Best cities for a head cook
The best cities for head cooks are Corpus Christi, TX, Las Vegas, NV, and Garland, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head cooks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head cooks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a head cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head cooks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head cooks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head cook. While the absolute best city for head cooks is Corpus Christi, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head cooks in 2024.
If you're looking for a head cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for head cooks in 2026
1. Corpus Christi, TX
Total head cook jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $58,260 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location quotient: 36.24 2. Las Vegas, NV
Total head cook jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $54,666 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 19.67 3. Garland, TX
Total head cook jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $54,428 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 35.79 4. Newark, NJ
Total head cook jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $71,252 Lowest 10 percent warn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000 Location quotient: 17.06 5. Houston, TX
Total head cook jobs: 64 Average annual salary: $56,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 9.43 6. El Paso, TX
Total head cook jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $58,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 11.61 7. Dallas, TX
Total head cook jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $54,572 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location quotient: 11.63 8. San Antonio, TX
Total head cook jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $57,577 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 5.07 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total head cook jobs: 25 Average annual salary: $51,419 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 8.56 10. Austin, TX
Total head cook jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $56,796 Lowest 10 percent warn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 3.47
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Best cities for head cooks
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Garland, TX
- Newark, NJ
- Houston, TX
- El Paso, TX
- Dallas, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
- (5 head cook jobs)
- (28 head cook jobs)
- (4 head cook jobs)
- (12 head cook jobs)
- (64 head cook jobs)
- (4 head cook jobs)
- (43 head cook jobs)
- (9 head cook jobs)
- (25 head cook jobs)
- (14 head cook jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a head cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi, TX | $58,260 | $39,000 | 325,733 | 5 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $54,666 | $38,000 | 632,912 | 28 |
| 3 | Garland, TX | $54,428 | $38,000 | 234,943 | 4 |
| 4 | Newark, NJ | $71,252 | $46,000 | 281,764 | 12 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $56,462 | $38,000 | 2,303,482 | 64 |
| 6 | El Paso, TX | $58,349 | $41,000 | 683,080 | 4 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $54,572 | $38,000 | 1,317,929 | 43 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $57,577 | $39,000 | 1,492,510 | 9 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,419 | $33,000 | 1,567,872 | 25 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $56,796 | $39,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $51,369 | $34,000 | 614,664 | 32 |
| 12 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $59,587 | $48,000 | 351,792 | 5 |
| 13 | Irving, TX | $54,590 | $38,000 | 238,289 | 8 |
| 14 | Glendale, AZ | $43,063 | $30,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 15 | Cleveland, OH | $41,644 | $28,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 16 | Durham, NC | $42,335 | $28,000 | 263,016 | 6 |
| 17 | Jersey City, NJ | $71,340 | $46,000 | 264,152 | 4 |
| 18 | Virginia Beach, VA | $49,484 | $32,000 | 452,602 | 2 |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | $42,048 | $28,000 | 287,027 | 3 |
| 20 | Stockton, CA | $51,828 | $36,000 | 307,072 | 3 |
| 21 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,170 | $36,000 | 3,976,322 | 101 |
| 22 | Boston, MA | $53,351 | $35,000 | 673,184 | 14 |
| 23 | Bakersfield, CA | $51,520 | $35,000 | 376,380 | 4 |
| 24 | Reno, NV | $55,365 | $38,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 25 | Tulsa, OK | $39,473 | $28,000 | 403,090 | 14 |
| 26 | North Las Vegas, NV | $54,583 | $38,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 27 | Oyster Bay, NY | $47,005 | $30,000 | 293,214 | 2 |
| 28 | Lexington, KY | $39,819 | $27,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 29 | Laredo, TX | $59,103 | $40,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 30 | Henderson, NV | $54,575 | $38,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 31 | Sacramento, CA | $51,708 | $35,000 | 495,234 | 11 |
| 32 | Fort Worth, TX | $54,780 | $38,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 33 | Santa Ana, CA | $50,931 | $36,000 | 334,217 | 4 |
| 34 | Arlington, TX | $54,715 | $38,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 35 | Lubbock, TX | $56,162 | $39,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $51,051 | $36,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 37 | Chula Vista, CA | $50,438 | $35,000 | 267,172 | 3 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $56,908 | $41,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 39 | Plano, TX | $54,387 | $38,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 40 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,651 | $31,000 | 303,625 | 3 |
| 41 | Saint Louis, MO | $43,994 | $31,000 | 311,404 | 5 |
| 42 | Oakland, CA | $52,158 | $36,000 | 420,005 | 2 |
| 43 | New York, NY | $46,875 | $30,000 | 8,537,673 | 82 |
| 44 | Aurora, CO | $45,754 | $32,000 | 361,710 | 8 |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | $44,428 | $31,000 | 2,704,958 | 34 |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $40,933 | $28,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 47 | Atlanta, GA | $49,648 | $34,000 | 472,522 | 8 |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $39,744 | $27,000 | 597,337 | 4 |
| 49 | Fremont, CA | $52,136 | $36,000 | 233,136 | 4 |
| 50 | Anaheim, CA | $50,967 | $36,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for head cooks
| Rank | City | Avg. head cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Antonio, TX | $57,577 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $56,908 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $54,666 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $53,351 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $52,221 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,419 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $51,369 |
| 8 | Alexandria, VA | $50,348 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $47,339 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $46,875 |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $45,840 |
| 12 | Buffalo Grove, IL | $44,452 |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,035 |
| 14 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,151 |
| 15 | Southington, CT | $41,450 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $40,494 |
| 17 | Fargo, ND | $40,034 |
| 18 | Tulsa, OK | $39,473 |
| 19 | Houma, LA | $38,085 |
| 20 | Ogden, UT | $36,058 |
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Updated January 8, 2025