Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a corporate executive chef
Quoted expert
Aaron Guerra
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a corporate executive chef and really want to work at Gecko Hospitality? Turns out, your chances to become a corporate executive chef are better in some states than others.Our research found that Nevada is the best state for corporate executive chefs, while New Jersey and Nevada are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Nevada has a median salary of $97,601 and New Jersey has the highest median salary among all 50 states for corporate executive chefs.
In order to get you the best states for corporate executive chefs, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a corporate executive chef, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for corporate executive chefs in 2026
1. Nevada
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 275 Average annual salary: $97,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.35
2. Massachusetts
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 1,273 Average annual salary: $94,083 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $141,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
3. New Jersey
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 902 Average annual salary: $103,944 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
4. Washington
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 1,084 Average annual salary: $84,763 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
5. Rhode Island
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $92,045 Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. New Hampshire
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $96,020 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
7. Connecticut
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 412 Average annual salary: $84,871 Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $127,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
8. Pennsylvania
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 1,098 Average annual salary: $89,618 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.97
9. Texas
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 2,720 Average annual salary: $74,739 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
10. Illinois
Total corporate executive chef jobs: 1,562 Average annual salary: $78,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $118,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
Corporate executive chef jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a corporate executive chef
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a corporate executive chef
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $97,601 | $60,000 | 2,998,039 | 275 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $94,083 | $62,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,273 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $103,944 | $68,000 | 9,005,644 | 902 |
| 4 | Washington | $84,763 | $55,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,084 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $92,045 | $61,000 | 1,059,639 | 126 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $96,020 | $63,000 | 1,342,795 | 152 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $84,871 | $56,000 | 3,588,184 | 412 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $89,618 | $59,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,098 |
| 9 | Texas | $74,739 | $45,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,720 |
| 10 | Illinois | $78,159 | $51,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,562 |
| 11 | Ohio | $80,230 | $52,000 | 11,658,609 | 939 |
| 12 | Michigan | $83,542 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 666 |
| 13 | Oregon | $92,482 | $60,000 | 4,142,776 | 118 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $72,607 | $47,000 | 579,315 | 73 |
| 15 | Delaware | $75,201 | $49,000 | 961,939 | 155 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $92,372 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 107 |
| 17 | Florida | $73,734 | $43,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,780 |
| 18 | Maine | $77,987 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 112 |
| 19 | New York | $85,810 | $56,000 | 19,849,399 | 526 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $72,228 | $48,000 | 5,576,606 | 713 |
| 21 | Virginia | $70,387 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,235 |
| 22 | Arizona | $67,236 | $42,000 | 7,016,270 | 832 |
| 23 | Colorado | $68,622 | $44,000 | 5,607,154 | 893 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $68,465 | $45,000 | 5,795,483 | 551 |
| 25 | Georgia | $67,954 | $41,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,152 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $67,800 | $42,000 | 10,273,419 | 947 |
| 27 | California | $81,367 | $51,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,065 |
| 28 | Indiana | $69,464 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 543 |
| 29 | Maryland | $74,334 | $48,000 | 6,052,177 | 590 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $70,178 | $42,000 | 2,984,100 | 147 |
| 31 | Alaska | $67,582 | $53,000 | 739,795 | 99 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $62,338 | $42,000 | 755,393 | 103 |
| 33 | Alabama | $65,571 | $40,000 | 4,874,747 | 388 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $66,273 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 108 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $75,901 | $59,000 | 1,427,538 | 72 |
| 36 | Vermont | $62,098 | $41,000 | 623,657 | 98 |
| 37 | Montana | $60,496 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 156 |
| 38 | Missouri | $62,773 | $40,000 | 6,113,532 | 598 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $64,853 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 267 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $62,811 | $42,000 | 869,666 | 74 |
| 41 | Utah | $54,320 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 469 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $65,277 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 125 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $62,115 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 384 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $54,599 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 262 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $60,566 | $37,000 | 3,930,864 | 232 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $54,282 | $34,000 | 6,715,984 | 574 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $59,626 | $39,000 | 1,920,076 | 187 |
| 48 | Iowa | $59,357 | $39,000 | 3,145,711 | 271 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $52,664 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 281 |
| 50 | Idaho | $49,652 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 157 |
| 51 | Kansas | $51,070 | $32,000 | 2,913,123 | 266 |
Highest paying states for corporate executive chefs
| Rank | State | Avg. Corporate Executive Chef Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $97,601 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $94,083 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $103,944 |
| 4 | Washington | $84,763 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $92,045 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $96,020 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $84,871 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $89,618 |
| 9 | Texas | $74,739 |
| 10 | Illinois | $78,159 |
| 11 | Ohio | $80,230 |
| 12 | Michigan | $83,542 |
| 13 | Oregon | $92,482 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $72,607 |
| 15 | Delaware | $75,201 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $92,372 |
| 17 | Florida | $73,734 |
| 18 | Maine | $77,987 |
| 19 | New York | $85,810 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $72,228 |
| 21 | Virginia | $70,387 |
| 22 | Arizona | $67,236 |
| 23 | Colorado | $68,622 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $68,465 |
| 25 | Georgia | $67,954 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $67,800 |
| 27 | California | $81,367 |
| 28 | Indiana | $69,464 |
| 29 | Maryland | $74,334 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $70,178 |
| 31 | Alaska | $67,582 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $62,338 |
| 33 | Alabama | $65,571 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $66,273 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $75,901 |
| 36 | Vermont | $62,098 |
| 37 | Montana | $60,496 |
| 38 | Missouri | $62,773 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $64,853 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $62,811 |
| 41 | Utah | $54,320 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $65,277 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $62,115 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $54,599 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $60,566 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $54,282 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $59,626 |
| 48 | Iowa | $59,357 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $52,664 |
| 50 | Idaho | $49,652 |
| 51 | Kansas | $51,070 |
Expert opinions on the best states for corporate executive chefs
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for corporate executive chefs to find work opportunities?
Aaron Guerra
Tenured Professor of Cuisine Management, Department Head, Clark College
Before covid, it was limitless. I had one student go to the Grand Lodge at Glacier National Park in Montana. She was offered a job but returned to the PNW and landed as Assistant Kitchen Manager at Pok Pok restaurants. I had another do her externship at CNM Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico's entrepreneurial Food Truck program. She is currently working her previous job as a police dispatcher and prepping her food truck. The opening date is not yet set. Here locally, especially the new waterfront in Vancouver and the greater Portland area. One student is working in a restaurant in Texas. I have a student at Twigs, C'est La Vie, Amaro's Table, Rally's Pizza, and one that was at Renata's.
During covid, it has been more challenging. Some are still working. One is at Intel, the ones at Rally, C'est La Vie and Twigs are still working, but some are being extra cautious until this pandemic breaks.
Corporate executive chef best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.
Search for corporate executive chef jobs
Updated January 8, 2025