Best cities for a cafeteria worker
The best cities for cafeteria workers are Chandler, AZ, Riverside, CA, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cafeteria workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cafeteria workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cafeteria worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cafeteria workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cafeteria workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cafeteria worker. While the absolute best city for cafeteria workers is Chandler, AZ, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cafeteria workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a cafeteria worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cafeteria workers in 2025
1. Chandler, AZ
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $25,700 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 3.07 2. Riverside, CA
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $30,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 12.73 3. Boston, MA
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $28,064 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 1.92 4. San Francisco, CA
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,919 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Oakland, CA
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Irvine, CA
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $30,687 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 2.79 7. Glendale, AZ
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $25,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Stockton, CA
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Phoenix, AZ
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $25,795 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Detroit, MI
Total cafeteria worker jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $24,048 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 1.44
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Best cities for cafeteria workers
- Chandler, AZ
- Riverside, CA
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- Stockton, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Detroit, MI
- (2 cafeteria worker jobs)
- (5 cafeteria worker jobs)
- (9 cafeteria worker jobs)
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- (5 cafeteria worker jobs)
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- (2 cafeteria worker jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a cafeteria worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler, AZ | $25,700 | $19,000 | 247,477 | 2 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $30,705 | $22,000 | 324,722 | 5 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $28,064 | $22,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $32,919 | $24,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $32,882 | $24,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Irvine, CA | $30,687 | $22,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | $25,800 | $19,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 8 | Stockton, CA | $32,802 | $24,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $25,795 | $19,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $24,048 | $18,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $35,806 | $28,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 12 | Fremont, CA | $32,754 | $24,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $25,788 | $19,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $33,441 | $26,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 15 | Sacramento, CA | $33,001 | $25,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 16 | San Jose, CA | $32,653 | $24,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $32,113 | $24,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 18 | Mesa, AZ | $25,705 | $19,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 19 | Gilbert, AZ | $25,688 | $19,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 20 | Bakersfield, CA | $31,494 | $23,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,925 | $22,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 22 | Long Beach, CA | $30,795 | $22,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $30,767 | $22,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $30,727 | $22,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 25 | Denver, CO | $26,996 | $20,000 | 693,060 | 9 |
| 26 | San Diego, CA | $30,295 | $22,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 27 | Tucson, AZ | $25,356 | $18,000 | 530,706 | - |
| 28 | Cincinnati, OH | $20,188 | $15,000 | 298,800 | 3 |
| 29 | Chula Vista, CA | $30,233 | $22,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $23,178 | $18,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 31 | Lexington, KY | $23,130 | $18,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 32 | Greensboro, NC | $21,251 | $16,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 33 | Las Vegas, NV | $21,458 | $16,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 34 | Madison, WI | $23,287 | $18,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 35 | Aurora, CO | $26,953 | $20,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 36 | Milwaukee, WI | $23,243 | $18,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 37 | Fort Wayne, IN | $22,962 | $17,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 38 | Washington, DC | $30,929 | $24,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $26,593 | $20,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 40 | Chicago, IL | $24,585 | $19,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 41 | Minneapolis, MN | $23,455 | $18,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 42 | Toledo, OH | $20,991 | $16,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 43 | Jersey City, NJ | $27,423 | $21,000 | 264,152 | 1 |
| 44 | Indianapolis, IN | $22,537 | $17,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | $20,354 | $15,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 46 | Wichita, KS | $21,761 | $16,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 47 | Cleveland, OH | $20,889 | $16,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 48 | Newark, NJ | $27,428 | $21,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 49 | Pittsburgh, PA | $22,548 | $17,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 50 | Albuquerque, NM | $22,341 | $16,000 | 559,277 | - |
Highest paying cities for cafeteria workers
| Rank | City | Avg. cafeteria worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuba City, CA | $33,167 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $28,063 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $26,996 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $25,795 |
| 5 | Logan, UT | $25,305 |
| 6 | Rockford, IL | $24,873 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $24,810 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $24,048 |
| 9 | Newark, DE | $23,329 |
| 10 | State College, PA | $22,667 |
| 11 | Anderson, IN | $22,616 |
| 12 | Blue Springs, MO | $21,850 |
| 13 | Suffolk, VA | $21,062 |
| 14 | Fort Worth, TX | $20,596 |
| 15 | Edmond, OK | $20,478 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $20,405 |
| 17 | Lakeland, FL | $20,164 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $19,497 |
Cafeteria worker best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025