Best cities for a food preparation worker
The best cities for food preparation workers are Buffalo, NY, Tampa, FL, and Tucson, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for food preparation workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for food preparation workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a food preparation worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for food preparation workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for food preparation workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a food preparation worker. While the absolute best city for food preparation workers is Buffalo, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for food preparation workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a food preparation worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for food preparation workers in 2025
1. Buffalo, NY
Total food preparation worker jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $34,075 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 252.28 2. Tampa, FL
Total food preparation worker jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $26,387 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 65.94 3. Tucson, AZ
Total food preparation worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $28,686 Lowest 10 percent warn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 21.94 4. Colorado Springs, CO
Total food preparation worker jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $32,239 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 6.89 5. Boston, MA
Total food preparation worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,801 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 3.47 6. New York, NY
Total food preparation worker jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $33,250 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 3.18 7. Jacksonville, FL
Total food preparation worker jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $26,410 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 10.31 8. Brookhaven, NY
Total food preparation worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Denver, CO
Total food preparation worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,267 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Islip, NY
Total food preparation worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $33,571 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for food preparation workers
- Buffalo, NY
- Tampa, FL
- Tucson, AZ
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Boston, MA
- New York, NY
- Jacksonville, FL
- Brookhaven, NY
- Denver, CO
- Islip, NY
- (52 food preparation worker jobs)
- (46 food preparation worker jobs)
- (5 food preparation worker jobs)
- (3 food preparation worker jobs)
- (5 food preparation worker jobs)
- (21 food preparation worker jobs)
- (6 food preparation worker jobs)
- (0 food preparation worker jobs)
- (0 food preparation worker jobs)
- (0 food preparation worker jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a food preparation worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo, NY | $34,075 | $26,000 | 256,902 | 52 |
| 2 | Tampa, FL | $26,387 | $17,000 | 377,165 | 46 |
| 3 | Tucson, AZ | $28,686 | $19,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $32,239 | $23,000 | 465,101 | 3 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $35,801 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 5 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $33,250 | $25,000 | 8,537,673 | 21 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $26,410 | $18,000 | 880,619 | 6 |
| 8 | Brookhaven, NY | $33,802 | $25,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $32,267 | $24,000 | 693,060 | - |
| 10 | Islip, NY | $33,571 | $25,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 11 | Aurora, CO | $32,266 | $24,000 | 361,710 | - |
| 12 | Glendale, AZ | $28,684 | $19,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $28,679 | $19,000 | 1,615,017 | 2 |
| 14 | Oyster Bay, NY | $33,563 | $25,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 15 | Chandler, AZ | $28,679 | $19,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 16 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $26,387 | $17,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 17 | Hempstead, NY | $33,332 | $25,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 18 | Gilbert, AZ | $28,675 | $19,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 19 | Mesa, AZ | $28,670 | $19,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 20 | Detroit, MI | $27,548 | $21,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 21 | Orlando, FL | $26,385 | $17,000 | 277,173 | - |
| 22 | Scottsdale, AZ | $28,664 | $19,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $26,373 | $17,000 | 453,579 | - |
| 24 | Hialeah, FL | $26,373 | $17,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 25 | Philadelphia, PA | $25,601 | $19,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $22,744 | $17,000 | 860,090 | 3 |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | $23,340 | $17,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 28 | Toledo, OH | $23,152 | $17,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 29 | Anaheim, CA | $29,538 | $20,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 30 | Jersey City, NJ | $29,007 | $22,000 | 264,152 | 2 |
| 31 | Raleigh, NC | $23,445 | $17,000 | 458,880 | 25 |
| 32 | Fort Wayne, IN | $23,385 | $17,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $24,841 | $18,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | $29,570 | $20,000 | 3,976,322 | 11 |
| 35 | Seattle, WA | $29,318 | $22,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | $25,869 | $19,000 | 2,704,958 | 9 |
| 37 | Indianapolis, IN | $23,184 | $17,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 38 | San Antonio, TX | $23,012 | $15,000 | 1,492,510 | 96 |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | $22,622 | $17,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 40 | Newark, NJ | $28,998 | $22,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 41 | Fort Worth, TX | $22,987 | $15,000 | 854,113 | 68 |
| 42 | Garland, TX | $22,985 | $15,000 | 234,943 | 23 |
| 43 | Arlington, TX | $22,986 | $15,000 | 392,772 | 11 |
| 44 | San Jose, CA | $29,633 | $20,000 | 1,025,350 | 3 |
| 45 | San Francisco, CA | $29,646 | $20,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 46 | Milwaukee, WI | $23,166 | $17,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 47 | Irving, TX | $22,986 | $15,000 | 238,289 | 25 |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $22,985 | $15,000 | 1,317,929 | 108 |
| 49 | Oakland, CA | $29,626 | $20,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 50 | Omaha, NE | $24,192 | $18,000 | 446,970 | - |
Highest paying cities for food preparation workers
| Rank | City | Avg. food preparation worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, NY | $34,721 |
| 2 | Rohnert Park, CA | $29,612 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $28,810 |
| 4 | Ann Arbor, MI | $27,303 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $26,387 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $25,869 |
| 7 | Bentonville, AR | $24,386 |
| 8 | Rockville, MD | $24,357 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $23,857 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $23,445 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $23,012 |
| 12 | Troy, OH | $22,716 |
| 13 | Greenville, SC | $22,289 |
| 14 | Duluth, GA | $22,068 |
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Updated January 8, 2025