Best cities for a food service worker
The best cities for food service workers are Oyster Bay, NY, Brookhaven, NY, and Hempstead, NY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for food service workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for food service workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a food service worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for food service workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for food service workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a food service worker. While the absolute best city for food service workers is Oyster Bay, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for food service workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a food service worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for food service workers in 2025
1. Oyster Bay, NY
Food service worker jobs in Oyster BayTotal food service worker jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $33,522 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 5.00 2. Brookhaven, NY
Food service worker jobs in BrookhavenTotal food service worker jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $33,597 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.10 3. Hempstead, NY
Food service worker jobs in HempsteadTotal food service worker jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $33,456 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.62 4. Buffalo, NY
Food service worker jobs in BuffaloTotal food service worker jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $33,586 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.60 5. Urban Honolulu, HI
Food service worker jobs in Urban HonoluluTotal food service worker jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $43,553 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 0.80 6. North Las Vegas, NV
Food service worker jobs in North Las VegasTotal food service worker jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $28,564 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 1.64 7. Reno, NV
Food service worker jobs in RenoTotal food service worker jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $29,151 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 0.69 8. Anchorage, AK
Food service worker jobs in AnchorageTotal food service worker jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $30,157 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location quotient: 0.78 9. Las Vegas, NV
Food service worker jobs in Las VegasTotal food service worker jobs: 104 Average annual salary: $28,642 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 0.79 10. Anaheim, CA
Food service worker jobs in AnaheimTotal food service worker jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $34,221 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 1.06
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Best cities for food service workers
- Oyster Bay, NY
- Brookhaven, NY
- Hempstead, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Reno, NV
- Anchorage, AK
- Las Vegas, NV
- Anaheim, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a food service worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oyster Bay, NY | $33,522 | $26,000 | 293,214 | 1 |
| 2 | Brookhaven, NY | $33,597 | $26,000 | 486,040 | 1 |
| 3 | Hempstead, NY | $33,456 | $26,000 | 759,757 | 3 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $33,586 | $26,000 | 256,902 | 34 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $43,553 | $32,000 | 351,792 | 56 |
| 6 | North Las Vegas, NV | $28,564 | $22,000 | 238,702 | 10 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $29,151 | $22,000 | 245,255 | 29 |
| 8 | Anchorage, AK | $30,157 | $26,000 | 298,192 | 22 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $28,642 | $22,000 | 632,912 | 104 |
| 10 | Anaheim, CA | $34,221 | $26,000 | 351,043 | 30 |
| 11 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,202 | $25,000 | 413,651 | 104 |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $33,684 | $27,000 | 673,184 | 204 |
| 13 | Glendale, AZ | $29,032 | $22,000 | 245,895 | 9 |
| 14 | Chula Vista, CA | $34,164 | $26,000 | 267,172 | 5 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $31,746 | $25,000 | 639,863 | 95 |
| 16 | Riverside, CA | $33,937 | $26,000 | 324,722 | 21 |
| 17 | Mesa, AZ | $28,881 | $21,000 | 484,587 | 15 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $27,817 | $21,000 | 1,567,872 | 110 |
| 19 | Saint Paul, MN | $32,213 | $25,000 | 302,398 | 41 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $25,222 | $19,000 | 278,508 | 42 |
| 21 | Madison, WI | $27,650 | $21,000 | 252,551 | 43 |
| 22 | Fresno, CA | $33,920 | $26,000 | 522,053 | 17 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $33,484 | $26,000 | 704,352 | 108 |
| 24 | Phoenix, AZ | $28,989 | $22,000 | 1,615,017 | 148 |
| 25 | Tucson, AZ | $28,713 | $21,000 | 530,706 | 30 |
| 26 | Lexington, KY | $24,394 | $18,000 | 318,449 | 30 |
| 27 | Greensboro, NC | $24,866 | $18,000 | 287,027 | 43 |
| 28 | Milwaukee, WI | $27,849 | $21,000 | 595,047 | 41 |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, IN | $26,312 | $20,000 | 264,488 | 19 |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $34,180 | $26,000 | 376,380 | 10 |
| 31 | Pittsburgh, PA | $27,325 | $21,000 | 303,625 | 65 |
| 32 | San Diego, CA | $34,145 | $26,000 | 1,406,630 | 123 |
| 33 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,530 | $23,000 | 465,101 | 71 |
| 34 | Omaha, NE | $26,926 | $20,000 | 446,970 | 65 |
| 35 | Los Angeles, CA | $34,377 | $26,000 | 3,976,322 | 145 |
| 36 | Wichita, KS | $23,611 | $18,000 | 389,902 | 33 |
| 37 | Kansas City, MO | $23,314 | $18,000 | 481,420 | 88 |
| 38 | Detroit, MI | $28,974 | $22,000 | 672,795 | 23 |
| 39 | Newark, NJ | $26,370 | $20,000 | 281,764 | 63 |
| 40 | New York, NY | $33,433 | $26,000 | 8,537,673 | 247 |
| 41 | Gilbert, AZ | $28,907 | $21,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 42 | Tulsa, OK | $21,737 | $16,000 | 403,090 | 43 |
| 43 | Oakland, CA | $34,417 | $26,000 | 420,005 | 12 |
| 44 | Long Beach, CA | $34,360 | $26,000 | 470,130 | 8 |
| 45 | Stockton, CA | $33,984 | $26,000 | 307,072 | 6 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $22,983 | $17,000 | 683,080 | 24 |
| 47 | Islip, NY | $33,526 | $26,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 48 | Laredo, TX | $22,148 | $15,000 | 257,156 | 10 |
| 49 | Cleveland, OH | $25,415 | $19,000 | 385,809 | 38 |
| 50 | Irvine, CA | $34,195 | $26,000 | 266,122 | 32 |
Highest paying cities for food service workers
| Rank | City | Avg. food service worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $43,553 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $34,541 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $34,497 |
| 4 | Albany, NY | $33,965 |
| 5 | Lexington, MA | $33,686 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $33,484 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,202 |
| 8 | Albany, OR | $32,034 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $31,092 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $30,699 |
| 11 | Rochester, NH | $29,405 |
| 12 | Newark, DE | $29,329 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $28,989 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $28,642 |
| 15 | Scranton, PA | $28,181 |
| 16 | Baltimore, MD | $28,132 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $27,849 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $27,665 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $26,926 |
| 20 | Newark, NJ | $26,370 |
Food service worker best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025