Best states for a fast food worker

Q: What is the best state for fast food workers?

The best state to be a fast food worker is New Hampshire based on fast food worker salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for fast food workers?

The highest paying state for fast food workers is Georgia based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for fast food workers?

The worst state for fast food workers is Illinois, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Are you thinking of becoming a fast food worker and really want to work at McDonald's? Turns out, your chances to become a fast food worker are better in some states than others.In order to help you decide which state is the best for fast food workers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for fast food worker jobs.

New Hampshire is the best state for jobs for fast food workers, and Illinois is the worst. The most common pay in New Hampshire is $34,272, while the median pay in Illinois is $21,190.We found that the South is best for fast food workers, and the Northeast is the worst. Franklin Square, NY is the best city in the country for fast food worker jobs, where as New Hampshire is the best state in the country.

10 best states for fast food workers in 2026

1. New Hampshire
Total fast food worker jobs: 380
Average annual salary: $34,272
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.09
Fast food worker jobs in New Hampshire
2. Utah
Total fast food worker jobs: 934
Average annual salary: $27,115
Lowest 10 percent earn: $16,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Fast food worker jobs in Utah
3. Connecticut
Total fast food worker jobs: 805
Average annual salary: $29,552
Lowest 10 percent earn: $18,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.22
Fast food worker jobs in Connecticut
4. Michigan
Total fast food worker jobs: 1,055
Average annual salary: $30,620
Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.69
Fast food worker jobs in Michigan
5. New York
Total fast food worker jobs: 1,636
Average annual salary: $32,627
Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.64
Fast food worker jobs in New York
6. Massachusetts
Total fast food worker jobs: 992
Average annual salary: $31,743
Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
0.54
Fast food worker jobs in Massachusetts
7. Delaware
Total fast food worker jobs: 264
Average annual salary: $27,531
Lowest 10 percent earn: $16,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
Fast food worker jobs in Delaware
8. Washington
Total fast food worker jobs: 1,826
Average annual salary: $27,119
Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Fast food worker jobs in Washington
9. Rhode Island
Total fast food worker jobs: 148
Average annual salary: $29,473
Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
0.61
Fast food worker jobs in Rhode Island
10. Wisconsin
Total fast food worker jobs: 1,048
Average annual salary: $26,983
Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Fast food worker jobs in Wisconsin

Fast food worker jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a fast food worker

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

Detailed list of the best states for a fast food worker

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New Hampshire	$34,272	$25,000	1,342,795	380
2	Utah	$27,115	$16,000	3,101,833	934
3	Connecticut	$29,552	$18,000	3,588,184	805
4	Michigan	$30,620	$20,000	9,962,311	1,055
5	New York	$32,627	$20,000	19,849,399	1,636
6	Massachusetts	$31,743	$21,000	6,859,819	992
7	Delaware	$27,531	$16,000	961,939	264
8	Washington	$27,119	$19,000	7,405,743	1,826
9	Rhode Island	$29,473	$19,000	1,059,639	148
10	Wisconsin	$26,983	$19,000	5,795,483	1,048
11	Iowa	$26,667	$18,000	3,145,711	591
12	Vermont	$31,389	$25,000	623,657	75
13	Missouri	$24,759	$16,000	6,113,532	1,278
14	Ohio	$24,927	$16,000	11,658,609	1,754
15	Oregon	$25,520	$16,000	4,142,776	980
16	Colorado	$25,501	$16,000	5,607,154	1,398
17	Arizona	$26,239	$14,000	7,016,270	918
18	Texas	$23,825	$13,000	28,304,596	5,341
19	Minnesota	$27,163	$20,000	5,576,606	1,049
20	Idaho	$24,913	$16,000	1,716,943	303
21	Nebraska	$23,668	$16,000	1,920,076	545
22	New Mexico	$23,743	$13,000	2,088,070	469
23	South Dakota	$22,523	$16,000	869,666	298
24	Maine	$27,246	$22,000	1,335,907	172
25	South Carolina	$23,047	$14,000	5,024,369	1,146
26	Pennsylvania	$23,371	$14,000	12,805,537	2,118
27	Florida	$22,548	$13,000	20,984,400	4,520
28	Alabama	$22,822	$14,000	4,874,747	839
29	North Dakota	$25,339	$19,000	755,393	124
30	Kansas	$24,078	$15,000	2,913,123	407
31	North Carolina	$22,375	$13,000	10,273,419	2,699
32	District of Columbia	$28,186	$16,000	693,972	157
33	California	$24,787	$13,000	39,536,653	6,149
34	West Virginia	$21,703	$13,000	1,815,857	383
35	New Jersey	$24,686	$15,000	9,005,644	1,119
36	Arkansas	$23,158	$14,000	3,004,279	240
37	Montana	$22,778	$16,000	1,050,493	192
38	Virginia	$21,886	$13,000	8,470,020	2,377
39	Maryland	$24,403	$14,000	6,052,177	762
40	Oklahoma	$21,283	$13,000	3,930,864	651
41	Mississippi	$22,263	$13,000	2,984,100	345
42	Wyoming	$21,630	$14,000	579,315	112
43	Tennessee	$20,521	$12,000	6,715,984	1,526
44	Indiana	$22,291	$14,000	6,666,818	846
45	Georgia	$20,440	$12,000	10,429,379	2,825
46	Alaska	$21,602	$19,000	739,795	111
47	Kentucky	$21,322	$13,000	4,454,189	531
48	Louisiana	$20,915	$12,000	4,684,333	671
49	Nevada	$21,833	$12,000	2,998,039	232
50	Hawaii	$22,088	$19,000	1,427,538	93
51	Illinois	$21,190	$14,000	12,802,023	1,262

Highest paying states for fast food workers

Rank	State	Avg. Fast Food Worker Salary
1	New Hampshire	$34,272
2	Utah	$27,115
3	Connecticut	$29,552
4	Michigan	$30,620
5	New York	$32,627
6	Massachusetts	$31,743
7	Delaware	$27,531
8	Washington	$27,119
9	Rhode Island	$29,473
10	Wisconsin	$26,983
11	Iowa	$26,667
12	Vermont	$31,389
13	Missouri	$24,759
14	Ohio	$24,927
15	Oregon	$25,520
16	Colorado	$25,501
17	Arizona	$26,239
18	Texas	$23,825
19	Minnesota	$27,163
20	Idaho	$24,913
21	Nebraska	$23,668
22	New Mexico	$23,743
23	South Dakota	$22,523
24	Maine	$27,246
25	South Carolina	$23,047
26	Pennsylvania	$23,371
27	Florida	$22,548
28	Alabama	$22,822
29	North Dakota	$25,339
30	Kansas	$24,078
31	North Carolina	$22,375
32	District of Columbia	$28,186
33	California	$24,787
34	West Virginia	$21,703
35	New Jersey	$24,686
36	Arkansas	$23,158
37	Montana	$22,778
38	Virginia	$21,886
39	Maryland	$24,403
40	Oklahoma	$21,283
41	Mississippi	$22,263
42	Wyoming	$21,630
43	Tennessee	$20,521
44	Indiana	$22,291
45	Georgia	$20,440
46	Alaska	$21,602
47	Kentucky	$21,322
48	Louisiana	$20,915
49	Nevada	$21,833
50	Hawaii	$22,088
51	Illinois	$21,190

Fast food worker best states FAQs

What is the best state for fast food workers?

What is the highest paying state for fast food workers?

What is the worst state for fast food workers?

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

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Best states for Fast Food Workers

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total fast food worker jobs:	380
Average annual salary:	$34,272
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$45,000
Location Quotient:	1.09

Best states for a fast food worker

10 best states for fast food workers in 2026

1. New Hampshire

2. Utah

3. Connecticut

4. Michigan

5. New York

6. Massachusetts

7. Delaware

8. Washington

9. Rhode Island

10. Wisconsin