Best cities for a cook/team member
The best cities for cook/team members are Toledo, OH, Reno, NV, and Columbus, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for cook/team members vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for cook/team members in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a cook/team member or considering a move, this list of the best cities for cook/team members to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for cook/team members. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a cook/team member. While the absolute best city for cook/team members is Toledo, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for cook/team members in 2024.
If you're looking for a cook/team member job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for cook/team members in 2025
1. Toledo, OH
Cook/team member jobs in ToledoTotal cook/team member jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $23,604 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 1.75 2. Reno, NV
Cook/team member jobs in RenoTotal cook/team member jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $23,851 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Location quotient: 2.42 3. Columbus, OH
Cook/team member jobs in ColumbusTotal cook/team member jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $23,126 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 0.95 4. Lexington, KY
Cook/team member jobs in LexingtonTotal cook/team member jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $23,503 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 0.92 5. Albuquerque, NM
Cook/team member jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal cook/team member jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $23,772 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Location quotient: 1.28 6. Mesa, AZ
Cook/team member jobs in MesaTotal cook/team member jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $24,556 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Location quotient: 3.53 7. Lubbock, TX
Cook/team member jobs in LubbockTotal cook/team member jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $22,839 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 2.61 8. Cleveland, OH
Cook/team member jobs in ClevelandTotal cook/team member jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $23,946 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Location quotient: 0.59 9. Gilbert, AZ
Cook/team member jobs in GilbertTotal cook/team member jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $24,557 Lowest 10 percent warn: $18,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Location quotient: 2.58 10. Nashville, TN
Cook/team member jobs in NashvilleTotal cook/team member jobs: 30 Average annual salary: $23,340 Lowest 10 percent warn: $17,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Location quotient: 0.59
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Best cities for cook/team members
- Toledo, OH
- Reno, NV
- Columbus, OH
- Lexington, KY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Mesa, AZ
- Lubbock, TX
- Cleveland, OH
- Gilbert, AZ
- Nashville, TN
Detailed list of the best cities for a cook/team member
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo, OH | $23,604 | $17,000 | 278,508 | 15 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $23,851 | $17,000 | 245,255 | 35 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $23,126 | $17,000 | 860,090 | 81 |
| 4 | Lexington, KY | $23,503 | $17,000 | 318,449 | 11 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $23,772 | $17,000 | 559,277 | 33 |
| 6 | Mesa, AZ | $24,556 | $18,000 | 484,587 | 32 |
| 7 | Lubbock, TX | $22,839 | $17,000 | 252,506 | 15 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $23,946 | $17,000 | 385,809 | 18 |
| 9 | Gilbert, AZ | $24,557 | $18,000 | 237,133 | 12 |
| 10 | Nashville, TN | $23,340 | $17,000 | 660,388 | 30 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $24,602 | $18,000 | 245,895 | 9 |
| 12 | Arlington, TX | $22,752 | $17,000 | 392,772 | 24 |
| 13 | Louisville, KY | $23,509 | $17,000 | 597,337 | 20 |
| 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | $24,572 | $18,000 | 246,645 | 26 |
| 15 | Tucson, AZ | $24,463 | $18,000 | 530,706 | 37 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $23,257 | $17,000 | 595,047 | 28 |
| 17 | Las Vegas, NV | $23,010 | $17,000 | 632,912 | 48 |
| 18 | Cincinnati, OH | $22,890 | $17,000 | 298,800 | 24 |
| 19 | Chandler, AZ | $24,566 | $18,000 | 247,477 | 20 |
| 20 | Henderson, NV | $22,973 | $16,000 | 292,969 | 14 |
| 21 | North Las Vegas, NV | $22,987 | $16,000 | 238,702 | 5 |
| 22 | Kansas City, MO | $24,839 | $18,000 | 481,420 | 30 |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $22,755 | $17,000 | 854,113 | 26 |
| 24 | San Antonio, TX | $22,744 | $17,000 | 1,492,510 | 51 |
| 25 | Buffalo, NY | $30,474 | $22,000 | 256,902 | 10 |
| 26 | Corpus Christi, TX | $22,725 | $17,000 | 325,733 | 4 |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $23,275 | $17,000 | 652,717 | 9 |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA | $28,412 | $20,000 | 376,380 | 8 |
| 29 | Portland, OR | $27,211 | $19,000 | 639,863 | 37 |
| 30 | Saint Paul, MN | $25,955 | $19,000 | 302,398 | 21 |
| 31 | Austin, TX | $22,736 | $17,000 | 947,890 | 83 |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $23,111 | $17,000 | 252,551 | 12 |
| 33 | Hialeah, FL | $22,581 | $17,000 | 236,387 | 3 |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $32,636 | $24,000 | 673,184 | 42 |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $25,945 | $19,000 | 413,651 | 40 |
| 36 | Virginia Beach, VA | $23,342 | $17,000 | 452,602 | 23 |
| 37 | Dallas, TX | $22,750 | $17,000 | 1,317,929 | 66 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $29,307 | $21,000 | 704,352 | 33 |
| 39 | Colorado Springs, CO | $24,843 | $18,000 | 465,101 | 50 |
| 40 | Phoenix, AZ | $24,593 | $18,000 | 1,615,017 | 48 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $28,518 | $20,000 | 672,795 | 5 |
| 42 | Chesapeake, VA | $23,296 | $17,000 | 237,940 | 7 |
| 43 | Chicago, IL | $26,826 | $20,000 | 2,704,958 | 40 |
| 44 | Wichita, KS | $21,551 | $16,000 | 389,902 | 18 |
| 45 | Winston-Salem, NC | $21,533 | $16,000 | 242,203 | 13 |
| 46 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $22,609 | $17,000 | 260,999 | 9 |
| 47 | Fort Wayne, IN | $20,974 | $15,000 | 264,488 | 14 |
| 48 | Fresno, CA | $28,595 | $20,000 | 522,053 | 5 |
| 49 | Jersey City, NJ | $29,879 | $21,000 | 264,152 | 4 |
| 50 | Saint Louis, MO | $24,809 | $18,000 | 311,404 | 16 |
Highest paying cities for cook/team members
| Rank | City | Avg. cook/team member salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord, NH | $34,314 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $31,889 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $29,875 |
| 4 | Concord, CA | $29,040 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $27,211 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $26,826 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $25,945 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $24,886 |
| 9 | Phoenix, AZ | $24,593 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $24,050 |
| 11 | Virginia Beach, VA | $23,342 |
| 12 | Knoxville, TN | $23,338 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $23,126 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $23,010 |
| 15 | Fort Worth, TX | $22,755 |
| 16 | Gainesville, FL | $22,631 |
| 17 | Rock Hill, SC | $22,365 |
| 18 | Lancaster, PA | $22,152 |
| 19 | Gainesville, GA | $21,822 |
| 20 | Greenville, NC | $21,618 |
Cook/team member best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025