Best cities for an institutional cook
The best cities for institutional cooks are San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA, and Fremont, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for institutional cooks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for institutional cooks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an institutional cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for institutional cooks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for institutional cooks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an institutional cook. While the absolute best city for institutional cooks is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for institutional cooks in 2024.
If you're looking for an institutional cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for institutional cooks in 2025
1. San Francisco, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,141 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 2. Oakland, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,086 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 3. Fremont, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,037 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. San Jose, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,031 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Stockton, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,828 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Omaha, NE
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $37,949 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Sacramento, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,807 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Lincoln, NE
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $37,948 Lowest 10 percent warn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Fresno, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,560 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Bakersfield, CA
Total institutional cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,475 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for institutional cooks
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Omaha, NE
- Sacramento, CA
- Lincoln, NE
- Fresno, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for an institutional cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $45,141 | $36,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 2 | Oakland, CA | $45,086 | $36,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 3 | Fremont, CA | $45,037 | $36,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $45,031 | $36,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $44,828 | $36,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 6 | Omaha, NE | $37,949 | $31,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $44,807 | $36,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 8 | Lincoln, NE | $37,948 | $31,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 9 | Fresno, CA | $44,560 | $36,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $44,475 | $36,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $44,327 | $36,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA | $44,265 | $35,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $44,203 | $35,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $44,187 | $35,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 15 | Irvine, CA | $44,158 | $35,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 16 | Riverside, CA | $44,074 | $35,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $43,950 | $35,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 18 | Chula Vista, CA | $43,928 | $35,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $35,296 | $28,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $37,966 | $32,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 21 | Las Vegas, NV | $34,668 | $28,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 22 | Henderson, NV | $34,633 | $28,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 23 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,844 | $25,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 24 | North Las Vegas, NV | $34,629 | $28,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 25 | Detroit, MI | $30,484 | $25,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 26 | Memphis, TN | $29,169 | $24,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | $28,628 | $23,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 28 | Nashville, TN | $29,156 | $24,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 29 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,835 | $24,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 30 | Toledo, OH | $28,495 | $23,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 31 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,502 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 32 | Lexington, KY | $29,171 | $24,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 33 | Seattle, WA | $37,838 | $30,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 34 | Boston, MA | $36,274 | $31,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 35 | Louisville, KY | $29,151 | $24,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 36 | Tulsa, OK | $29,631 | $24,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 37 | Durham, NC | $29,906 | $25,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 38 | Raleigh, NC | $29,884 | $25,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | $28,076 | $23,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $34,971 | $29,000 | 264,152 | 3 |
| 41 | Greensboro, NC | $29,878 | $24,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 42 | Cincinnati, OH | $27,825 | $23,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 43 | Winston-Salem, NC | $29,861 | $24,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 44 | Fort Wayne, IN | $28,329 | $23,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 45 | Charlotte, NC | $29,706 | $24,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 46 | Portland, OR | $33,152 | $26,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 47 | Newark, NJ | $34,964 | $29,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 48 | Saint Paul, MN | $30,656 | $25,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 49 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,005 | $23,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 50 | Minneapolis, MN | $30,649 | $25,000 | 413,651 | - |
Highest paying cities for institutional cooks
| Rank | City | Avg. institutional cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara, CA | $44,663 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | $37,966 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,370 |
| 4 | Utica, NY | $33,002 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,502 |











