Best states for a chef/catering

Q: What is the best state for chef/caterings?

The best state to be a chef/catering is District of Columbia based on chef/catering salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for chef/caterings?

The highest paying state for chef/caterings is Idaho based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for chef/caterings?

The worst state for chef/caterings is Idaho, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and food preparation and restaurant careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to chef/catering jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for chef/caterings.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for chef/caterings. We found that District of Columbia is the best state in the nation for chef/caterings, and people in Stafford earn the most in the field.

The median salary for chef/caterings in District of Columbia is $71,120. Compare that to the median salary in Idaho of $28,352, which ranked worst for chef/caterings, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for chef/caterings, and the Northeast is the worst. Newark, NJ is the best city in the country for chef/catering jobs, where as District of Columbia is the best state in the country.

10 best states for chef/caterings in 2026

1. District of Columbia
Total chef/catering jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $71,120
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000
Location Quotient:
2.35
Chef/catering jobs in District of Columbia
2. Rhode Island
Total chef/catering jobs: 34
Average annual salary: $66,168
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
1.65
Chef/catering jobs in Rhode Island
3. New Hampshire
Total chef/catering jobs: 38
Average annual salary: $67,843
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Chef/catering jobs in New Hampshire
4. New Jersey
Total chef/catering jobs: 123
Average annual salary: $90,173
Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Chef/catering jobs in New Jersey
5. New York
Total chef/catering jobs: 359
Average annual salary: $65,998
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000
Location Quotient:
1.65
Chef/catering jobs in New York
6. Connecticut
Total chef/catering jobs: 104
Average annual salary: $60,746
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.85
Chef/catering jobs in Connecticut
7. Nevada
Total chef/catering jobs: 62
Average annual salary: $60,064
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000
Location Quotient:
1.75
Chef/catering jobs in Nevada
8. Pennsylvania
Total chef/catering jobs: 178
Average annual salary: $73,009
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Chef/catering jobs in Pennsylvania
9. Massachusetts
Total chef/catering jobs: 195
Average annual salary: $61,147
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.25
Chef/catering jobs in Massachusetts
10. Michigan
Total chef/catering jobs: 120
Average annual salary: $56,142
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Chef/catering jobs in Michigan

Chef/catering jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a chef/catering

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

Detailed list of the best states for a chef/catering

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	District of Columbia	$71,120	$39,000	693,972	67
2	Rhode Island	$66,168	$37,000	1,059,639	34
3	New Hampshire	$67,843	$38,000	1,342,795	38
4	New Jersey	$90,173	$51,000	9,005,644	123
5	New York	$65,998	$37,000	19,849,399	359
6	Connecticut	$60,746	$34,000	3,588,184	104
7	Nevada	$60,064	$33,000	2,998,039	62
8	Pennsylvania	$73,009	$40,000	12,805,537	178
9	Massachusetts	$61,147	$34,000	6,859,819	195
10	Michigan	$56,142	$32,000	9,962,311	120
11	California	$65,922	$36,000	39,536,653	352
12	Arizona	$50,976	$28,000	7,016,270	150
13	Ohio	$54,534	$31,000	11,658,609	154
14	Alaska	$49,954	$34,000	739,795	49
15	Indiana	$49,571	$28,000	6,666,818	113
16	Hawaii	$64,463	$53,000	1,427,538	12
17	Virginia	$49,850	$27,000	8,470,020	210
18	Delaware	$54,161	$30,000	961,939	13
19	Texas	$47,803	$27,000	28,304,596	378
20	Maryland	$53,399	$29,000	6,052,177	98
21	Maine	$51,637	$29,000	1,335,907	14
22	Mississippi	$47,660	$27,000	2,984,100	31
23	Georgia	$46,518	$26,000	10,429,379	198
24	Illinois	$51,530	$30,000	12,802,023	129
25	Wyoming	$43,994	$26,000	579,315	17
26	North Carolina	$45,124	$25,000	10,273,419	184
27	Florida	$44,664	$25,000	20,984,400	391
28	Minnesota	$46,765	$28,000	5,576,606	98
29	Alabama	$44,562	$25,000	4,874,747	54
30	Washington	$48,184	$28,000	7,405,743	82
31	Wisconsin	$44,234	$26,000	5,795,483	70
32	West Virginia	$45,259	$25,000	1,815,857	13
33	South Carolina	$41,278	$23,000	5,024,369	92
34	North Dakota	$41,404	$25,000	755,393	14
35	Colorado	$40,567	$24,000	5,607,154	113
36	Kentucky	$42,544	$24,000	4,454,189	32
37	Oklahoma	$41,555	$24,000	3,930,864	35
38	Montana	$35,621	$22,000	1,050,493	36
39	Missouri	$41,892	$24,000	6,113,532	67
40	Oregon	$43,472	$25,000	4,142,776	39
41	New Mexico	$43,477	$24,000	2,088,070	5
42	Vermont	$42,032	$23,000	623,657	9
43	Tennessee	$36,540	$21,000	6,715,984	108
44	South Dakota	$40,009	$24,000	869,666	8
45	Utah	$31,759	$18,000	3,101,833	78
46	Nebraska	$38,752	$23,000	1,920,076	25
47	Iowa	$38,848	$23,000	3,145,711	22
48	Arkansas	$37,467	$21,000	3,004,279	9
49	Louisiana	$35,826	$20,000	4,684,333	30
50	Kansas	$34,281	$20,000	2,913,123	15
51	Idaho	$28,352	$17,000	1,716,943	16

Highest paying states for chef/caterings

Rank	State	Avg. Chef/Catering Salary
1	District of Columbia	$71,120
2	Rhode Island	$66,168
3	New Hampshire	$67,843
4	New Jersey	$90,173
5	New York	$65,998
6	Connecticut	$60,746
7	Nevada	$60,064
8	Pennsylvania	$73,009
9	Massachusetts	$61,147
10	Michigan	$56,142
11	California	$65,922
12	Arizona	$50,976
13	Ohio	$54,534
14	Alaska	$49,954
15	Indiana	$49,571
16	Hawaii	$64,463
17	Virginia	$49,850
18	Delaware	$54,161
19	Texas	$47,803
20	Maryland	$53,399
21	Maine	$51,637
22	Mississippi	$47,660
23	Georgia	$46,518
24	Illinois	$51,530
25	Wyoming	$43,994
26	North Carolina	$45,124
27	Florida	$44,664
28	Minnesota	$46,765
29	Alabama	$44,562
30	Washington	$48,184
31	Wisconsin	$44,234
32	West Virginia	$45,259
33	South Carolina	$41,278
34	North Dakota	$41,404
35	Colorado	$40,567
36	Kentucky	$42,544
37	Oklahoma	$41,555
38	Montana	$35,621
39	Missouri	$41,892
40	Oregon	$43,472
41	New Mexico	$43,477
42	Vermont	$42,032
43	Tennessee	$36,540
44	South Dakota	$40,009
45	Utah	$31,759
46	Nebraska	$38,752
47	Iowa	$38,848
48	Arkansas	$37,467
49	Louisiana	$35,826
50	Kansas	$34,281
51	Idaho	$28,352

Chef/catering best states FAQs

What is the best state for chef/caterings?

What is the highest paying state for chef/caterings?

What is the worst state for chef/caterings?

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

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Best states for Chef/Caterings

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs

Total chef/catering jobs:	67
Average annual salary:	$71,120
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$39,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$127,000
Location Quotient:	2.35

Best states for a chef/catering

10 best states for chef/caterings in 2026

1. District of Columbia

2. Rhode Island

3. New Hampshire

4. New Jersey

5. New York

6. Connecticut

7. Nevada

8. Pennsylvania

9. Massachusetts

10. Michigan