Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for an executive chef
Quoted expert
Dave Quisenberry
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for executive chefs? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for executive chef jobs.Although there are abundant executive chef jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Midwest. Massachusetts is the best state in the country for executive chef jobs.
We figured that the best places for executive chef jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Massachusetts is the best state for executive chef jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for executive chefs in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total executive chef jobs: 1,103 Average annual salary: $69,572 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
2. Nevada
Total executive chef jobs: 246 Average annual salary: $68,037 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
3. New Jersey
Total executive chef jobs: 814 Average annual salary: $71,960 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
4. Delaware
Total executive chef jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $68,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.21
5. Vermont
Total executive chef jobs: 92 Average annual salary: $66,440 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
6. Washington
Total executive chef jobs: 894 Average annual salary: $66,492 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
7. Rhode Island
Total executive chef jobs: 112 Average annual salary: $68,299 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
8. Hawaii
Total executive chef jobs: 66 Average annual salary: $79,287 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. Pennsylvania
Total executive chef jobs: 1,017 Average annual salary: $63,137 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Illinois
Total executive chef jobs: 1,390 Average annual salary: $61,401 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
Executive chef jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an executive chef
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an executive chef
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $69,572 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,103 |
| 2 | Nevada | $68,037 | $44,000 | 2,998,039 | 246 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $71,960 | $47,000 | 9,005,644 | 814 |
| 4 | Delaware | $68,673 | $45,000 | 961,939 | 133 |
| 5 | Vermont | $66,440 | $44,000 | 623,657 | 92 |
| 6 | Washington | $66,492 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 894 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $68,299 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 112 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $79,287 | $58,000 | 1,427,538 | 66 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $63,137 | $41,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,017 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,401 | $41,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,390 |
| 11 | Texas | $58,441 | $39,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,521 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $58,094 | $40,000 | 755,393 | 97 |
| 13 | California | $72,275 | $46,000 | 39,536,653 | 432 |
| 14 | Virginia | $60,188 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,128 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $60,679 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 148 |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,324 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 545 |
| 17 | Maine | $60,280 | $40,000 | 1,335,907 | 112 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $59,316 | $39,000 | 1,815,857 | 113 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $58,356 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 875 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $69,287 | $45,000 | 693,972 | 71 |
| 21 | Missouri | $56,537 | $38,000 | 6,113,532 | 583 |
| 22 | Michigan | $57,838 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 645 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,026 | $37,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,685 |
| 24 | Georgia | $54,989 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,081 |
| 25 | Arizona | $52,572 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 806 |
| 26 | Colorado | $53,198 | $36,000 | 5,607,154 | 816 |
| 27 | Oregon | $59,619 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 52 |
| 28 | Kansas | $55,139 | $38,000 | 2,913,123 | 255 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $52,267 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 555 |
| 30 | New York | $60,858 | $40,000 | 19,849,399 | 203 |
| 31 | Ohio | $53,074 | $35,000 | 11,658,609 | 864 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $55,308 | $37,000 | 2,984,100 | 150 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $55,685 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 124 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $52,267 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 664 |
| 35 | Indiana | $52,937 | $35,000 | 6,666,818 | 532 |
| 36 | Alabama | $50,713 | $34,000 | 4,874,747 | 377 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $49,290 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 384 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $50,401 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 385 |
| 39 | Utah | $44,533 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 418 |
| 40 | Alaska | $44,759 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 103 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,532 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 189 |
| 42 | Montana | $44,783 | $30,000 | 1,050,493 | 153 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $48,017 | $32,000 | 5,795,483 | 518 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $46,609 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 254 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $50,526 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 231 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $48,321 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 272 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $33,638 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 77 |
| 48 | Idaho | $45,142 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 151 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $47,035 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 246 |
| 50 | Iowa | $45,389 | $31,000 | 3,145,711 | 267 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $42,881 | $29,000 | 869,666 | 68 |
Highest paying states for executive chefs
| Rank | State | Avg. Executive Chef Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $69,572 |
| 2 | Nevada | $68,037 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $71,960 |
| 4 | Delaware | $68,673 |
| 5 | Vermont | $66,440 |
| 6 | Washington | $66,492 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $68,299 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $79,287 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $63,137 |
| 10 | Illinois | $61,401 |
| 11 | Texas | $58,441 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $58,094 |
| 13 | California | $72,275 |
| 14 | Virginia | $60,188 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $60,679 |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,324 |
| 17 | Maine | $60,280 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $59,316 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $58,356 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $69,287 |
| 21 | Missouri | $56,537 |
| 22 | Michigan | $57,838 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,026 |
| 24 | Georgia | $54,989 |
| 25 | Arizona | $52,572 |
| 26 | Colorado | $53,198 |
| 27 | Oregon | $59,619 |
| 28 | Kansas | $55,139 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $52,267 |
| 30 | New York | $60,858 |
| 31 | Ohio | $53,074 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $55,308 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $55,685 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $52,267 |
| 35 | Indiana | $52,937 |
| 36 | Alabama | $50,713 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $49,290 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $50,401 |
| 39 | Utah | $44,533 |
| 40 | Alaska | $44,759 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,532 |
| 42 | Montana | $44,783 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $48,017 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $46,609 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $50,526 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $48,321 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $33,638 |
| 48 | Idaho | $45,142 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $47,035 |
| 50 | Iowa | $45,389 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $42,881 |
Expert opinions on the best states for executive chefs
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for executive chefs to find work opportunities?
Dave Quisenberry
Culinary Arts Instructor, Reynolds Community College
While COVID-19 has most of the industry being restricted, one way or another, some sectors have been less affected. Healthcare and Corporate entities have maintained consistent; however, diminished labor needs. Graduates will be forced to consider options such as relocation and redirection of career pathways in the post-pandemic environment. That said, we have seen an unfortunate acceleration of business failures due to the economic impact of COVID-19. The post-pandemic environment will undoubtedly provide opportunities to fill voids in local markets as well as emerging markets, such as home meal replacement, etc. The need for trained professionals will have a much greater demand for emphasis on an understanding of total operational knowledge.
Executive chef best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.
Search for executive chef jobs
Updated January 8, 2025