Best cities for a head chef
The best cities for head chefs are Austin, TX, Las Vegas, NV, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head chefs vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head chefs in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a head chef or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head chefs to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head chefs. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head chef. While the absolute best city for head chefs is Austin, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head chefs in 2024.
If you're looking for a head chef job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for head chefs in 2025
1. Austin, TX
Total head chef jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $50,149 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 1.77 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total head chef jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $53,992 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 1.26 3. Boston, MA
Total head chef jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $56,211 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location quotient: 1.66 4. Plano, TX
Total head chef jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $48,182 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location quotient: 1.81 5. San Antonio, TX
Total head chef jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $50,727 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 1.01 6. Seattle, WA
Total head chef jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $53,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 2.81 7. North Las Vegas, NV
Total head chef jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,843 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Henderson, NV
Total head chef jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,841 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Corpus Christi, TX
Total head chef jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $51,373 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Houston, TX
Total head chef jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $50,039 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location quotient: 0.79
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Best cities for head chefs
- Austin, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Boston, MA
- Plano, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Seattle, WA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Houston, TX
- (8 head chef jobs)
- (2 head chef jobs)
- (8 head chef jobs)
- (4 head chef jobs)
- (2 head chef jobs)
- (16 head chef jobs)
- (0 head chef jobs)
- (0 head chef jobs)
- (0 head chef jobs)
- (6 head chef jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a head chef
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $50,149 | $31,000 | 947,890 | 8 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $53,992 | $34,000 | 632,912 | 2 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $56,211 | $34,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
| 4 | Plano, TX | $48,182 | $31,000 | 286,057 | 4 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $50,727 | $31,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $53,270 | $35,000 | 704,352 | 16 |
| 7 | North Las Vegas, NV | $53,843 | $34,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 8 | Henderson, NV | $53,841 | $34,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 9 | Corpus Christi, TX | $51,373 | $31,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 10 | Houston, TX | $50,039 | $31,000 | 2,303,482 | 6 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $51,407 | $34,000 | 2,704,958 | 7 |
| 12 | Jersey City, NJ | $68,982 | $41,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 13 | Newark, NJ | $68,894 | $41,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $56,018 | $35,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 15 | Laredo, TX | $51,809 | $32,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $56,814 | $34,000 | 420,005 | 1 |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $50,815 | $32,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 18 | Lubbock, TX | $48,707 | $31,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $48,354 | $31,000 | 1,317,929 | 3 |
| 20 | Fort Worth, TX | $48,438 | $31,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,533 | $28,000 | 1,567,872 | 3 |
| 22 | Durham, NC | $42,974 | $27,000 | 263,016 | 3 |
| 23 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $69,645 | $54,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 24 | Arlington, TX | $48,431 | $31,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 25 | Miami, FL | $44,941 | $26,000 | 453,579 | 11 |
| 26 | Irving, TX | $48,330 | $31,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 27 | New York, NY | $52,616 | $31,000 | 8,537,673 | 32 |
| 28 | Garland, TX | $48,245 | $31,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 29 | Detroit, MI | $47,437 | $30,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $55,546 | $34,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 31 | Santa Ana, CA | $52,320 | $33,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 32 | Los Angeles, CA | $52,814 | $33,000 | 3,976,322 | 15 |
| 33 | Fremont, CA | $56,705 | $34,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 34 | Fort Wayne, IN | $45,345 | $30,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 35 | Raleigh, NC | $42,985 | $27,000 | 458,880 | 2 |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $42,393 | $27,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 37 | San Jose, CA | $56,692 | $34,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 38 | Buffalo, NY | $49,190 | $30,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | $40,457 | $26,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 40 | Hempstead, NY | $52,796 | $31,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $43,604 | $28,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 42 | Oyster Bay, NY | $52,749 | $31,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 43 | San Francisco, CA | $56,984 | $35,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $43,897 | $30,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 45 | Anchorage, AK | $50,618 | $39,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | $44,292 | $29,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 47 | Chesapeake, VA | $44,668 | $27,000 | 237,940 | 2 |
| 48 | Orlando, FL | $43,793 | $26,000 | 277,173 | 4 |
| 49 | Stockton, CA | $55,852 | $34,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 50 | Brookhaven, NY | $52,956 | $32,000 | 486,040 | - |
Highest paying cities for head chefs
| Rank | City | Avg. head chef salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellesley, MA | $56,294 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $53,302 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $53,270 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $52,814 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $52,616 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $51,407 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $50,149 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $46,263 |
| 9 | Coral Gables, FL | $44,987 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $44,836 |
| 11 | Carmel, IN | $44,397 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $43,897 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $42,974 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $40,868 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $39,511 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $38,330 |
| 17 | Brookfield, WI | $36,616 |
| 18 | Johnson City, TN | $32,507 |
| 19 | Myrtle Beach, SC | $32,352 |
| 20 | Idaho Falls, ID | $26,717 |
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Updated January 8, 2025