Food Worker Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Job Numbers and Growth

Nationally, there are 902,000 working as food workers. This occupation has a very high ranking for joblessness. The jobless rate for employees was about 8% in 2008.

Area Job Conditions

Food workers per capita is greatest in Missoula (Montana), Alexandria (Louisiana), and New Orleans (Louisiana). Killeen (Texas), Dalton (Georgia), and Amarillo (Texas) have the fewest per capita.

The highest salaries for workers are found in Anchorage (Alaska), State College (Pennsylvania), and Las Vegas (Nevada), and the lowest-paying areas are in Lafayette (Louisiana), El Paso (Texas), and Wichita Falls (Texas).

Training and Education

Short-term on-the-job training is generally expected for employees. Recent data shows that 7% of food workers have a degree. Workers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a four college degree, represent about 19% of the total. A high school diploma or GED, without further education, is held by 74% of employees. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Food workers working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 45% of the total. Approximately 1% of people who work as workers are self-employed.

Food Workers: An Introductory Video

Food Workers Around the Country

In the list below, each metro area is rated for the relative popularity of food workers compared to other locations (that is, jobs per population). Single or double up or down arrows indicate the relative popularity in that location. Within each state listing, metro areas are sorted by the actual number of jobs for food workers.

Alabama

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Birmingham	$18,000	2,590
Montgomery	$17,000	1,400
Mobile	$16,000	1,290
Huntsville	$16,000	1,070
Tuscaloosa	$16,000	540
Decatur	$16,000	440
Florence	$16,000	380
Dothan	$17,000	370
Anniston	$16,000	360
Auburn	$16,000	250
Gadsden	$15,000	210

Alaska

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Anchorage	$28,000	1,210
Fairbanks	$24,000	160

Arizona

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Phoenix	$22,000	10,360
Tucson	$22,000	2,450
Prescott	$20,000	720
Flagstaff	$18,000	470
Kingman	$22,000	430
Yuma	$19,000	260

Arkansas

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Little Rock	$18,000	2,300
Fayetteville	$17,000	1,170
Fort Smith	$17,000	670
Hot Springs	$19,000	460
Jonesboro	$18,000	310
Pine Bluff	$16,000	210

California

Location	Median Pay	Workers
San Diego	$21,000	10,510
Santa Ana	$21,000	9,670
Riverside	$21,000	7,140
San Francisco	$24,000	7,130
Oakland	$22,000	7,030
San Jose	$21,000	6,270
Sacramento	$22,000	5,430
Fresno	$19,000	2,090
Bakersfield	$19,000	1,930
Oxnard	$21,000	1,870
Santa Barbara	$21,000	1,750
Salinas	$21,000	1,560
Stockton	$22,000	1,550
Santa Rosa	$23,000	1,530
Modesto	$22,000	1,050
San Luis Obispo	$21,000	1,050
Visalia	$20,000	980
Vallejo	$20,000	820
Santa Cruz	$22,000	640
Napa	$23,000	560
Chico	$20,000	530
Merced	$19,000	440
Madera	$21,000	300
El Centro	$20,000	290
Redding	$21,000	290
Hanford	$21,000	190
Yuba City	$19,000	120

Colorado

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Denver	$21,000	5,600
Colorado Springs	$21,000	1,340
Fort Collins	$20,000	980
Boulder	$21,000	920
Greeley	$19,000	590
Pueblo	$20,000	470
Grand Junction	$20,000	460

Connecticut

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Hartford	$23,000	4,630
Bridgeport	$23,000	3,560
New Haven	$24,000	2,690
Norwich	$23,000	1,540
Waterbury	$22,000	720
Danbury	$23,000	480

Delaware

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Wilmington	$21,000	1,200
Dover	$20,000	360

District of Columbia

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Washington	$22,000	10,710

Florida

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Tampa	$20,000	6,920
Orlando	$20,000	6,720
Miami	$20,000	5,620
Jacksonville	$18,000	4,430
Fort Lauderdale	$20,000	3,900
West Palm Beach	$21,000	3,830
Sarasota	$20,000	2,550
Cape Coral	$20,000	2,100
Palm Bay	$21,000	1,720
Naples	$21,000	1,500
Deltona	$18,000	1,420
Lakeland	$20,000	840
Tallahassee	$19,000	820
Pensacola	$19,000	800
Port St Lucie	$19,000	750
Ocala	$19,000	640
Gainesville	$18,000	630
Panama City	$18,000	490
Sebastian	$20,000	470
Punta Gorda	$21,000	420
Fort Walton Beach	$19,000	400
Palm Coast	$18,000	150

Georgia

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Atlanta	$20,000	11,800
Savannah	$21,000	950
Augusta	$18,000	890
Columbus	$18,000	630
Warner Robins	$18,000	620
Athens	$19,000	520
Macon	$18,000	490
Rome	$16,000	350
Albany	$16,000	250
Valdosta	$18,000	180
Brunswick	$20,000	150
Dalton	$18,000	130
Hinesville	$19,000	30

Hawaii

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Honolulu	$20,000	4,820

Idaho

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Boise	$20,000	1,210
Coeur Dalene	$19,000	590
Idaho Falls	$19,000	360
Lewiston	$20,000	160
Pocatello	$20,000	70

Illinois

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Chicago	$20,000	32,880
Peoria	$18,000	1,510
Rockford	$18,000	990
Springfield	$19,000	810
Champaign	$21,000	800
Bloomington	$18,000	620
Decatur	$20,000	380
Kankakee	$19,000	380
Danville	$19,000	140

Indiana

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Indianapolis	$20,000	5,620
Gary	$19,000	2,190
South Bend	$18,000	1,310
Fort Wayne	$18,000	1,070
Evansville	$18,000	640
Elkhart	$19,000	640
Terre Haute	$19,000	640
Muncie	$17,000	600
Bloomington	$18,000	570
Anderson	$18,000	400
Michigan City	$19,000	370
Kokomo	$18,000	340
Lafayette	$19,000	310
Columbus	$17,000	240

Iowa

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Des Moines	$20,000	1,560
Davenport	$19,000	1,180
Cedar Rapids	$19,000	800
Ames	$18,000	530
Sioux City	$18,000	500
Iowa City	$22,000	440
Dubuque	$19,000	400
Waterloo	$18,000	330

Kansas

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Wichita	$18,000	1,570
Topeka	$18,000	960
Lawrence	$17,000	540

Kentucky

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Louisville	$20,000	3,370
Lexington	$20,000	970
Owensboro	$16,000	310
Bowling Green	$20,000	230
Elizabethtown	$17,000	140

Louisiana

Location	Median Pay	Workers
New Orleans	$17,000	10,110
Baton Rouge	$16,000	5,460
Lafayette	$15,000	2,590
Shreveport	$16,000	2,050
Lake Charles	$16,000	1,430
Houma	$17,000	1,350
Alexandria	$16,000	1,070
Monroe	$16,000	920

Maine

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Portland	$21,000	1,840
Bangor	$22,000	510
Lewiston	$21,000	490

Maryland

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Baltimore	$20,000	6,730
Bethesda	$21,000	3,540
Hagerstown	$19,000	1,040
Cumberland	$18,000	430
Salisbury	$19,000	320

Massachusetts

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Boston	$23,000	12,520
Springfield	$22,000	2,100
Worcester	$22,000	1,610
Barnstable Town	$23,000	1,190
Framingham	$21,000	810
Lowell	$21,000	800
Lawrence	$19,000	720
Haverhill	$21,000	690
Brockton	$22,000	520
New Bedford	$21,000	440
Taunton	$22,000	290
Pittsfield	$21,000	270
Leominster	$21,000	230

Michigan

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Warren	$21,000	9,050
Grand Rapids	$20,000	3,140
Lansing	$21,000	1,410
Kalamazoo	$19,000	1,140
Flint	$20,000	1,070
Ann Arbor	$22,000	1,010
Muskegon	$18,000	1,000
Saginaw	$19,000	690
Jackson	$20,000	590
Battle Creek	$18,000	540
Niles	$19,000	480
Holland	$19,000	480
Bay City	$19,000	290
Monroe	$19,000	220

Minnesota

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Minneapolis	$22,000	5,390
St Cloud	$20,000	650
Duluth	$22,000	600
Rochester	$23,000	380

Mississippi

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Jackson	$16,000	3,490
Gulfport	$17,000	1,580
Hattiesburg	$17,000	800
Pascagoula	$16,000	760

Missouri

Location	Median Pay	Workers
St Louis	$19,000	5,760
Kansas City	$20,000	5,490
Springfield	$18,000	730
Columbia	$19,000	440
Joplin	$18,000	270
Jefferson City	$17,000	180
St Joseph	$18,000	130

Montana

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Missoula	$15,000	1,300
Billings	$20,000	460
Great Falls	$18,000	240

Nebraska

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Omaha	$19,000	2,610
Lincoln	$18,000	970

Nevada

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Las Vegas	$25,000	6,270
Reno	$19,000	1,380
Carson City	$21,000	130

New Hampshire

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Nashua	$20,000	600
Manchester	$19,000	580
Rochester	$20,000	300
Portsmouth	$23,000	240

New Jersey

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Edison	$22,000	5,290
Newark	$22,000	5,010
Camden	$22,000	2,650
Atlantic City	$22,000	1,240
Trenton	$21,000	970
Ocean City	$21,000	330
Vineland	$20,000	220

New Mexico

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Albuquerque	$19,000	1,630
Santa Fe	$22,000	400
Las Cruces	$19,000	310
Farmington	$16,000	180

New York

Location	Median Pay	Workers
New York	$23,000	48,630
Nassau	$23,000	12,580
Buffalo	$19,000	6,050
Rochester	$19,000	5,400
Albany	$20,000	4,160
Syracuse	$20,000	2,760
Poughkeepsie	$21,000	2,710
Utica	$19,000	1,730
Binghamton	$19,000	1,110
Kingston	$20,000	860
Glens Falls	$20,000	740
Ithaca	$21,000	640
Elmira	$19,000	530

North Carolina

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Charlotte	$18,000	6,650
Raleigh	$19,000	3,670
Greensboro	$17,000	2,760
Durham	$18,000	2,200
Wilmington	$18,000	1,620
Asheville	$18,000	1,330
Winston Salem	$18,000	1,300
Hickory	$19,000	1,280
Fayetteville	$18,000	890
Greenville	$17,000	650
Jacksonville	$17,000	450
Rocky Mount	$16,000	440
Goldsboro	$18,000	410
Burlington	$18,000	400

North Dakota

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Fargo	$19,000	610
Bismarck	$20,000	400
Grand Forks	$21,000	240

Ohio

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Cincinnati	$20,000	5,750
Columbus	$20,000	5,670
Cleveland	$20,000	5,210
Dayton	$19,000	2,650
Akron	$20,000	2,180
Toledo	$19,000	1,750
Youngstown	$19,000	1,600
Canton	$18,000	1,110
Springfield	$19,000	460
Mansfield	$19,000	340
Lima	$19,000	170
Sandusky	$19,000	160

Oklahoma

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Oklahoma City	$17,000	3,270
Tulsa	$16,000	1,910
Lawton	$15,000	150

Oregon

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Portland	$22,000	6,280
Eugene	$20,000	1,340
Salem	$22,000	1,130
Medford	$21,000	540
Bend	$22,000	470
Corvallis	$20,000	430

Pennsylvania

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Philadelphia	$21,000	11,310
Pittsburgh	$20,000	5,930
Harrisburg	$20,000	2,010
Lancaster	$20,000	1,820
Allentown	$21,000	1,680
Scranton	$20,000	1,530
York	$19,000	1,240
Reading	$19,000	840
Erie	$20,000	800
State College	$25,000	590
Altoona	$18,000	430
Johnstown	$18,000	380
Lebanon	$18,000	360
Williamsport	$19,000	200

Rhode Island

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Providence	$21,000	4,630

South Carolina

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Columbia	$16,000	3,500
Charleston	$17,000	2,430
Greenville	$17,000	1,590
Myrtle Beach	$18,000	1,470
Spartanburg	$19,000	890
Florence	$19,000	490
Anderson	$17,000	480
Sumter	$17,000	340

South Dakota

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Sioux Falls	$19,000	1,160
Rapid City	$17,000	500

Tennessee

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Nashville	$19,000	5,420
Memphis	$18,000	4,050
Knoxville	$20,000	1,870
Chattanooga	$17,000	1,720
Kingsport	$18,000	850
Johnson City	$19,000	500
Clarksville	$16,000	490
Cleveland	$16,000	290
Jackson	$20,000	190
Morristown	$18,000	190

Texas

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Houston	$18,000	6,480
Dallas	$17,000	5,740
San Antonio	$16,000	5,350
Fort Worth	$17,000	2,430
Austin	$18,000	1,960
El Paso	$15,000	890
Beaumont	$17,000	670
Mcallen	$16,000	600
Lubbock	$18,000	570
Laredo	$18,000	470
Corpus Christi	$19,000	470
College Station	$16,000	410
Wichita Falls	$15,000	390
Abilene	$16,000	340
Waco	$17,000	320
Tyler	$16,000	310
Brownsville	$16,000	310
Longview	$16,000	280
Killeen	$16,000	230
Midland	$15,000	220
Texarkana	$17,000	200
Victoria	$16,000	190
Amarillo	$18,000	170
Odessa	$18,000	170
Sherman	$17,000	130
San Angelo	$17,000	100

Utah

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Salt Lake City	$18,000	2,060
Provo	$16,000	1,870
Ogden	$17,000	720
St George	$18,000	320
Logan	$16,000	290

Vermont

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Burlington	$21,000	590

Virginia

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Virginia Beach	$20,000	2,850
Richmond	$19,000	2,300
Roanoke	$19,000	1,110
Charlottesville	$21,000	440
Blacksburg	$18,000	310
Lynchburg	$18,000	300
Winchester	$19,000	280
Harrisonburg	$21,000	260
Danville	$18,000	110

Washington

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Seattle	$24,000	6,710
Tacoma	$23,000	1,230
Spokane	$21,000	990
Yakima	$22,000	530
Bellingham	$22,000	510
Olympia	$22,000	400
Mount Vernon	$22,000	350
Kennewick	$22,000	340
Bremerton	$24,000	340
Longview	$21,000	210
Wenatchee	$21,000	210

West Virginia

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Huntington	$17,000	800
Charleston	$18,000	630
Wheeling	$18,000	450
Morgantown	$19,000	430
Parkersburg	$17,000	340
Weirton	$18,000	260

Wisconsin

Location	Median Pay	Workers
Milwaukee	$20,000	3,450
Madison	$20,000	1,630
Eau Claire	$21,000	670
Green Bay	$20,000	600
Appleton	$18,000	580
Oshkosh	$20,000	310
Racine	$19,000	290
La Crosse	$19,000	270
Fond	$19,000	260
Wausau	$18,000	210
Sheboygan	$18,000	200
Janesville	$20,000	190

Wyoming

Location	Median Pay	Workers	Popularity
Cheyenne	$19,000	350
Casper	$19,000	340

Our food worker career and school information is provided by CTI Career Search.