The food service industry is a place where many a young person gets his first job while figuring out what he wants to do with his life. Some move on to other things, while others decide they love food service and want to stick with it. That said, some cities are better than others for food service workers.
Food service workers face some challenges that are just part of the business. Those challenges include things like strange working hours, inconsistent scheduling, low wages supplemented by tips, and so on. Workers who are serious about food service need to be wise when choosing where to live, especially if they want to make the most of their careers.
Here are the 10 best cities for young food service workers, in our humble opinion:
1. New York, New York
New York City is easily the restaurant capital of the United States due to the sheer number of people who live and visit there. HCareers lists the Big Apple as the number one city for food service workers because there are so many jobs available. For example, the city has the most cooks among all metropolitan regions in the U.S., with more than 32,000. That doesn’t even consider prep workers, wait staff, management, and so on.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
The entire city of Las Vegas is built around the hospitality industry. What makes it attractive to food service workers is the fact that there’s always something going on, 24 hours a day. So, regardless of the schedule your job forces you to keep, you’re never left without something to do during your downtime. Consistently good weather doesn’t hurt either.
3. Orlando, Florida
The greater Orlando area is very similar to Las Vegas in that it is also built around the hospitality industry. As the theme park capital of America, Orlando hosts some of the biggest names in family entertainment. That means there are also thousands of restaurants and hotels from which to pick. And if you can manage to get hired by a company like Disney, you’ll be working in some of the finest restaurants in the world.
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
One of the things with which food service workers usually have to contend is low starting pay. So for those who can’t afford a lot for transportation, Minneapolis is a great choice. According to Monster.com, Minneapolis is cheap enough to allow you to live very near where you work, even if that means downtown. You’ll save money on commuting costs as a result. You’ll also be able to stretch your housing, food, and entertainment budgets a bit further.
5. Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia ranked #15 on the Money Under 30 list of best cities for people who were young, unmarried and less-than-wealthy. Columbia has two things going for it where young food service workers are concerned: a fairly low cost of living and a higher-than-average number of bars and restaurants. What’s more, young people make up nearly 40% of the city’s population.
6. Los Angeles, California
The city of Angels is a good choice if you want to be part of the Southern California vibe. The greater L.A. area has a huge selection of restaurants and hotels and, according to Hcareers, the second highest number of cook positions behind New York City. An added bonus is the opportunity to run into some pretty famous people, if you’re lucky enough!
7. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is an interesting city due to its eclectic mixture of working-class neighborhoods and high-society establishments. It’s also home to some of America’s most iconic restaurant chains. The Windy City is a great place to look for a food service job if you want stability, a very diverse culture, and the opportunity to live in America’s third-largest city.
8. Seattle, Washington
Seattle is not a city you want to work in if you’re concerned about wages versus the cost of living. Most of the dynamic wage growth in Seattle comes from the booming tech industry. That being said, it’s a great city for young food service workers who are into the hip, modern culture of coffeehouses and smart phones. If you want to live in a city that’s culturally cutting-edge, Seattle is it. Even its restaurant industry is on the leading edge of culture.
9. Austin, Texas
Austin is one of those cities with a lot to offer that no one knows about. Food service workers will be pleased to know the city has more than 530 bars, restaurants, and cafés. Money Under 30 says that translates into about one establishment for every 1,500 residents. That’s a pretty good concentration for young food service workers looking for jobs. An added bonus is the fact that Austin has a pretty low cost of living. That includes dirt-cheap rents and utility bills.
10. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is not a city that makes most top 10 lists for employment. But for food service workers, it’s hard to beat the Big Easy in terms of atmosphere. Working in the New Orleans food scene will expose you to a whole bevy of experiences, cuisines, and industry personalities. You’ll also get to experience some of the best parties on the planet.
The National Restaurant Association is predicting a very good year for the restaurant industry in 2014. They expect total sales to exceed $693 billion, representing an increase of about 3.6% over last year. That means there will be jobs available wherever you care to look for them.
