Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a lead server
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for lead servers? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for lead server jobs.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for lead servers. We found that Alaska is the best state in the nation for lead servers, and people in Waipahu earn the most in the field.
In order to get you the best states for lead servers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the South is best for lead servers, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for lead server jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for lead servers in 2025
1. Alaska
Total lead server jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $57,898 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
2. Hawaii
Total lead server jobs: 158 Average annual salary: $61,013 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
3. Rhode Island
Total lead server jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $43,151 Lowest 10 percent earn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $113,000 Location Quotient: 1.49
4. Pennsylvania
Total lead server jobs: 2,643 Average annual salary: $37,116 Lowest 10 percent earn: $14,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
5. New Hampshire
Total lead server jobs: 412 Average annual salary: $37,715 Lowest 10 percent earn: $13,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
6. New York
Total lead server jobs: 966 Average annual salary: $50,966 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 0.59
7. Connecticut
Total lead server jobs: 310 Average annual salary: $48,583 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
8. Massachusetts
Total lead server jobs: 607 Average annual salary: $50,420 Lowest 10 percent earn: $19,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0.52
9. New Jersey
Total lead server jobs: 767 Average annual salary: $46,566 Lowest 10 percent earn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.76
10. District of Columbia
Total lead server jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $49,721 Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0.34
Lead server jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead server
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a lead server
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $57,898 | $25,000 | 739,795 | 140 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $61,013 | $54,000 | 1,427,538 | 158 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $43,151 | $16,000 | 1,059,639 | 232 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $37,116 | $14,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,643 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $37,715 | $13,000 | 1,342,795 | 412 |
| 6 | New York | $50,966 | $20,000 | 19,849,399 | 966 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $48,583 | $19,000 | 3,588,184 | 310 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $50,420 | $19,000 | 6,859,819 | 607 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $46,566 | $18,000 | 9,005,644 | 767 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $49,721 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 74 |
| 11 | Maryland | $42,236 | $17,000 | 6,052,177 | 670 |
| 12 | Ohio | $27,871 | $12,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,419 |
| 13 | Vermont | $43,670 | $16,000 | 623,657 | 39 |
| 14 | Washington | $43,072 | $17,000 | 7,405,743 | 442 |
| 15 | Idaho | $27,559 | $12,000 | 1,716,943 | 383 |
| 16 | California | $43,637 | $18,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,621 |
| 17 | Delaware | $39,546 | $15,000 | 961,939 | 123 |
| 18 | Maine | $38,812 | $14,000 | 1,335,907 | 94 |
| 19 | Arizona | $30,196 | $14,000 | 7,016,270 | 783 |
| 20 | Virginia | $34,831 | $15,000 | 8,470,020 | 950 |
| 21 | Oregon | $39,327 | $16,000 | 4,142,776 | 273 |
| 22 | Michigan | $29,152 | $12,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,044 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $27,965 | $12,000 | 1,815,857 | 216 |
| 24 | Kansas | $25,833 | $13,000 | 2,913,123 | 667 |
| 25 | Nevada | $26,345 | $11,000 | 2,998,039 | 560 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $25,716 | $12,000 | 4,454,189 | 645 |
| 27 | Illinois | $28,650 | $14,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,264 |
| 28 | Colorado | $27,241 | $14,000 | 5,607,154 | 884 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $29,360 | $14,000 | 5,576,606 | 457 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $26,860 | $13,000 | 10,273,419 | 986 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $26,039 | $13,000 | 5,024,369 | 540 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $24,385 | $12,000 | 579,315 | 89 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $24,715 | $12,000 | 2,088,070 | 333 |
| 34 | Missouri | $25,937 | $13,000 | 6,113,532 | 682 |
| 35 | Georgia | $25,930 | $13,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,240 |
| 36 | Utah | $23,372 | $11,000 | 3,101,833 | 764 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $23,019 | $12,000 | 3,004,279 | 506 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $23,471 | $12,000 | 869,666 | 133 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $25,670 | $12,000 | 755,393 | 37 |
| 40 | Texas | $24,471 | $12,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,511 |
| 41 | Montana | $22,446 | $10,000 | 1,050,493 | 246 |
| 42 | Florida | $23,174 | $11,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,939 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $25,085 | $11,000 | 5,795,483 | 505 |
| 44 | Indiana | $22,699 | $11,000 | 6,666,818 | 964 |
| 45 | Iowa | $23,652 | $12,000 | 3,145,711 | 339 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $22,712 | $11,000 | 1,920,076 | 328 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $19,958 | $10,000 | 3,930,864 | 627 |
| 48 | Alabama | $21,983 | $11,000 | 4,874,747 | 486 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $21,644 | $11,000 | 4,684,333 | 418 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $20,174 | $10,000 | 6,715,984 | 803 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $21,155 | $11,000 | 2,984,100 | 215 |
Highest paying states for lead servers
| Rank | State | Avg. Lead Server Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $57,898 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $61,013 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $43,151 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $37,116 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $37,715 |
| 6 | New York | $50,966 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $48,583 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $50,420 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $46,566 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $49,721 |
| 11 | Maryland | $42,236 |
| 12 | Ohio | $27,871 |
| 13 | Vermont | $43,670 |
| 14 | Washington | $43,072 |
| 15 | Idaho | $27,559 |
| 16 | California | $43,637 |
| 17 | Delaware | $39,546 |
| 18 | Maine | $38,812 |
| 19 | Arizona | $30,196 |
| 20 | Virginia | $34,831 |
| 21 | Oregon | $39,327 |
| 22 | Michigan | $29,152 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $27,965 |
| 24 | Kansas | $25,833 |
| 25 | Nevada | $26,345 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $25,716 |
| 27 | Illinois | $28,650 |
| 28 | Colorado | $27,241 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $29,360 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $26,860 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $26,039 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $24,385 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $24,715 |
| 34 | Missouri | $25,937 |
| 35 | Georgia | $25,930 |
| 36 | Utah | $23,372 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $23,019 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $23,471 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $25,670 |
| 40 | Texas | $24,471 |
| 41 | Montana | $22,446 |
| 42 | Florida | $23,174 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $25,085 |
| 44 | Indiana | $22,699 |
| 45 | Iowa | $23,652 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $22,712 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $19,958 |
| 48 | Alabama | $21,983 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $21,644 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $20,174 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $21,155 |
Lead server best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.
Search for lead server jobs
Updated January 8, 2025