Best states for a cook/server

Q: What is the best state for cook/servers?

The best state to be a cook/server is Wisconsin based on cook/server salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for cook/servers?

The highest paying state for cook/servers is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for cook/servers?

The worst state for cook/servers is Georgia, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for cook/servers in the United States. Cook/server 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 cook/servers.We wanted to look at the best states for cook/servers -- where there are plenty of cook/server jobs to go around and cook/servers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.

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 cook/servers.We found that the South is best for cook/servers, and the Northeast is the worst. Bellingham, WA is the best city in the country for cook/server jobs, where as Wisconsin is the best state in the country.

10 best states for cook/servers in 2026

1. Wisconsin
Total cook/server jobs: 1,788
Average annual salary: $32,016
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Cook/server jobs in Wisconsin
2. Alaska
Total cook/server jobs: 161
Average annual salary: $40,354
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.61
Cook/server jobs in Alaska
3. North Dakota
Total cook/server jobs: 222
Average annual salary: $34,389
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Location Quotient:
0.76
Cook/server jobs in North Dakota
4. Washington
Total cook/server jobs: 1,602
Average annual salary: $36,560
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Cook/server jobs in Washington
5. Pennsylvania
Total cook/server jobs: 4,412
Average annual salary: $29,412
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
1.2
Cook/server jobs in Pennsylvania
6. Oregon
Total cook/server jobs: 962
Average annual salary: $35,010
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Cook/server jobs in Oregon
7. Michigan
Total cook/server jobs: 2,799
Average annual salary: $29,211
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Cook/server jobs in Michigan
8. Massachusetts
Total cook/server jobs: 1,802
Average annual salary: $35,142
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
0.62
Cook/server jobs in Massachusetts
9. Minnesota
Total cook/server jobs: 1,707
Average annual salary: $32,483
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.81
Cook/server jobs in Minnesota
10. Connecticut
Total cook/server jobs: 933
Average annual salary: $32,338
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Cook/server jobs in Connecticut

Cook/server jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a cook/server

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

Detailed list of the best states for a cook/server

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Wisconsin	$32,016	$25,000	5,795,483	1,788
2	Alaska	$40,354	$35,000	739,795	161
3	North Dakota	$34,389	$28,000	755,393	222
4	Washington	$36,560	$29,000	7,405,743	1,602
5	Pennsylvania	$29,412	$22,000	12,805,537	4,412
6	Oregon	$35,010	$27,000	4,142,776	962
7	Michigan	$29,211	$22,000	9,962,311	2,799
8	Massachusetts	$35,142	$28,000	6,859,819	1,802
9	Minnesota	$32,483	$25,000	5,576,606	1,707
10	Connecticut	$32,338	$25,000	3,588,184	933
11	South Dakota	$32,228	$25,000	869,666	192
12	Maine	$32,725	$27,000	1,335,907	294
13	Utah	$29,348	$22,000	3,101,833	1,057
14	New Hampshire	$31,180	$25,000	1,342,795	439
15	California	$33,579	$25,000	39,536,653	7,827
16	New Jersey	$31,317	$24,000	9,005,644	2,373
17	Wyoming	$29,422	$22,000	579,315	176
18	Ohio	$27,269	$21,000	11,658,609	3,828
19	Vermont	$32,530	$26,000	623,657	130
20	Montana	$29,791	$24,000	1,050,493	344
21	New York	$31,528	$24,000	19,849,399	3,495
22	Idaho	$30,376	$23,000	1,716,943	436
23	Illinois	$29,489	$22,000	12,802,023	3,542
24	Colorado	$27,456	$21,000	5,607,154	2,167
25	Maryland	$29,179	$22,000	6,052,177	1,987
26	Iowa	$26,623	$20,000	3,145,711	1,214
27	Kentucky	$24,815	$19,000	4,454,189	1,471
28	West Virginia	$25,138	$19,000	1,815,857	556
29	Missouri	$27,014	$20,000	6,113,532	1,994
30	Rhode Island	$28,860	$22,000	1,059,639	271
31	Arizona	$26,775	$20,000	7,016,270	2,069
32	Indiana	$26,373	$20,000	6,666,818	2,142
33	Nebraska	$27,595	$21,000	1,920,076	528
34	Nevada	$27,249	$21,000	2,998,039	545
35	Texas	$24,426	$18,000	28,304,596	7,821
36	Tennessee	$23,436	$18,000	6,715,984	2,264
37	Virginia	$25,054	$19,000	8,470,020	3,190
38	Oklahoma	$23,819	$18,000	3,930,864	1,093
39	New Mexico	$24,703	$19,000	2,088,070	584
40	Kansas	$24,494	$18,000	2,913,123	919
41	Delaware	$25,825	$19,000	961,939	348
42	South Carolina	$21,598	$16,000	5,024,369	1,749
43	Arkansas	$24,275	$18,000	3,004,279	698
44	Mississippi	$22,670	$17,000	2,984,100	722
45	Hawaii	$26,292	$22,000	1,427,538	190
46	Florida	$21,404	$16,000	20,984,400	5,990
47	District of Columbia	$27,499	$21,000	693,972	171
48	Louisiana	$22,499	$17,000	4,684,333	1,042
49	North Carolina	$21,377	$16,000	10,273,419	3,239
50	Alabama	$21,185	$16,000	4,874,747	1,373
51	Georgia	$21,590	$16,000	10,429,379	3,252

Highest paying states for cook/servers

Rank	State	Avg. Cook/Server Salary
1	Wisconsin	$32,016
2	Alaska	$40,354
3	North Dakota	$34,389
4	Washington	$36,560
5	Pennsylvania	$29,412
6	Oregon	$35,010
7	Michigan	$29,211
8	Massachusetts	$35,142
9	Minnesota	$32,483
10	Connecticut	$32,338
11	South Dakota	$32,228
12	Maine	$32,725
13	Utah	$29,348
14	New Hampshire	$31,180
15	California	$33,579
16	New Jersey	$31,317
17	Wyoming	$29,422
18	Ohio	$27,269
19	Vermont	$32,530
20	Montana	$29,791
21	New York	$31,528
22	Idaho	$30,376
23	Illinois	$29,489
24	Colorado	$27,456
25	Maryland	$29,179
26	Iowa	$26,623
27	Kentucky	$24,815
28	West Virginia	$25,138
29	Missouri	$27,014
30	Rhode Island	$28,860
31	Arizona	$26,775
32	Indiana	$26,373
33	Nebraska	$27,595
34	Nevada	$27,249
35	Texas	$24,426
36	Tennessee	$23,436
37	Virginia	$25,054
38	Oklahoma	$23,819
39	New Mexico	$24,703
40	Kansas	$24,494
41	Delaware	$25,825
42	South Carolina	$21,598
43	Arkansas	$24,275
44	Mississippi	$22,670
45	Hawaii	$26,292
46	Florida	$21,404
47	District of Columbia	$27,499
48	Louisiana	$22,499
49	North Carolina	$21,377
50	Alabama	$21,185
51	Georgia	$21,590

Cook/server best states FAQs

What is the best state for cook/servers?

What is the highest paying state for cook/servers?

What is the worst state for cook/servers?

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

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Best states for Cook/Servers

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs

Total cook/server jobs:	1,788
Average annual salary:	$32,016
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$40,000
Location Quotient:	1.02

Best states for a cook/server

10 best states for cook/servers in 2026

1. Wisconsin

2. Alaska

3. North Dakota

4. Washington

5. Pennsylvania

6. Oregon

7. Michigan

8. Massachusetts

9. Minnesota

10. Connecticut