Career Atlas USA

Best States for Chefs and Head Cooks

Ranked by the Career Atlas Opportunity Score, not raw pay — a high-paying state with few jobs or a high cost of living can rank below a more balanced one.

  1. 1New Jersey87.1 / 100
  2. 2District of Columbia86.2 / 100
  3. 3Washington80.7 / 100
  4. 4Hawaii79.1 / 100
  5. 5New York76.9 / 100
  6. 6Massachusetts73.5 / 100
  7. 7Rhode Island72.9 / 100
  8. 8Nevada72.5 / 100
  9. 9Pennsylvania71.9 / 100
  10. 10Vermont71.5 / 100
  11. 11Tennessee70.7 / 100
  12. 12South Carolina69.1 / 100
  13. 13Connecticut63.9 / 100
  14. 14Florida61.6 / 100
  15. 15Colorado61.6 / 100

Also see highest-paying states (ranked by salary alone).