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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Walla Walla ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $58,333/year, better purchasing power than Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue's higher nominal pay of $61,610. San Francisco and New York dominate the headline salary lists for most occupations, but they don't crack the COL-adjusted top 10 here. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$61,610
#2 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard$58,740
#3 Bellingham$58,520

Best purchasing power

#1 Walla Walla$58,333
#2 Bellingham$56,634
#3 Kennewick-Richland$56,215

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workerss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Walla Walla
32% rent burden
$57,470
$58,333
#2
Bellingham
37% rent burden
$58,520
$56,634
#3
Kennewick-Richland
33% rent burden
$56,260
$56,215
#4
$57,870
$55,719
#5
$58,740
$55,620
#6
$61,610
$55,440
#7
$58,260
$54,520
#8
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
37% rent burden
$55,690
$54,364
#9
Longview-Kelso
33% rent burden
$52,910
$54,239
#10
Yakima
32% rent burden
$51,670
$54,076
#11
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
43% rent burden
$54,200
$52,281
#12
Kokomo
29% rent burden
$46,550
$51,924
#13
Kahului-Wailuku
56% rent burden
$56,600
$51,741
#14
Barnstable Town
57% rent burden
$50,860
$51,713
#15
Spokane-Spokane Valley
26% rent burden
$51,770
$51,589
#16
Minot
27% rent burden
$44,850
$51,534
#17
$51,600
$51,374
#18
Waterbury-Shelton
42% rent burden
$51,220
$51,333
#19
$52,540
$51,134
#20
Wildwood-The Villages
37% rent burden
$43,560
$50,995
#21
$51,440
$50,956
#22
New Haven
44% rent burden
$53,200
$50,880
#23
Muncie
28% rent burden
$44,760
$50,777
#24
$44,680
$50,577
#25
Elkhart-Goshen
31% rent burden
$45,470
$50,338

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $61,610 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $51,342 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss?

Spokane-Spokane Valley has one of the lowest rent burdens for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,131/month, with a median salary of $51,770.

Where do First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workerss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays the highest nominal median salary at $61,610/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkerssView →How to become a first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workersGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →