Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of line cook, prep cook salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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Washington continues to offer the highest line cook, prep cook salary at $42,190
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Mississippi remains at the bottom with the lowest line cook, prep cook salary of $23,502
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The national average salary for line cooks, prep cooks is $32,982
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The national hourly pay for line cooks, prep cooks is $15.86
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers across various demographics, including those in the culinary field. Many individuals ask, “How much do line cooks and prep cooks earn in my area?”
While numerous factors influence individual earnings, we provide reliable data for average salaries for line cooks and prep cooks by state, reflecting national trends and local variances. This information serves as a useful benchmark for those entering or advancing in the culinary profession.
Washington maintains its position as the state with the best salary for line cooks and prep cooks, continuing to lead the country.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for line cook and prep cook salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Line Cooks, Prep Cooks By State
| Rank | State | Average Line Cook, Prep Cook Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $42,190 | $34,000 | $52,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $39,377 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
| 3 | New York | $37,902 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 4 | Alaska | $37,408 | $31,000 | $43,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $37,296 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 6 | Oregon | $37,074 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 7 | Colorado | $36,829 | $29,000 | $46,000 |
| 8 | California | $36,620 | $29,000 | $45,000 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $36,291 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $35,920 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $35,754 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $35,523 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $35,415 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $35,316 | $28,000 | $44,000 |
| 15 | Maine | $34,309 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $33,790 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 17 | Illinois | $33,575 | $26,000 | $42,000 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $33,558 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 19 | Idaho | $33,229 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $33,037 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 21 | Delaware | $33,011 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 22 | Nevada | $32,809 | $26,000 | $41,000 |
| 23 | Arizona | $32,766 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 24 | Maryland | $32,614 | $25,000 | $41,000 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $32,078 | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| 26 | Montana | $31,709 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $31,533 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $31,394 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 29 | Indiana | $31,011 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 30 | Utah | $30,673 | $24,000 | $38,000 |
| 31 | Texas | $30,548 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 32 | Missouri | $30,423 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 33 | Florida | $30,340 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 34 | Michigan | $30,245 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 35 | Kansas | $30,113 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $29,946 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 37 | Ohio | $29,907 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 38 | Iowa | $29,871 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $29,390 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $28,939 | $22,000 | $37,000 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $28,822 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 42 | Alabama | $28,680 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $28,121 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 44 | Georgia | $28,015 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $27,980 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $27,338 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $27,171 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 48 | Virginia | $27,063 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 49 | West Virginia | $25,267 | $19,000 | $32,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $23,502 | $18,000 | $30,000 |
Methodology: Line Cook, Prep Cook Salary By State
To better understand line cook and prep cook compensation trends by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various credible sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We supplement this data with actual salary listings sourced from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average from these inputs to derive average salaries for line cooks and prep cooks by state.
We used the average annual salary data from these estimates to rank each state according to average salaries for line cooks and prep cooks.
Line Cook, Prep Cook Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for line cooks, prep cooks?
The highest-paid state for line cooks and prep cooks is Washington with an average salary of $42,190 per year.
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What city pays line cooks, prep cooks the most?
Seattle, WA pays line cooks and prep cooks the most, with an average salary of $42,326 per year.
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What is the worst state for line cooks, prep cooks?
The worst state for line cooks and prep cooks is Mississippi with an average salary of $23,502 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
