$32,237	$26,000	693,972	96
17	Pennsylvania	$28,917	$23,000	12,805,537	58
18	Idaho	$28,694	$23,000	1,716,943	180
19	South Dakota	$26,817	$22,000	869,666	140
20	Wisconsin	$28,385	$23,000	5,795,483	36
21	North Dakota	$29,713	$24,000	755,393	3
22	Ohio	$27,920	$22,000	11,658,609	360
23	Utah	$27,583	$22,000	3,101,833	392
24	Rhode Island	$30,243	$25,000	1,059,639	0
25	New Mexico	$26,767	$22,000	2,088,070	245
26	Tennessee	$26,046	$21,000	6,715,984	720
27	Colorado	$28,221	$23,000	5,607,154	648
28	Montana	$27,769	$23,000	1,050,493	5
29	Alaska	$29,447	$25,000	739,795	1
30	Vermont	$29,018	$24,000	623,657	1
31	Arizona	$27,254	$22,000	7,016,270	29
32	Wyoming	$26,588	$22,000	579,315	3
33	Maryland	$30,136	$24,000	6,052,177	17
34	Kentucky	$27,026	$22,000	4,454,189	11
35	Virginia	$27,318	$22,000	8,470,020	973
36	Nebraska	$24,389	$20,000	1,920,076	309
37	Nevada	$26,145	$21,000	2,998,039	26
38	Alabama	$24,292	$20,000	4,874,747	498
39	Arkansas	$25,573	$21,000	3,004,279	10
40	South Carolina	$24,180	$20,000	5,024,369	522
41	Texas	$24,611	$20,000	28,304,596	2,115
42	North Carolina	$24,145	$19,000	10,273,419	1,187
43	Iowa	$25,898	$21,000	3,145,711	10
44	Florida	$23,230	$19,000	20,984,400	2,083
45	Indiana	$24,683	$20,000	6,666,818	28
46	Kansas	$24,639	$20,000	2,913,123	12
47	Georgia	$23,512	$19,000	10,429,379	1,244
48	Louisiana	$21,839	$17,000	4,684,333	461
49	Oklahoma	$23,718	$19,000	3,930,864	321
50	Mississippi	$23,718	$19,000	2,984,100	23
51	Hawaii	$24,643	$21,000	1,427,538	3

Highest paying states for cafe workers

Rank	State	Avg. Cafe Worker Salary
1	Washington	$34,499
2	West Virginia	$31,857
3	New Hampshire	$31,608
4	Michigan	$33,881
5	Oregon	$31,790
6	Maine	$32,575
7	Illinois	$32,386
8	New York	$33,369
9	New Jersey	$33,326
10	Delaware	$31,070
11	Connecticut	$30,894
12	Missouri	$28,322
13	California	$31,481
14	Minnesota	$31,784
15	Massachusetts	$32,582
16	District of Columbia	$32,237
17	Pennsylvania	$28,917
18	Idaho	$28,694
19	South Dakota	$26,817
20	Wisconsin	$28,385
21	North Dakota	$29,713
22	Ohio	$27,920
23	Utah	$27,583
24	Rhode Island	$30,243
25	New Mexico	$26,767
26	Tennessee	$26,046
27	Colorado	$28,221
28	Montana	$27,769
29	Alaska	$29,447
30	Vermont	$29,018
31	Arizona	$27,254
32	Wyoming	$26,588
33	Maryland	$30,136
34	Kentucky	$27,026
35	Virginia	$27,318
36	Nebraska	$24,389
37	Nevada	$26,145
38	Alabama	$24,292
39	Arkansas	$25,573
40	South Carolina	$24,180
41	Texas	$24,611
42	North Carolina	$24,145
43	Iowa	$25,898
44	Florida	$23,230
45	Indiana	$24,683
46	Kansas	$24,639
47	Georgia	$23,512
48	Louisiana	$21,839
49	Oklahoma	$23,718
50	Mississippi	$23,718
51	Hawaii	$24,643

Cafe worker best states FAQs

What is the best state for cafe workers?

What is the highest paying state for cafe workers?

What is the worst state for cafe workers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

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Best states for Cafe Workers

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs

Total cafe worker jobs:	920
Average annual salary:	$34,499
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$28,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$42,000
Location Quotient:	1.83

Best states for a cafe worker

10 best states for cafe workers in 2026

1. Washington

2. West Virginia

3. New Hampshire

4. Michigan

5. Oregon

6. Maine

7. Illinois

8. New York

9. New Jersey

10. Delaware