Best states for an assistant cook

Q: What is the best state for assistant cooks?

The best state to be an assistant cook is California based on assistant cook salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for assistant cooks?

The highest paying state for assistant cooks is West Virginia based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for assistant cooks?

The worst state for assistant cooks is West Virginia, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for assistant cooks in the United States. Assistant cook positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for assistant cooks.In order to help you decide which state is the best for assistant cooks, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for assistant cook jobs.

The median salary for assistant cooks in California is $47,338. Compare that to the median salary in West Virginia of $24,397, which ranked worst for assistant cooks, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that California is the best state for assistant cook jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.

10 best states for assistant cooks in 2026

1. California
Total assistant cook jobs: 4,224
Average annual salary: $47,338
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Assistant cook jobs in California
2. Nevada
Total assistant cook jobs: 456
Average annual salary: $37,328
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Assistant cook jobs in Nevada
3. Utah
Total assistant cook jobs: 584
Average annual salary: $37,631
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Assistant cook jobs in Utah
4. Colorado
Total assistant cook jobs: 1,365
Average annual salary: $37,983
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Assistant cook jobs in Colorado
5. Connecticut
Total assistant cook jobs: 483
Average annual salary: $42,403
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Assistant cook jobs in Connecticut
6. Wyoming
Total assistant cook jobs: 107
Average annual salary: $36,703
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Assistant cook jobs in Wyoming
7. Washington
Total assistant cook jobs: 844
Average annual salary: $42,927
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
0.59
Assistant cook jobs in Washington
8. Pennsylvania
Total assistant cook jobs: 2,120
Average annual salary: $36,123
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Assistant cook jobs in Pennsylvania
9. Alaska
Total assistant cook jobs: 123
Average annual salary: $38,775
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
0.75
Assistant cook jobs in Alaska
10. Oregon
Total assistant cook jobs: 519
Average annual salary: $39,771
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
0.64
Assistant cook jobs in Oregon

Assistant cook jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an assistant cook

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an assistant cook

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	California	$47,338	$34,000	39,536,653	4,224
2	Nevada	$37,328	$27,000	2,998,039	456
3	Utah	$37,631	$28,000	3,101,833	584
4	Colorado	$37,983	$29,000	5,607,154	1,365
5	Connecticut	$42,403	$32,000	3,588,184	483
6	Wyoming	$36,703	$28,000	579,315	107
7	Washington	$42,927	$32,000	7,405,743	844
8	Pennsylvania	$36,123	$27,000	12,805,537	2,120
9	Alaska	$38,775	$31,000	739,795	123
10	Oregon	$39,771	$29,000	4,142,776	519
11	Massachusetts	$40,024	$31,000	6,859,819	1,115
12	Idaho	$36,340	$27,000	1,716,943	268
13	Arizona	$34,294	$25,000	7,016,270	1,449
14	New York	$37,993	$28,000	19,849,399	1,885
15	Hawaii	$42,091	$34,000	1,427,538	112
16	Missouri	$32,690	$25,000	6,113,532	1,466
17	Wisconsin	$33,662	$26,000	5,795,483	883
18	Maine	$35,502	$28,000	1,335,907	153
19	Vermont	$36,392	$28,000	623,657	68
20	North Dakota	$34,199	$26,000	755,393	133
21	Minnesota	$34,003	$26,000	5,576,606	1,110
22	New Jersey	$36,094	$27,000	9,005,644	1,102
23	Florida	$30,779	$23,000	20,984,400	4,609
24	Indiana	$30,657	$23,000	6,666,818	1,566
25	New Mexico	$31,662	$24,000	2,088,070	376
26	Rhode Island	$34,786	$26,000	1,059,639	124
27	District of Columbia	$37,754	$28,000	693,972	83
28	Nebraska	$31,405	$24,000	1,920,076	374
29	New Hampshire	$33,775	$26,000	1,342,795	199
30	Ohio	$28,571	$22,000	11,658,609	2,414
31	Tennessee	$28,269	$21,000	6,715,984	1,699
32	South Dakota	$31,328	$24,000	869,666	129
33	Texas	$28,878	$21,000	28,304,596	5,701
34	Virginia	$32,645	$25,000	8,470,020	1,380
35	North Carolina	$28,953	$22,000	10,273,419	2,097
36	Michigan	$28,799	$22,000	9,962,311	1,553
37	Illinois	$30,370	$23,000	12,802,023	2,281
38	Iowa	$29,564	$22,000	3,145,711	651
39	Arkansas	$27,768	$21,000	3,004,279	707
40	Delaware	$32,318	$24,000	961,939	152
41	Georgia	$28,768	$22,000	10,429,379	1,962
42	Oklahoma	$26,637	$20,000	3,930,864	949
43	Louisiana	$27,180	$20,000	4,684,333	931
44	Montana	$28,777	$22,000	1,050,493	203
45	South Carolina	$27,300	$21,000	5,024,369	998
46	Maryland	$30,770	$23,000	6,052,177	932
47	Mississippi	$24,783	$18,000	2,984,100	646
48	Kentucky	$24,919	$19,000	4,454,189	985
49	Kansas	$24,667	$19,000	2,913,123	729
50	Alabama	$26,462	$20,000	4,874,747	738
51	West Virginia	$24,397	$18,000	1,815,857	286

Highest paying states for assistant cooks

Rank	State	Avg. Assistant Cook Salary
1	California	$47,338
2	Nevada	$37,328
3	Utah	$37,631
4	Colorado	$37,983
5	Connecticut	$42,403
6	Wyoming	$36,703
7	Washington	$42,927
8	Pennsylvania	$36,123
9	Alaska	$38,775
10	Oregon	$39,771
11	Massachusetts	$40,024
12	Idaho	$36,340
13	Arizona	$34,294
14	New York	$37,993
15	Hawaii	$42,091
16	Missouri	$32,690
17	Wisconsin	$33,662
18	Maine	$35,502
19	Vermont	$36,392
20	North Dakota	$34,199
21	Minnesota	$34,003
22	New Jersey	$36,094
23	Florida	$30,779
24	Indiana	$30,657
25	New Mexico	$31,662
26	Rhode Island	$34,786
27	District of Columbia	$37,754
28	Nebraska	$31,405
29	New Hampshire	$33,775
30	Ohio	$28,571
31	Tennessee	$28,269
32	South Dakota	$31,328
33	Texas	$28,878
34	Virginia	$32,645
35	North Carolina	$28,953
36	Michigan	$28,799
37	Illinois	$30,370
38	Iowa	$29,564
39	Arkansas	$27,768
40	Delaware	$32,318
41	Georgia	$28,768
42	Oklahoma	$26,637
43	Louisiana	$27,180
44	Montana	$28,777
45	South Carolina	$27,300
46	Maryland	$30,770
47	Mississippi	$24,783
48	Kentucky	$24,919
49	Kansas	$24,667
50	Alabama	$26,462
51	West Virginia	$24,397

Assistant cook best states FAQs

What is the best state for assistant cooks?

What is the highest paying state for assistant cooks?

What is the worst state for assistant cooks?

Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

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Best states for Assistant Cooks

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total assistant cook jobs:	4,224
Average annual salary:	$47,338
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$34,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$65,000
Location Quotient:	0.74

Best states for an assistant cook

10 best states for assistant cooks in 2026

1. California

2. Nevada

3. Utah

4. Colorado

5. Connecticut

6. Wyoming

7. Washington

8. Pennsylvania

9. Alaska

10. Oregon