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Best states for a cafeteria attendant
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like cafeteria attendants are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for cafeteria attendants aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In order to help you decide which state is the best for cafeteria attendants, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for cafeteria attendant jobs.
Vermont is the best state for jobs for cafeteria attendants, and Nebraska is the worst. The most common pay in Vermont is $31,289, while the median pay in Nebraska is $19,267.Vermont is the best state, and Vancouver is the city with the highest pay for cafeteria attendants.
10 best states for cafeteria attendants in 2026
1. Vermont
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $31,289 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
2. Arizona
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 614 Average annual salary: $29,557 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.87
3. Nevada
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 200 Average annual salary: $28,778 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
4. Oregon
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $31,587 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
5. Hawaii
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $34,106 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
6. Montana
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 98 Average annual salary: $28,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location Quotient: 1.51
7. Maine
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 67 Average annual salary: $33,774 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
8. Colorado
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 441 Average annual salary: $30,258 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.32
9. Idaho
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $36,065 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
10. Washington
Total cafeteria attendant jobs: 224 Average annual salary: $36,229 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.55
Cafeteria attendant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a cafeteria attendant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a cafeteria attendant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $31,289 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 59 |
| 2 | Arizona | $29,557 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 614 |
| 3 | Nevada | $28,778 | $23,000 | 2,998,039 | 200 |
| 4 | Oregon | $31,587 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 248 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $34,106 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 62 |
| 6 | Montana | $28,582 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 98 |
| 7 | Maine | $33,774 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 67 |
| 8 | Colorado | $30,258 | $24,000 | 5,607,154 | 441 |
| 9 | Idaho | $36,065 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 66 |
| 10 | Washington | $36,229 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 224 |
| 11 | California | $34,969 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,197 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $26,395 | $21,000 | 579,315 | 46 |
| 13 | New York | $32,218 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 585 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $29,171 | $23,000 | 5,576,606 | 338 |
| 15 | Michigan | $25,963 | $20,000 | 9,962,311 | 515 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $31,211 | $26,000 | 6,859,819 | 363 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $28,407 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 87 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $28,505 | $23,000 | 755,393 | 30 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $33,745 | $26,000 | 693,972 | 16 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $27,234 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 62 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $28,236 | $23,000 | 3,588,184 | 159 |
| 22 | Kansas | $25,696 | $20,000 | 2,913,123 | 177 |
| 23 | Ohio | $24,359 | $19,000 | 11,658,609 | 673 |
| 24 | Maryland | $26,529 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 367 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $25,272 | $20,000 | 5,795,483 | 249 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $24,034 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 182 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $23,948 | $19,000 | 4,454,189 | 196 |
| 28 | Indiana | $24,264 | $19,000 | 6,666,818 | 328 |
| 29 | Illinois | $26,638 | $21,000 | 12,802,023 | 434 |
| 30 | Florida | $22,752 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,470 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $25,208 | $20,000 | 2,088,070 | 81 |
| 32 | Missouri | $23,471 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 366 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $24,173 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 51 |
| 34 | Iowa | $24,175 | $19,000 | 3,145,711 | 168 |
| 35 | Delaware | $25,935 | $20,000 | 961,939 | 26 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $23,433 | $19,000 | 9,005,644 | 474 |
| 37 | Georgia | $23,170 | $18,000 | 10,429,379 | 615 |
| 38 | Texas | $21,668 | $17,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,415 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $21,670 | $17,000 | 6,715,984 | 388 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $23,252 | $18,000 | 3,004,279 | 113 |
| 41 | Alaska | $21,671 | $18,000 | 739,795 | 57 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $21,969 | $17,000 | 5,024,369 | 256 |
| 43 | Utah | $20,993 | $17,000 | 3,101,833 | 209 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $22,164 | $17,000 | 12,805,537 | 576 |
| 45 | Virginia | $22,091 | $17,000 | 8,470,020 | 494 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $20,421 | $16,000 | 10,273,419 | 570 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $22,346 | $18,000 | 869,666 | 22 |
| 48 | Alabama | $20,365 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 240 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $16,905 | $13,000 | 2,984,100 | 126 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,935 | $16,000 | 4,684,333 | 153 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $19,267 | $15,000 | 1,920,076 | 89 |
Highest paying states for cafeteria attendants
| Rank | State | Avg. Cafeteria Attendant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $31,289 |
| 2 | Arizona | $29,557 |
| 3 | Nevada | $28,778 |
| 4 | Oregon | $31,587 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $34,106 |
| 6 | Montana | $28,582 |
| 7 | Maine | $33,774 |
| 8 | Colorado | $30,258 |
| 9 | Idaho | $36,065 |
| 10 | Washington | $36,229 |
| 11 | California | $34,969 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $26,395 |
| 13 | New York | $32,218 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $29,171 |
| 15 | Michigan | $25,963 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $31,211 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $28,407 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $28,505 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $33,745 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $27,234 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $28,236 |
| 22 | Kansas | $25,696 |
| 23 | Ohio | $24,359 |
| 24 | Maryland | $26,529 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $25,272 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $24,034 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $23,948 |
| 28 | Indiana | $24,264 |
| 29 | Illinois | $26,638 |
| 30 | Florida | $22,752 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $25,208 |
| 32 | Missouri | $23,471 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $24,173 |
| 34 | Iowa | $24,175 |
| 35 | Delaware | $25,935 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $23,433 |
| 37 | Georgia | $23,170 |
| 38 | Texas | $21,668 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $21,670 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $23,252 |
| 41 | Alaska | $21,671 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $21,969 |
| 43 | Utah | $20,993 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $22,164 |
| 45 | Virginia | $22,091 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $20,421 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $22,346 |
| 48 | Alabama | $20,365 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $16,905 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $19,935 |
| 51 | Nebraska | $19,267 |
Cafeteria attendant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025