Best cities for a food handler
The best cities for food handlers are Detroit, MI, Tucson, AZ, and Chandler, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for food handlers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for food handlers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a food handler or considering a move, this list of the best cities for food handlers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for food handlers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a food handler. While the absolute best city for food handlers is Detroit, MI, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for food handlers in 2024.
If you're looking for a food handler job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for food handlers in 2026
1. Detroit, MI
Total food handler jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $36,067 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 7.05 2. Tucson, AZ
Total food handler jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $35,112 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 4.39 3. Chandler, AZ
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $35,480 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Milwaukee, WI
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $34,935 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Mesa, AZ
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $35,476 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Madison, WI
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $34,926 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Phoenix, AZ
Total food handler jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $35,564 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 2.39 8. Gilbert, AZ
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $35,465 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Cleveland, OH
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,446 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Toledo, OH
Total food handler jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,429 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for food handlers
- Detroit, MI
- Tucson, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- Milwaukee, WI
- Mesa, AZ
- Madison, WI
- Phoenix, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Cleveland, OH
- Toledo, OH
- (3 food handler jobs)
- (1 food handler jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a food handler
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $36,067 | $29,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 2 | Tucson, AZ | $35,112 | $28,000 | 530,706 | 1 |
| 3 | Chandler, AZ | $35,480 | $28,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $34,935 | $29,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 5 | Mesa, AZ | $35,476 | $28,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $34,926 | $29,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,564 | $29,000 | 1,615,017 | 3 |
| 8 | Gilbert, AZ | $35,465 | $28,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $32,446 | $26,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | Toledo, OH | $32,429 | $26,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $35,575 | $29,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $39,754 | $33,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $35,543 | $29,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $37,557 | $31,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 15 | Aurora, CO | $34,663 | $28,000 | 361,710 | 4 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, OH | $30,793 | $24,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,645 | $30,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 18 | Buffalo, NY | $39,172 | $32,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 19 | Denver, CO | $34,687 | $28,000 | 693,060 | 8 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $32,946 | $27,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,635 | $30,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 22 | Columbus, OH | $31,194 | $25,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 23 | Brookhaven, NY | $38,706 | $32,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 24 | Omaha, NE | $32,368 | $26,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,430 | $24,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 26 | Oyster Bay, NY | $38,616 | $32,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 27 | Islip, NY | $38,600 | $32,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 28 | Hempstead, NY | $38,494 | $31,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $32,260 | $26,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 30 | Irving, TX | $30,558 | $24,000 | 238,289 | 5 |
| 31 | New York, NY | $38,467 | $31,000 | 8,537,673 | 5 |
| 32 | Wichita, KS | $31,751 | $26,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 33 | Fort Wayne, IN | $29,521 | $24,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 34 | Colorado Springs, CO | $34,450 | $28,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 35 | Saint Louis, MO | $32,339 | $26,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 36 | Boston, MA | $36,108 | $31,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 37 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,787 | $26,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 38 | Fort Worth, TX | $30,596 | $24,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 39 | Newark, NJ | $33,471 | $27,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $31,944 | $25,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Dallas, TX | $30,513 | $24,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 42 | Plano, TX | $30,561 | $24,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 43 | Reno, NV | $31,383 | $25,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $30,547 | $24,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $31,452 | $25,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | North Las Vegas, NV | $30,411 | $24,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 47 | Garland, TX | $30,520 | $24,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 48 | Henderson, NV | $30,362 | $24,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 49 | Austin, TX | $30,216 | $24,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 50 | San Antonio, TX | $30,196 | $24,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
Highest paying cities for food handlers
| Rank | City | Avg. food handler salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse, NY | $39,413 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,257 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,564 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $34,687 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $34,541 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $33,471 |
| 7 | Irving, TX | $30,558 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,430 |
| 9 | Atlanta, GA | $28,928 |
| 10 | Cicero, IL | $28,061 |
| 11 | Owasso, OK | $27,505 |
| 12 | Alexandria, VA | $27,440 |
| 13 | Montgomery, AL | $27,257 |
| 14 | Clermont, FL | $25,754 |
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Updated January 8, 2025