Best cities for a cook/server
The best cities for cook/servers are Stockton, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cook/servers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cook/servers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cook/server or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cook/servers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cook/servers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cook/server. While the absolute best city for cook/servers is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cook/servers in 2024.
If you're looking for a cook/server job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cook/servers in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Cook/server jobs in StocktonTotal cook/server jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $35,650 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 4.48 2. Minneapolis, MN
Cook/server jobs in MinneapolisTotal cook/server jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $32,492 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.48 3. Milwaukee, WI
Cook/server jobs in MilwaukeeTotal cook/server jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $31,731 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.21 4. Oyster Bay, NY
Cook/server jobs in Oyster BayTotal cook/server jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $31,598 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 222.04 5. Omaha, NE
Cook/server jobs in OmahaTotal cook/server jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $27,590 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 3.18 6. Saint Paul, MN
Cook/server jobs in Saint PaulTotal cook/server jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $32,480 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.24 7. Portland, OR
Cook/server jobs in PortlandTotal cook/server jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $35,058 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.93 8. Indianapolis, IN
Cook/server jobs in IndianapolisTotal cook/server jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $26,097 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Location quotient: 1.52 9. Riverside, CA
Cook/server jobs in RiversideTotal cook/server jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $32,564 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 9.31 10. Glendale, AZ
Cook/server jobs in GlendaleTotal cook/server jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $26,883 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 7.22
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Best cities for cook/servers
- Stockton, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Omaha, NE
- Saint Paul, MN
- Portland, OR
- Indianapolis, IN
- Riverside, CA
- Glendale, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a cook/server
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $35,650 | $27,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,492 | $25,000 | 413,651 | 14 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $31,731 | $24,000 | 595,047 | 6 |
| 4 | Oyster Bay, NY | $31,598 | $24,000 | 293,214 | 2 |
| 5 | Omaha, NE | $27,590 | $21,000 | 446,970 | 17 |
| 6 | Saint Paul, MN | $32,480 | $25,000 | 302,398 | 6 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $35,058 | $27,000 | 639,863 | 8 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,097 | $20,000 | 855,164 | 15 |
| 9 | Riverside, CA | $32,564 | $25,000 | 324,722 | 14 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $26,883 | $20,000 | 245,895 | 5 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $28,143 | $21,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 12 | Sacramento, CA | $35,945 | $27,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $26,846 | $20,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 14 | Lexington, KY | $24,853 | $19,000 | 318,449 | 7 |
| 15 | Fresno, CA | $34,661 | $26,000 | 522,053 | 2 |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $26,736 | $20,000 | 484,587 | 8 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $32,469 | $25,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 18 | Henderson, NV | $26,708 | $20,000 | 292,969 | 1 |
| 19 | Oakland, CA | $35,774 | $27,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,421 | $22,000 | 1,567,872 | 8 |
| 21 | Phoenix, AZ | $26,867 | $20,000 | 1,615,017 | 30 |
| 22 | Cleveland, OH | $28,547 | $22,000 | 385,809 | 2 |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $31,946 | $24,000 | 267,172 | 1 |
| 24 | Lincoln, NE | $27,390 | $21,000 | 280,364 | 2 |
| 25 | Seattle, WA | $36,629 | $29,000 | 704,352 | 6 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $35,595 | $27,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $28,467 | $21,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 28 | Madison, WI | $31,508 | $24,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 29 | Columbus, OH | $26,577 | $20,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 30 | Newark, NJ | $31,559 | $24,000 | 281,764 | 2 |
| 31 | Kansas City, MO | $27,290 | $21,000 | 481,420 | 5 |
| 32 | Garland, TX | $24,506 | $19,000 | 234,943 | 3 |
| 33 | Boston, MA | $35,175 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 34 | Chandler, AZ | $26,746 | $20,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 35 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,048 | $20,000 | 465,101 | 21 |
| 36 | Scottsdale, AZ | $26,836 | $20,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 37 | Tulsa, OK | $23,911 | $18,000 | 403,090 | 4 |
| 38 | Anchorage, AK | $40,417 | $35,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $29,113 | $22,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 40 | San Jose, CA | $35,459 | $27,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $29,239 | $22,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 42 | Chicago, IL | $29,635 | $22,000 | 2,704,958 | 8 |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $23,938 | $18,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 44 | San Francisco, CA | $35,828 | $27,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $32,543 | $25,000 | 266,122 | 5 |
| 46 | Cincinnati, OH | $25,840 | $19,000 | 298,800 | 1 |
| 47 | Los Angeles, CA | $32,856 | $25,000 | 3,976,322 | 13 |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $24,904 | $19,000 | 597,337 | 3 |
| 49 | San Diego, CA | $32,027 | $24,000 | 1,406,630 | 13 |
| 50 | Fort Wayne, IN | $27,189 | $21,000 | 264,488 | - |
Highest paying cities for cook/servers
| Rank | City | Avg. cook/server salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellingham, WA | $36,775 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $35,058 |
| 3 | Troy, NY | $32,892 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $32,856 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,492 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $31,731 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $29,635 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $29,421 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $29,400 |
| 10 | Mason City, IA | $27,774 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $27,590 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,048 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $26,867 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $26,846 |
| 15 | Springfield, MO | $26,337 |
| 16 | Richmond, VA | $24,931 |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | $24,495 |
| 18 | Bristol, TN | $23,668 |
| 19 | Central, LA | $22,430 |
| 20 | Rock Hill, SC | $21,885 |
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Updated January 8, 2025