Best cities for a chef/kitchen manager
The best cities for chef/kitchen managers are Seattle, WA, Oakland, CA, and Detroit, MI, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for chef/kitchen managers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for chef/kitchen managers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a chef/kitchen manager or considering a move, this list of the best cities for chef/kitchen managers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for chef/kitchen managers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a chef/kitchen manager. While the absolute best city for chef/kitchen managers is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for chef/kitchen managers in 2024.
If you're looking for a chef/kitchen manager job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for chef/kitchen managers in 2026
1. Seattle, WA
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $59,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 1.25 2. Oakland, CA
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $65,031 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.85 3. Detroit, MI
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $52,374 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.58 4. Virginia Beach, VA
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $58,102 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 0.61 5. San Jose, CA
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $64,889 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location quotient: 0.57 6. Winston-Salem, NC
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $46,733 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 4.18 7. Greensboro, NC
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $46,882 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 1.60 8. New York, NY
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $73,116 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location quotient: 0.11 9. Islip, NY
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Boston, MA
Total chef/kitchen manager jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for chef/kitchen managers
- Seattle, WA
- Oakland, CA
- Detroit, MI
- Virginia Beach, VA
- San Jose, CA
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Greensboro, NC
- New York, NY
- Islip, NY
- Boston, MA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a chef/kitchen manager
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $59,607 | $42,000 | 704,352 | 26 |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $65,031 | $42,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 3 | Detroit, MI | $52,374 | $36,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 4 | Virginia Beach, VA | $58,102 | $39,000 | 452,602 | 1 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $64,889 | $42,000 | 1,025,350 | 10 |
| 6 | Winston-Salem, NC | $46,733 | $32,000 | 242,203 | 5 |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | $46,882 | $32,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $73,116 | $49,000 | 8,537,673 | 9 |
| 9 | Islip, NY | $73,607 | $49,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $62,352 | $42,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 11 | Oyster Bay, NY | $73,405 | $49,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $53,791 | $36,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 13 | Fort Wayne, IN | $45,706 | $32,000 | 264,488 | 1 |
| 14 | Brookhaven, NY | $73,706 | $50,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 15 | Hempstead, NY | $73,344 | $49,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $65,126 | $42,000 | 870,887 | 2 |
| 17 | Buffalo, NY | $69,755 | $48,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 18 | Fremont, CA | $64,933 | $42,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 19 | Stockton, CA | $64,565 | $42,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 20 | Sacramento, CA | $64,471 | $42,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $58,949 | $39,000 | 3,976,322 | 12 |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $53,599 | $35,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 23 | Norfolk, VA | $57,968 | $39,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 24 | Saint Paul, MN | $53,518 | $38,000 | 302,398 | 1 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $56,685 | $39,000 | 1,406,630 | 13 |
| 26 | Omaha, NE | $46,176 | $33,000 | 446,970 | 4 |
| 27 | Fresno, CA | $63,750 | $42,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,996 | $34,000 | 303,625 | 1 |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $46,028 | $33,000 | 280,364 | 2 |
| 30 | Cleveland, OH | $47,992 | $33,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | $46,967 | $32,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $57,756 | $39,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 33 | Minneapolis, MN | $53,505 | $38,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 34 | Columbus, OH | $45,878 | $32,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 35 | Newark, NJ | $57,697 | $39,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 36 | Las Vegas, NV | $50,614 | $33,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC | $47,030 | $32,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 38 | Chesapeake, VA | $57,620 | $38,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $50,528 | $33,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Denver, CO | $50,315 | $36,000 | 693,060 | 16 |
| 41 | Henderson, NV | $50,181 | $33,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | $42,041 | $29,000 | 595,047 | 16 |
| 43 | Portland, OR | $50,823 | $35,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 44 | Durham, NC | $47,145 | $32,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 45 | Scottsdale, AZ | $43,521 | $30,000 | 246,645 | 3 |
| 46 | Bakersfield, CA | $61,481 | $40,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 47 | Long Beach, CA | $58,447 | $39,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 48 | Dallas, TX | $43,442 | $30,000 | 1,317,929 | 7 |
| 49 | Anaheim, CA | $58,351 | $39,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 50 | Anchorage, AK | $52,201 | $43,000 | 298,192 | - |
Highest paying cities for chef/kitchen managers
| Rank | City | Avg. chef/kitchen manager salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $73,116 |
| 2 | Pleasant Hill, CA | $64,925 |
| 3 | Alexandria, VA | $61,053 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $59,607 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $58,949 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $55,381 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $52,410 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $50,823 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $50,315 |
| 10 | Greensboro, NC | $46,882 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $46,176 |
| 12 | South Bend, IN | $45,638 |
| 13 | Urbandale, IA | $44,684 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $43,605 |
| 15 | Miami, FL | $43,591 |
| 16 | Chattanooga, TN | $42,967 |
| 17 | Brookfield, WI | $41,990 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $41,274 |
| 19 | Madison, MS | $39,967 |
| 20 | Charleston, SC | $38,625 |
Chef/kitchen manager best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025