Best states for a caterer

Q: What is the best state for caterers?

The best state to be a caterer is New York based on caterer salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for caterers?

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

Q: What is the worst state for caterers?

The worst state for caterers is Louisiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for caterers in the United States. Caterer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for caterers.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of caterers in America is $36,000.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for caterers.New York is the best state, and Queensbury is the city with the highest pay for caterers.

10 best states for caterers in 2026

1. New York
Total caterer jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $38,252
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.75
Caterer jobs in New York
2. Rhode Island
Total caterer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $33,797
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
0
Caterer jobs in Rhode Island
3. Massachusetts
Total caterer jobs: 2
Average annual salary: $33,836
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Caterer jobs in Massachusetts
4. Washington
Total caterer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $34,317
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
0
Caterer jobs in Washington
5. Connecticut
Total caterer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $33,505
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Location Quotient:
0
Caterer jobs in Connecticut
6. North Dakota
Total caterer jobs: 2
Average annual salary: $29,261
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Location Quotient:
6.9
Caterer jobs in North Dakota
7. Wyoming
Total caterer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $31,798
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0
Caterer jobs in Wyoming
8. Minnesota
Total caterer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $31,662
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0
Caterer jobs in Minnesota
9. Virginia
Total caterer jobs: 2
Average annual salary: $32,014
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Caterer jobs in Virginia
10. Michigan
Total caterer jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $29,628
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
0
Caterer jobs in Michigan

Caterer jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a caterer

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

Detailed list of the best states for a caterer

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New York	$38,252	$29,000	19,849,399	3
2	Rhode Island	$33,797	$26,000	1,059,639	0
3	Massachusetts	$33,836	$26,000	6,859,819	2
4	Washington	$34,317	$27,000	7,405,743	0
5	Connecticut	$33,505	$26,000	3,588,184	0
6	North Dakota	$29,261	$23,000	755,393	2
7	Wyoming	$31,798	$24,000	579,315	0
8	Minnesota	$31,662	$24,000	5,576,606	0
9	Virginia	$32,014	$24,000	8,470,020	2
10	Michigan	$29,628	$23,000	9,962,311	0
11	Vermont	$30,671	$24,000	623,657	0
12	California	$33,548	$26,000	39,536,653	4
13	Colorado	$31,119	$24,000	5,607,154	0
14	Nebraska	$27,953	$21,000	1,920,076	13
15	Delaware	$30,644	$23,000	961,939	0
16	New Hampshire	$29,759	$23,000	1,342,795	0
17	Pennsylvania	$28,012	$21,000	12,805,537	5
18	Maine	$29,658	$23,000	1,335,907	0
19	Montana	$28,958	$23,000	1,050,493	0
20	Oregon	$29,500	$23,000	4,142,776	1
21	Hawaii	$32,625	$28,000	1,427,538	0
22	South Dakota	$28,060	$21,000	869,666	0
23	New Jersey	$30,018	$23,000	9,005,644	0
24	Alaska	$29,649	$25,000	739,795	0
25	Indiana	$25,965	$20,000	6,666,818	19
26	Nevada	$28,236	$22,000	2,998,039	0
27	Iowa	$26,839	$20,000	3,145,711	2
28	Ohio	$26,276	$20,000	11,658,609	4
29	Idaho	$27,566	$21,000	1,716,943	0
30	Utah	$26,304	$20,000	3,101,833	2
31	Oklahoma	$25,459	$19,000	3,930,864	2
32	North Carolina	$26,699	$20,000	10,273,419	2
33	District of Columbia	$29,577	$22,000	693,972	0
34	West Virginia	$24,988	$19,000	1,815,857	1
35	Tennessee	$25,864	$19,000	6,715,984	1
36	Maryland	$28,449	$21,000	6,052,177	0
37	Illinois	$26,346	$20,000	12,802,023	3
38	Kansas	$25,835	$19,000	2,913,123	0
39	Texas	$25,658	$19,000	28,304,596	3
40	Arizona	$25,494	$19,000	7,016,270	2
41	Kentucky	$24,871	$19,000	4,454,189	0
42	Florida	$25,350	$19,000	20,984,400	6
43	Arkansas	$23,487	$18,000	3,004,279	2
44	Wisconsin	$24,550	$19,000	5,795,483	0
45	Missouri	$24,936	$19,000	6,113,532	0
46	New Mexico	$23,714	$18,000	2,088,070	2
47	South Carolina	$23,134	$17,000	5,024,369	6
48	Mississippi	$23,852	$18,000	2,984,100	0
49	Georgia	$24,446	$18,000	10,429,379	0
50	Alabama	$23,002	$17,000	4,874,747	0
51	Louisiana	$22,515	$17,000	4,684,333	0

Highest paying states for caterers

Rank	State	Avg. Caterer Salary
1	New York	$38,252
2	Rhode Island	$33,797
3	Massachusetts	$33,836
4	Washington	$34,317
5	Connecticut	$33,505
6	North Dakota	$29,261
7	Wyoming	$31,798
8	Minnesota	$31,662
9	Virginia	$32,014
10	Michigan	$29,628
11	Vermont	$30,671
12	California	$33,548
13	Colorado	$31,119
14	Nebraska	$27,953
15	Delaware	$30,644
16	New Hampshire	$29,759
17	Pennsylvania	$28,012
18	Maine	$29,658
19	Montana	$28,958
20	Oregon	$29,500
21	Hawaii	$32,625
22	South Dakota	$28,060
23	New Jersey	$30,018
24	Alaska	$29,649
25	Indiana	$25,965
26	Nevada	$28,236
27	Iowa	$26,839
28	Ohio	$26,276
29	Idaho	$27,566
30	Utah	$26,304
31	Oklahoma	$25,459
32	North Carolina	$26,699
33	District of Columbia	$29,577
34	West Virginia	$24,988
35	Tennessee	$25,864
36	Maryland	$28,449
37	Illinois	$26,346
38	Kansas	$25,835
39	Texas	$25,658
40	Arizona	$25,494
41	Kentucky	$24,871
42	Florida	$25,350
43	Arkansas	$23,487
44	Wisconsin	$24,550
45	Missouri	$24,936
46	New Mexico	$23,714
47	South Carolina	$23,134
48	Mississippi	$23,852
49	Georgia	$24,446
50	Alabama	$23,002
51	Louisiana	$22,515

Caterer best states FAQs

What is the best state for caterers?

What is the highest paying state for caterers?

What is the worst state for caterers?

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

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Best states for Caterers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total caterer jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$38,252
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$29,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$49,000
Location Quotient:	0.75

Best states for a caterer

10 best states for caterers in 2026

1. New York

2. Rhode Island

3. Massachusetts

4. Washington

5. Connecticut

6. North Dakota

7. Wyoming

8. Minnesota

9. Virginia

10. Michigan