Best states for a prep person

Q: What is the best state for prep people?

The best state to be a prep person is Connecticut based on prep person salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for prep people?

The highest paying state for prep people is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for prep people?

The worst state for prep people is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

It seems like prep people are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for prep people aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of prep people in America is $57,000.

The median salary for prep people in Connecticut is $45,107. Compare that to the median salary in Mississippi of $22,176, which ranked worst for prep people, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that Connecticut is the best state for prep person jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.

10 best states for prep people in 2025

1. Connecticut
Total prep person jobs: 245
Average annual salary: $45,107
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Prep person jobs in Connecticut
2. New Jersey
Total prep person jobs: 392
Average annual salary: $48,225
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Prep person jobs in New Jersey
3. Nevada
Total prep person jobs: 133
Average annual salary: $39,217
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Prep person jobs in Nevada
4. Massachusetts
Total prep person jobs: 356
Average annual salary: $45,909
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Location Quotient:
0.69
Prep person jobs in Massachusetts
5. New York
Total prep person jobs: 598
Average annual salary: $45,286
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
Prep person jobs in New York
6. Vermont
Total prep person jobs: 41
Average annual salary: $37,978
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Prep person jobs in Vermont
7. Pennsylvania
Total prep person jobs: 551
Average annual salary: $40,905
Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Location Quotient:
0.84
Prep person jobs in Pennsylvania
8. New Hampshire
Total prep person jobs: 86
Average annual salary: $39,634
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Prep person jobs in New Hampshire
9. Rhode Island
Total prep person jobs: 38
Average annual salary: $41,752
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000
Location Quotient:
0.55
Prep person jobs in Rhode Island
10. Michigan
Total prep person jobs: 468
Average annual salary: $33,279
Lowest 10 percent earn: $20,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.07
Prep person jobs in Michigan

Prep person jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a prep person

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

Detailed list of the best states for a prep person

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Connecticut	$45,107	$25,000	3,588,184	245
2	New Jersey	$48,225	$26,000	9,005,644	392
3	Nevada	$39,217	$24,000	2,998,039	133
4	Massachusetts	$45,909	$26,000	6,859,819	356
5	New York	$45,286	$24,000	19,849,399	598
6	Vermont	$37,978	$23,000	623,657	41
7	Pennsylvania	$40,905	$22,000	12,805,537	551
8	New Hampshire	$39,634	$23,000	1,342,795	86
9	Rhode Island	$41,752	$23,000	1,059,639	38
10	Michigan	$33,279	$20,000	9,962,311	468
11	Washington	$40,785	$26,000	7,405,743	208
12	Wisconsin	$33,784	$22,000	5,795,483	283
13	Illinois	$34,336	$22,000	12,802,023	645
14	Maine	$35,836	$22,000	1,335,907	60
15	Minnesota	$35,391	$24,000	5,576,606	257
16	Georgia	$30,331	$20,000	10,429,379	793
17	Maryland	$36,326	$20,000	6,052,177	319
18	North Dakota	$34,680	$24,000	755,393	28
19	District of Columbia	$41,174	$23,000	693,972	26
20	California	$36,229	$22,000	39,536,653	1,389
21	Delaware	$38,275	$21,000	961,939	38
22	Oregon	$35,367	$22,000	4,142,776	141
23	Idaho	$33,784	$22,000	1,716,943	62
24	Colorado	$32,308	$21,000	5,607,154	351
25	Hawaii	$34,415	$25,000	1,427,538	46
26	South Dakota	$30,528	$20,000	869,666	54
27	Arizona	$31,056	$19,000	7,016,270	311
28	Iowa	$30,453	$20,000	3,145,711	181
29	Alaska	$33,254	$22,000	739,795	31
30	Florida	$28,540	$18,000	20,984,400	1,565
31	Ohio	$27,695	$17,000	11,658,609	585
32	Tennessee	$26,779	$17,000	6,715,984	400
33	Utah	$29,317	$19,000	3,101,833	155
34	Indiana	$26,138	$17,000	6,666,818	512
35	Virginia	$31,086	$18,000	8,470,020	447
36	South Carolina	$27,144	$17,000	5,024,369	272
37	Kentucky	$25,797	$17,000	4,454,189	308
38	Louisiana	$25,912	$17,000	4,684,333	263
39	Missouri	$29,389	$19,000	6,113,532	267
40	West Virginia	$24,992	$15,000	1,815,857	118
41	Texas	$26,264	$17,000	28,304,596	1,308
42	Montana	$28,571	$19,000	1,050,493	49
43	Arkansas	$25,499	$17,000	3,004,279	153
44	Wyoming	$28,472	$19,000	579,315	18
45	Nebraska	$27,974	$18,000	1,920,076	87
46	Oklahoma	$25,760	$17,000	3,930,864	156
47	New Mexico	$27,069	$17,000	2,088,070	88
48	Kansas	$25,394	$17,000	2,913,123	159
49	North Carolina	$24,246	$15,000	10,273,419	637
50	Alabama	$23,859	$15,000	4,874,747	292
51	Mississippi	$22,176	$14,000	2,984,100	133

Highest paying states for prep people

Rank	State	Avg. Prep Person Salary
1	Connecticut	$45,107
2	New Jersey	$48,225
3	Nevada	$39,217
4	Massachusetts	$45,909
5	New York	$45,286
6	Vermont	$37,978
7	Pennsylvania	$40,905
8	New Hampshire	$39,634
9	Rhode Island	$41,752
10	Michigan	$33,279
11	Washington	$40,785
12	Wisconsin	$33,784
13	Illinois	$34,336
14	Maine	$35,836
15	Minnesota	$35,391
16	Georgia	$30,331
17	Maryland	$36,326
18	North Dakota	$34,680
19	District of Columbia	$41,174
20	California	$36,229
21	Delaware	$38,275
22	Oregon	$35,367
23	Idaho	$33,784
24	Colorado	$32,308
25	Hawaii	$34,415
26	South Dakota	$30,528
27	Arizona	$31,056
28	Iowa	$30,453
29	Alaska	$33,254
30	Florida	$28,540
31	Ohio	$27,695
32	Tennessee	$26,779
33	Utah	$29,317
34	Indiana	$26,138
35	Virginia	$31,086
36	South Carolina	$27,144
37	Kentucky	$25,797
38	Louisiana	$25,912
39	Missouri	$29,389
40	West Virginia	$24,992
41	Texas	$26,264
42	Montana	$28,571
43	Arkansas	$25,499
44	Wyoming	$28,472
45	Nebraska	$27,974
46	Oklahoma	$25,760
47	New Mexico	$27,069
48	Kansas	$25,394
49	North Carolina	$24,246
50	Alabama	$23,859
51	Mississippi	$22,176

Prep person best states FAQs

What is the best state for prep people?

What is the highest paying state for prep people?

What is the worst state for prep people?

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

Search for prep person jobs

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Prep Person
Best states for Prep People

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs

Total prep person jobs:	245
Average annual salary:	$45,107
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$25,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$81,000
Location Quotient:	1.31

Best states for a prep person

10 best states for prep people in 2025

1. Connecticut

2. New Jersey

3. Nevada

4. Massachusetts

5. New York

6. Vermont

7. Pennsylvania

8. New Hampshire

9. Rhode Island

10. Michigan