Best states for a lead line cook

Q: What is the best state for lead line cooks?

The best state to be a lead line cook is Alaska based on lead line cook salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for lead line cooks?

The highest paying state for lead line cooks is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for lead line cooks?

The worst state for lead line cooks is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for lead line cooks in the United States. Lead line cook positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for lead line cooks.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for lead line cook jobs.

In order to get you the best states for lead line cooks, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Alaska is the best state for lead line cook jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.

10 best states for lead line cooks in 2026

1. Alaska
Total lead line cook jobs: 229
Average annual salary: $41,844
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000
Location Quotient:
1.47
Lead line cook jobs in Alaska
2. Idaho
Total lead line cook jobs: 502
Average annual salary: $37,147
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Location Quotient:
1.63
Lead line cook jobs in Idaho
3. North Dakota
Total lead line cook jobs: 143
Average annual salary: $40,528
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Location Quotient:
0.82
Lead line cook jobs in North Dakota
4. Washington
Total lead line cook jobs: 853
Average annual salary: $46,177
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
0.62
Lead line cook jobs in Washington
5. Wyoming
Total lead line cook jobs: 94
Average annual salary: $39,505
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.84
Lead line cook jobs in Wyoming
6. Minnesota
Total lead line cook jobs: 1,113
Average annual salary: $39,269
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
Lead line cook jobs in Minnesota
7. Oregon
Total lead line cook jobs: 534
Average annual salary: $41,140
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
0.69
Lead line cook jobs in Oregon
8. Connecticut
Total lead line cook jobs: 469
Average annual salary: $41,903
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.76
Lead line cook jobs in Connecticut
9. South Dakota
Total lead line cook jobs: 221
Average annual salary: $36,193
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Lead line cook jobs in South Dakota
10. Montana
Total lead line cook jobs: 353
Average annual salary: $35,671
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Location Quotient:
1.63
Lead line cook jobs in Montana

Lead line cook jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a lead line cook

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a lead line cook

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Alaska	$41,844	$37,000	739,795	229
2	Idaho	$37,147	$29,000	1,716,943	502
3	North Dakota	$40,528	$32,000	755,393	143
4	Washington	$46,177	$36,000	7,405,743	853
5	Wyoming	$39,505	$31,000	579,315	94
6	Minnesota	$39,269	$31,000	5,576,606	1,113
7	Oregon	$41,140	$32,000	4,142,776	534
8	Connecticut	$41,903	$31,000	3,588,184	469
9	South Dakota	$36,193	$28,000	869,666	221
10	Montana	$35,671	$28,000	1,050,493	353
11	Pennsylvania	$36,362	$28,000	12,805,537	2,077
12	Maine	$38,301	$29,000	1,335,907	191
13	Colorado	$37,949	$30,000	5,607,154	1,144
14	New Hampshire	$39,506	$30,000	1,342,795	182
15	Vermont	$39,917	$30,000	623,657	65
16	New Jersey	$40,205	$30,000	9,005,644	1,020
17	Nebraska	$35,297	$27,000	1,920,076	501
18	Nevada	$34,580	$26,000	2,998,039	708
19	Michigan	$33,759	$26,000	9,962,311	2,529
20	Utah	$35,775	$28,000	3,101,833	571
21	California	$40,287	$31,000	39,536,653	4,093
22	Arizona	$35,556	$27,000	7,016,270	1,294
23	District of Columbia	$41,774	$32,000	693,972	131
24	Rhode Island	$36,728	$28,000	1,059,639	124
25	Wisconsin	$34,787	$27,000	5,795,483	864
26	Virginia	$36,327	$28,000	8,470,020	1,414
27	Iowa	$33,797	$26,000	3,145,711	658
28	Massachusetts	$36,743	$28,000	6,859,819	1,039
29	Hawaii	$38,893	$32,000	1,427,538	123
30	Kentucky	$32,184	$25,000	4,454,189	882
31	Ohio	$32,296	$25,000	11,658,609	1,860
32	New Mexico	$31,779	$25,000	2,088,070	562
33	North Carolina	$32,466	$25,000	10,273,419	1,971
34	Indiana	$31,945	$25,000	6,666,818	1,399
35	Texas	$32,138	$25,000	28,304,596	5,139
36	Florida	$32,523	$25,000	20,984,400	3,967
37	Tennessee	$31,508	$24,000	6,715,984	1,570
38	New York	$36,505	$27,000	19,849,399	1,784
39	Maryland	$36,305	$28,000	6,052,177	906
40	Delaware	$35,222	$27,000	961,939	144
41	Arkansas	$30,504	$24,000	3,004,279	669
42	Oklahoma	$30,973	$24,000	3,930,864	907
43	Louisiana	$31,581	$24,000	4,684,333	592
44	Illinois	$32,783	$25,000	12,802,023	1,925
45	Georgia	$31,675	$24,000	10,429,379	1,712
46	Missouri	$30,406	$24,000	6,113,532	1,280
47	South Carolina	$30,235	$23,000	5,024,369	889
48	Kansas	$27,339	$21,000	2,913,123	700
49	West Virginia	$27,686	$21,000	1,815,857	270
50	Mississippi	$26,582	$21,000	2,984,100	402
51	Alabama	$28,801	$22,000	4,874,747	691

Highest paying states for lead line cooks

Rank	State	Avg. Lead Line Cook Salary
1	Alaska	$41,844
2	Idaho	$37,147
3	North Dakota	$40,528
4	Washington	$46,177
5	Wyoming	$39,505
6	Minnesota	$39,269
7	Oregon	$41,140
8	Connecticut	$41,903
9	South Dakota	$36,193
10	Montana	$35,671
11	Pennsylvania	$36,362
12	Maine	$38,301
13	Colorado	$37,949
14	New Hampshire	$39,506
15	Vermont	$39,917
16	New Jersey	$40,205
17	Nebraska	$35,297
18	Nevada	$34,580
19	Michigan	$33,759
20	Utah	$35,775
21	California	$40,287
22	Arizona	$35,556
23	District of Columbia	$41,774
24	Rhode Island	$36,728
25	Wisconsin	$34,787
26	Virginia	$36,327
27	Iowa	$33,797
28	Massachusetts	$36,743
29	Hawaii	$38,893
30	Kentucky	$32,184
31	Ohio	$32,296
32	New Mexico	$31,779
33	North Carolina	$32,466
34	Indiana	$31,945
35	Texas	$32,138
36	Florida	$32,523
37	Tennessee	$31,508
38	New York	$36,505
39	Maryland	$36,305
40	Delaware	$35,222
41	Arkansas	$30,504
42	Oklahoma	$30,973
43	Louisiana	$31,581
44	Illinois	$32,783
45	Georgia	$31,675
46	Missouri	$30,406
47	South Carolina	$30,235
48	Kansas	$27,339
49	West Virginia	$27,686
50	Mississippi	$26,582
51	Alabama	$28,801

Lead line cook best states FAQs

What is the best state for lead line cooks?

What is the highest paying state for lead line cooks?

What is the worst state for lead line cooks?

Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Lead Line Cook
Best states for Lead Line Cooks

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs

Total lead line cook jobs:	229
Average annual salary:	$41,844
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$37,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$46,000
Location Quotient:	1.47

Best states for a lead line cook

10 best states for lead line cooks in 2026

1. Alaska

2. Idaho

3. North Dakota

4. Washington

5. Wyoming

6. Minnesota

7. Oregon

8. Connecticut

9. South Dakota

10. Montana