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Best states for a restaurant manager
Quoted expert
Michelle Robinson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like restaurant managers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for restaurant managers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In order to help you decide which state is the best for restaurant managers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for restaurant manager jobs.
In order to get you the best states for restaurant managers, 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 Oklahoma is the best state for restaurant manager jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for restaurant managers in 2026
1. Oklahoma
Total restaurant manager jobs: 1,043 Average annual salary: $54,160 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
2. Massachusetts
Total restaurant manager jobs: 2,384 Average annual salary: $59,749 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
3. Connecticut
Total restaurant manager jobs: 856 Average annual salary: $59,637 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
4. Kansas
Total restaurant manager jobs: 1,105 Average annual salary: $52,345 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
5. Alaska
Total restaurant manager jobs: 211 Average annual salary: $60,870 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
6. New Hampshire
Total restaurant manager jobs: 307 Average annual salary: $62,293 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0.6
7. Arizona
Total restaurant manager jobs: 1,745 Average annual salary: $53,900 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
8. Rhode Island
Total restaurant manager jobs: 247 Average annual salary: $57,567 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
9. Washington
Total restaurant manager jobs: 1,909 Average annual salary: $56,561 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
10. Maine
Total restaurant manager jobs: 320 Average annual salary: $55,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
Restaurant manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a restaurant manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a restaurant manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | $54,160 | $40,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,043 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $59,749 | $43,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,384 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $59,637 | $43,000 | 3,588,184 | 856 |
| 4 | Kansas | $52,345 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,105 |
| 5 | Alaska | $60,870 | $50,000 | 739,795 | 211 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $62,293 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 307 |
| 7 | Arizona | $53,900 | $40,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,745 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $57,567 | $41,000 | 1,059,639 | 247 |
| 9 | Washington | $56,561 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,909 |
| 10 | Maine | $55,943 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 320 |
| 11 | California | $60,726 | $44,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,495 |
| 12 | New York | $58,446 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,182 |
| 13 | Texas | $51,094 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,230 |
| 14 | Vermont | $58,043 | $42,000 | 623,657 | 96 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $49,213 | $37,000 | 579,315 | 266 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $53,579 | $39,000 | 2,984,100 | 457 |
| 17 | Nevada | $54,353 | $40,000 | 2,998,039 | 369 |
| 18 | Utah | $51,302 | $38,000 | 3,101,833 | 932 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $57,412 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,574 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $48,247 | $35,000 | 1,815,857 | 527 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $50,564 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,331 |
| 22 | Delaware | $53,026 | $38,000 | 961,939 | 292 |
| 23 | Missouri | $49,013 | $37,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,158 |
| 24 | Florida | $50,588 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,147 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $52,271 | $38,000 | 2,088,070 | 384 |
| 26 | Georgia | $50,376 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,957 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $48,119 | $35,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,309 |
| 28 | Illinois | $49,427 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,135 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $45,998 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 2,414 |
| 30 | Virginia | $50,314 | $37,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,082 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $56,991 | $45,000 | 1,427,538 | 185 |
| 32 | Colorado | $50,143 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,796 |
| 33 | Michigan | $47,126 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,455 |
| 34 | Maryland | $50,286 | $36,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,133 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $45,839 | $34,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,382 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $46,718 | $35,000 | 3,004,279 | 666 |
| 37 | Indiana | $46,368 | $34,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,134 |
| 38 | Oregon | $50,765 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 911 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $53,857 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 246 |
| 40 | Alabama | $46,103 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,388 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $47,618 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,364 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $46,472 | $34,000 | 4,684,333 | 940 |
| 43 | Idaho | $47,331 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 422 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $47,045 | $35,000 | 755,393 | 200 |
| 45 | Ohio | $45,068 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 3,070 |
| 46 | Iowa | $45,914 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 948 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $45,365 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,489 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $45,969 | $34,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,866 |
| 49 | Montana | $45,279 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 324 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $45,183 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 445 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $43,702 | $33,000 | 869,666 | 162 |
Highest paying states for restaurant managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Restaurant Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | $54,160 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $59,749 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $59,637 |
| 4 | Kansas | $52,345 |
| 5 | Alaska | $60,870 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $62,293 |
| 7 | Arizona | $53,900 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $57,567 |
| 9 | Washington | $56,561 |
| 10 | Maine | $55,943 |
| 11 | California | $60,726 |
| 12 | New York | $58,446 |
| 13 | Texas | $51,094 |
| 14 | Vermont | $58,043 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $49,213 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $53,579 |
| 17 | Nevada | $54,353 |
| 18 | Utah | $51,302 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $57,412 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $48,247 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $50,564 |
| 22 | Delaware | $53,026 |
| 23 | Missouri | $49,013 |
| 24 | Florida | $50,588 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $52,271 |
| 26 | Georgia | $50,376 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $48,119 |
| 28 | Illinois | $49,427 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $45,998 |
| 30 | Virginia | $50,314 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $56,991 |
| 32 | Colorado | $50,143 |
| 33 | Michigan | $47,126 |
| 34 | Maryland | $50,286 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $45,839 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $46,718 |
| 37 | Indiana | $46,368 |
| 38 | Oregon | $50,765 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $53,857 |
| 40 | Alabama | $46,103 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $47,618 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $46,472 |
| 43 | Idaho | $47,331 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $47,045 |
| 45 | Ohio | $45,068 |
| 46 | Iowa | $45,914 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $45,365 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $45,969 |
| 49 | Montana | $45,279 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $45,183 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $43,702 |
Expert opinions on the best states for restaurant managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for restaurant managers to find work opportunities?
Michelle Robinson
Director of Early Talent & Frontline, Sodexo North America
Graduates should consider looking at nontraditional roles outside of just restaurants and hotels. For example, Sodexo's Senior Living segment manages very upscale retirement communities that rival many five star resorts with their dining selections and amenities.
Restaurant manager best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025