Best cities for a cook
The best cities for cooks are Reno, NV, Henderson, NV, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cooks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cooks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cooks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cooks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cook. While the absolute best city for cooks is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cooks in 2024.
If you're looking for a cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cooks in 2026
1. Reno, NV
Cook jobs in RenoTotal cook jobs: 122 Average annual salary: $33,722 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.13 2. Henderson, NV
Cook jobs in HendersonTotal cook jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $32,799 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.90 3. Las Vegas, NV
Cook jobs in Las VegasTotal cook jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $32,833 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.88 4. Gilbert, AZ
Cook jobs in GilbertTotal cook jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $30,437 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 1.06 5. Portland, OR
Cook jobs in PortlandTotal cook jobs: 251 Average annual salary: $33,804 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.04 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Cook jobs in ScottsdaleTotal cook jobs: 158 Average annual salary: $30,433 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 1.06 7. Toledo, OH
Cook jobs in ToledoTotal cook jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $29,094 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 0.92 8. Glendale, AZ
Cook jobs in GlendaleTotal cook jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $30,553 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.91 9. North Las Vegas, NV
Cook jobs in North Las VegasTotal cook jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $32,762 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.70 10. Mesa, AZ
Cook jobs in MesaTotal cook jobs: 63 Average annual salary: $30,418 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 0.93
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Best cities for cooks
- Reno, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- Gilbert, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Toledo, OH
- Glendale, AZ
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Mesa, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $33,722 | $26,000 | 245,255 | 122 |
| 2 | Henderson, NV | $32,799 | $25,000 | 292,969 | 36 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,833 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 43 |
| 4 | Gilbert, AZ | $30,437 | $23,000 | 237,133 | 37 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $33,804 | $26,000 | 639,863 | 251 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $30,433 | $23,000 | 246,645 | 158 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $29,094 | $22,000 | 278,508 | 59 |
| 8 | Glendale, AZ | $30,553 | $23,000 | 245,895 | 36 |
| 9 | North Las Vegas, NV | $32,762 | $25,000 | 238,702 | 11 |
| 10 | Mesa, AZ | $30,418 | $23,000 | 484,587 | 63 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $37,090 | $29,000 | 281,764 | 96 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $30,247 | $23,000 | 530,706 | 140 |
| 13 | Fresno, CA | $35,971 | $27,000 | 522,053 | 81 |
| 14 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $44,408 | $33,000 | 351,792 | 95 |
| 15 | Chula Vista, CA | $35,409 | $27,000 | 267,172 | 23 |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA | $35,611 | $27,000 | 351,043 | 74 |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $33,515 | $26,000 | 302,398 | 152 |
| 18 | Chandler, AZ | $30,468 | $23,000 | 247,477 | 84 |
| 19 | Fort Wayne, IN | $27,771 | $21,000 | 264,488 | 64 |
| 20 | Long Beach, CA | $35,709 | $27,000 | 470,130 | 74 |
| 21 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,497 | $26,000 | 413,651 | 5 |
| 22 | Santa Ana, CA | $35,600 | $27,000 | 334,217 | 55 |
| 23 | El Paso, TX | $27,990 | $21,000 | 683,080 | 64 |
| 24 | Omaha, NE | $27,489 | $21,000 | 446,970 | 236 |
| 25 | Buffalo, NY | $35,826 | $28,000 | 256,902 | 67 |
| 26 | Seattle, WA | $37,003 | $29,000 | 704,352 | 213 |
| 27 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,616 | $23,000 | 595,047 | 126 |
| 28 | Corpus Christi, TX | $26,325 | $19,000 | 325,733 | 38 |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $29,466 | $23,000 | 385,809 | 87 |
| 30 | Madison, WI | $29,350 | $23,000 | 252,551 | 116 |
| 31 | Hempstead, NY | $36,285 | $28,000 | 759,757 | 2 |
| 32 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,963 | $24,000 | 465,101 | 19 |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,519 | $23,000 | 1,615,017 | 146 |
| 34 | Cincinnati, OH | $27,146 | $21,000 | 298,800 | 156 |
| 35 | Stockton, CA | $36,252 | $28,000 | 307,072 | 25 |
| 36 | Bakersfield, CA | $35,923 | $27,000 | 376,380 | 35 |
| 37 | Orlando, FL | $28,807 | $21,000 | 277,173 | 242 |
| 38 | Greensboro, NC | $27,407 | $21,000 | 287,027 | 75 |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $30,512 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 89 |
| 40 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,504 | $23,000 | 303,625 | 160 |
| 41 | Arlington, TX | $25,148 | $19,000 | 392,772 | 77 |
| 42 | San Diego, CA | $35,413 | $27,000 | 1,406,630 | 201 |
| 43 | Nashville, TN | $26,085 | $20,000 | 660,388 | 209 |
| 44 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $28,758 | $21,000 | 260,999 | 58 |
| 45 | Boston, MA | $36,587 | $29,000 | 673,184 | 45 |
| 46 | Chesapeake, VA | $29,462 | $22,000 | 237,940 | 39 |
| 47 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,892 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 212 |
| 48 | Columbus, OH | $28,042 | $21,000 | 860,090 | 202 |
| 49 | New York, NY | $36,239 | $28,000 | 8,537,673 | 126 |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | $35,775 | $27,000 | 3,976,322 | 43 |
Highest paying cities for cooks
| Rank | City | Avg. cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $37,003 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $36,696 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $36,587 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $36,239 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $35,335 |
| 6 | Portland, ME | $33,922 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $33,804 |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $33,515 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,833 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $32,072 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $31,331 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $31,009 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,892 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $30,519 |
| 15 | Washington, UT | $29,800 |
| 16 | Richmond, VA | $29,669 |
| 17 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,616 |
| 18 | Jacksonville, FL | $28,995 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $28,042 |
| 20 | Greenville, NC | $27,773 |
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Updated January 8, 2025