Best states for a cafeteria helper

Q: What is the best state for cafeteria helpers?

The best state to be a cafeteria helper is Maine based on cafeteria helper salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for cafeteria helpers?

The highest paying state for cafeteria helpers is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for cafeteria helpers?

The worst state for cafeteria helpers is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a cafeteria helper and really want to work at Memphis City Schools? Turns out, your chances to become a cafeteria helper are better in some states than others.As cafeteria helpers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for cafeteria helpers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a cafeteria helper, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

In order to get you the best states for cafeteria helpers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Maine is the best state for cafeteria helper jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.

10 best states for cafeteria helpers in 2025

1. Maine
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 43
Average annual salary: $40,459
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
2.13
Cafeteria helper jobs in Maine
2. Vermont
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 14
Average annual salary: $37,087
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Cafeteria helper jobs in Vermont
3. Washington
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 96
Average annual salary: $39,231
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Cafeteria helper jobs in Washington
4. New Hampshire
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 28
Average annual salary: $33,854
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Cafeteria helper jobs in New Hampshire
5. Idaho
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 18
Average annual salary: $38,490
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Cafeteria helper jobs in Idaho
6. Connecticut
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 65
Average annual salary: $33,519
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Cafeteria helper jobs in Connecticut
7. New York
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 157
Average annual salary: $38,143
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.8
Cafeteria helper jobs in New York
8. Oregon
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 69
Average annual salary: $33,619
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Cafeteria helper jobs in Oregon
9. Arizona
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 95
Average annual salary: $32,038
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Cafeteria helper jobs in Arizona
10. District of Columbia
Total cafeteria helper jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $41,306
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.27
Cafeteria helper jobs in District of Columbia

Cafeteria helper jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a cafeteria helper

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

Detailed list of the best states for a cafeteria helper

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maine	$40,459	$35,000	1,335,907	43
2	Vermont	$37,087	$32,000	623,657	14
3	Washington	$39,231	$33,000	7,405,743	96
4	New Hampshire	$33,854	$29,000	1,342,795	28
5	Idaho	$38,490	$33,000	1,716,943	18
6	Connecticut	$33,519	$28,000	3,588,184	65
7	New York	$38,143	$31,000	19,849,399	157
8	Oregon	$33,619	$28,000	4,142,776	69
9	Arizona	$32,038	$26,000	7,016,270	95
10	District of Columbia	$41,306	$34,000	693,972	7
11	North Dakota	$31,142	$27,000	755,393	14
12	Massachusetts	$37,120	$31,000	6,859,819	82
13	Minnesota	$32,239	$27,000	5,576,606	90
14	Rhode Island	$32,359	$27,000	1,059,639	14
15	North Carolina	$28,996	$24,000	10,273,419	208
16	California	$35,387	$29,000	39,536,653	349
17	Michigan	$29,919	$25,000	9,962,311	109
18	Ohio	$28,945	$24,000	11,658,609	156
19	Nevada	$30,509	$25,000	2,998,039	29
20	Kentucky	$28,339	$23,000	4,454,189	77
21	Colorado	$32,195	$27,000	5,607,154	74
22	Alaska	$29,297	$26,000	739,795	20
23	Illinois	$30,906	$26,000	12,802,023	155
24	Wisconsin	$28,628	$24,000	5,795,483	88
25	Hawaii	$35,933	$32,000	1,427,538	8
26	West Virginia	$29,216	$24,000	1,815,857	16
27	Iowa	$27,628	$23,000	3,145,711	68
28	Kansas	$29,322	$24,000	2,913,123	31
29	Delaware	$31,277	$25,000	961,939	12
30	Maryland	$32,329	$26,000	6,052,177	64
31	Indiana	$28,578	$24,000	6,666,818	66
32	Florida	$26,879	$21,000	20,984,400	341
33	New Jersey	$27,814	$23,000	9,005,644	144
34	Tennessee	$25,548	$21,000	6,715,984	160
35	Wyoming	$28,469	$24,000	579,315	4
36	Georgia	$27,540	$23,000	10,429,379	149
37	South Carolina	$26,359	$21,000	5,024,369	106
38	Utah	$26,617	$22,000	3,101,833	54
39	Virginia	$27,244	$22,000	8,470,020	162
40	Pennsylvania	$26,466	$22,000	12,805,537	175
41	Oklahoma	$27,491	$23,000	3,930,864	33
42	New Mexico	$27,728	$23,000	2,088,070	18
43	Montana	$25,017	$21,000	1,050,493	22
44	Louisiana	$23,637	$19,000	4,684,333	77
45	Texas	$25,148	$20,000	28,304,596	365
46	Arkansas	$27,031	$22,000	3,004,279	24
47	Alabama	$24,183	$20,000	4,874,747	67
48	Missouri	$27,073	$22,000	6,113,532	57
49	South Dakota	$24,784	$21,000	869,666	12
50	Nebraska	$21,689	$18,000	1,920,076	31
51	Mississippi	$19,980	$16,000	2,984,100	25

Highest paying states for cafeteria helpers

Rank	State	Avg. Cafeteria Helper Salary
1	Maine	$40,459
2	Vermont	$37,087
3	Washington	$39,231
4	New Hampshire	$33,854
5	Idaho	$38,490
6	Connecticut	$33,519
7	New York	$38,143
8	Oregon	$33,619
9	Arizona	$32,038
10	District of Columbia	$41,306
11	North Dakota	$31,142
12	Massachusetts	$37,120
13	Minnesota	$32,239
14	Rhode Island	$32,359
15	North Carolina	$28,996
16	California	$35,387
17	Michigan	$29,919
18	Ohio	$28,945
19	Nevada	$30,509
20	Kentucky	$28,339
21	Colorado	$32,195
22	Alaska	$29,297
23	Illinois	$30,906
24	Wisconsin	$28,628
25	Hawaii	$35,933
26	West Virginia	$29,216
27	Iowa	$27,628
28	Kansas	$29,322
29	Delaware	$31,277
30	Maryland	$32,329
31	Indiana	$28,578
32	Florida	$26,879
33	New Jersey	$27,814
34	Tennessee	$25,548
35	Wyoming	$28,469
36	Georgia	$27,540
37	South Carolina	$26,359
38	Utah	$26,617
39	Virginia	$27,244
40	Pennsylvania	$26,466
41	Oklahoma	$27,491
42	New Mexico	$27,728
43	Montana	$25,017
44	Louisiana	$23,637
45	Texas	$25,148
46	Arkansas	$27,031
47	Alabama	$24,183
48	Missouri	$27,073
49	South Dakota	$24,784
50	Nebraska	$21,689
51	Mississippi	$19,980

Cafeteria helper best states FAQs

What is the best state for cafeteria helpers?

What is the highest paying state for cafeteria helpers?

What is the worst state for cafeteria helpers?

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

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Cafeteria Helper
Best states for Cafeteria Helpers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total cafeteria helper jobs:	43
Average annual salary:	$40,459
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$46,000
Location Quotient:	2.13

Best states for a cafeteria helper

10 best states for cafeteria helpers in 2025

1. Maine

2. Vermont

3. Washington

4. New Hampshire

5. Idaho

6. Connecticut

7. New York

8. Oregon

9. Arizona

10. District of Columbia