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Best states for a cafeteria aide
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like cafeteria aides are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for cafeteria aides aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. 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 cafeteria aide jobs.
We figured that the best places for cafeteria aide jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a cafeteria aide, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for cafeteria aides in 2025
1. Maine
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 116 Average annual salary: $33,657 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
2. Montana
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $29,078 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.9
3. Minnesota
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 517 Average annual salary: $29,762 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
4. Vermont
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 47 Average annual salary: $31,251 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
5. Idaho
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 83 Average annual salary: $35,045 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
6. North Dakota
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $29,628 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
7. New York
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 1,117 Average annual salary: $29,564 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.5
8. Oregon
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 220 Average annual salary: $30,984 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. Washington
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 292 Average annual salary: $36,235 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
10. Hawaii
Total cafeteria aide jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $33,675 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
Cafeteria aide jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cafeteria aide
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cafeteria aide
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $33,657 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 116 |
| 2 | Montana | $29,078 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 127 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $29,762 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 517 |
| 4 | Vermont | $31,251 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 47 |
| 5 | Idaho | $35,045 | $27,000 | 1,716,943 | 83 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $29,628 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 53 |
| 7 | New York | $29,564 | $22,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,117 |
| 8 | Oregon | $30,984 | $24,000 | 4,142,776 | 220 |
| 9 | Washington | $36,235 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 292 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $33,675 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 46 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $29,998 | $23,000 | 6,859,819 | 479 |
| 12 | Michigan | $25,297 | $19,000 | 9,962,311 | 786 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $25,245 | $19,000 | 5,795,483 | 398 |
| 14 | Illinois | $26,175 | $20,000 | 12,802,023 | 816 |
| 15 | California | $31,848 | $23,000 | 39,536,653 | 844 |
| 16 | Iowa | $23,869 | $18,000 | 3,145,711 | 305 |
| 17 | Alaska | $26,340 | $22,000 | 739,795 | 61 |
| 18 | Kansas | $23,802 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 302 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $27,773 | $21,000 | 1,342,795 | 74 |
| 20 | Indiana | $23,157 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 789 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $25,685 | $19,000 | 1,059,639 | 66 |
| 22 | Colorado | $28,195 | $21,000 | 5,607,154 | 238 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $25,592 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 28 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $22,803 | $17,000 | 1,815,857 | 116 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $31,468 | $23,000 | 693,972 | 39 |
| 26 | Arizona | $26,291 | $19,000 | 7,016,270 | 219 |
| 27 | Ohio | $23,185 | $17,000 | 11,658,609 | 626 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $26,265 | $20,000 | 3,588,184 | 165 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $22,491 | $16,000 | 4,454,189 | 263 |
| 30 | Maryland | $24,661 | $18,000 | 6,052,177 | 330 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $22,523 | $16,000 | 2,088,070 | 111 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $22,658 | $17,000 | 869,666 | 55 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $22,006 | $16,000 | 3,930,864 | 181 |
| 34 | Delaware | $23,754 | $18,000 | 961,939 | 56 |
| 35 | Nevada | $24,050 | $17,000 | 2,998,039 | 64 |
| 36 | Georgia | $22,298 | $16,000 | 10,429,379 | 604 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $21,401 | $16,000 | 9,005,644 | 605 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $20,158 | $15,000 | 12,805,537 | 954 |
| 39 | Missouri | $21,938 | $16,000 | 6,113,532 | 302 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $20,378 | $15,000 | 6,715,984 | 369 |
| 41 | Texas | $21,182 | $15,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,129 |
| 42 | Florida | $22,430 | $17,000 | 20,984,400 | 604 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $21,665 | $16,000 | 3,004,279 | 90 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $21,302 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 221 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $18,628 | $14,000 | 1,920,076 | 176 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $19,533 | $14,000 | 10,273,419 | 609 |
| 47 | Alabama | $19,570 | $14,000 | 4,874,747 | 198 |
| 48 | Virginia | $20,781 | $15,000 | 8,470,020 | 353 |
| 49 | Utah | $19,603 | $14,000 | 3,101,833 | 106 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,187 | $14,000 | 4,684,333 | 96 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $16,177 | $12,000 | 2,984,100 | 103 |
Highest paying states for cafeteria aides
| Rank | State | Avg. Cafeteria Aide Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $33,657 |
| 2 | Montana | $29,078 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $29,762 |
| 4 | Vermont | $31,251 |
| 5 | Idaho | $35,045 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $29,628 |
| 7 | New York | $29,564 |
| 8 | Oregon | $30,984 |
| 9 | Washington | $36,235 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $33,675 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $29,998 |
| 12 | Michigan | $25,297 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $25,245 |
| 14 | Illinois | $26,175 |
| 15 | California | $31,848 |
| 16 | Iowa | $23,869 |
| 17 | Alaska | $26,340 |
| 18 | Kansas | $23,802 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $27,773 |
| 20 | Indiana | $23,157 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $25,685 |
| 22 | Colorado | $28,195 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $25,592 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $22,803 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $31,468 |
| 26 | Arizona | $26,291 |
| 27 | Ohio | $23,185 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $26,265 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $22,491 |
| 30 | Maryland | $24,661 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $22,523 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $22,658 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $22,006 |
| 34 | Delaware | $23,754 |
| 35 | Nevada | $24,050 |
| 36 | Georgia | $22,298 |
| 37 | New Jersey | $21,401 |
| 38 | Pennsylvania | $20,158 |
| 39 | Missouri | $21,938 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $20,378 |
| 41 | Texas | $21,182 |
| 42 | Florida | $22,430 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $21,665 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $21,302 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $18,628 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $19,533 |
| 47 | Alabama | $19,570 |
| 48 | Virginia | $20,781 |
| 49 | Utah | $19,603 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,187 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $16,177 |
Cafeteria aide best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025