Best cities for a line chef
The best cities for line chefs are Anchorage, AK, Cleveland, OH, and Fort Wayne, IN, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for line chefs vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for line chefs in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a line chef or considering a move, this list of the best cities for line chefs to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for line chefs. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a line chef. While the absolute best city for line chefs is Anchorage, AK, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for line chefs in 2024.
If you're looking for a line chef job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for line chefs in 2026
1. Anchorage, AK
Total line chef jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $40,698 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 10.73 2. Cleveland, OH
Total line chef jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $33,166 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 2.45 3. Fort Wayne, IN
Total line chef jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $31,270 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 2.67 4. Reno, NV
Total line chef jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $31,297 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 5.16 5. Pittsburgh, PA
Total line chef jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $35,282 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 1.03 6. Buffalo, NY
Total line chef jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $37,499 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location quotient: 2.28 7. Cincinnati, OH
Total line chef jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $28,830 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.80 8. Indianapolis, IN
Total line chef jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $29,110 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.58 9. Philadelphia, PA
Total line chef jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $36,573 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.80 10. Portland, OR
Total line chef jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $29,395 Lowest 10 percent warn: $20,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.60
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Best cities for line chefs
- Anchorage, AK
- Cleveland, OH
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Reno, NV
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Buffalo, NY
- Cincinnati, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- Philadelphia, PA
- Portland, OR
- (7 line chef jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a line chef
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $40,698 | $33,000 | 298,192 | 7 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $33,166 | $22,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 3 | Fort Wayne, IN | $31,270 | $21,000 | 264,488 | 2 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $31,297 | $21,000 | 245,255 | 5 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,282 | $23,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $37,499 | $25,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $28,830 | $20,000 | 298,800 | 5 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $29,110 | $20,000 | 855,164 | 8 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,573 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | $29,395 | $20,000 | 639,863 | 7 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $29,020 | $20,000 | 632,912 | 4 |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $31,673 | $21,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 13 | Saint Paul, MN | $34,058 | $24,000 | 302,398 | 2 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $36,342 | $25,000 | 2,704,958 | 5 |
| 15 | New York, NY | $35,620 | $23,000 | 8,537,673 | 36 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $32,651 | $22,000 | 870,887 | 12 |
| 17 | Seattle, WA | $37,877 | $26,000 | 704,352 | 5 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $25,921 | $18,000 | 458,880 | 5 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $25,994 | $18,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 20 | Boston, MA | $40,306 | $27,000 | 673,184 | 3 |
| 21 | Toledo, OH | $32,860 | $22,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $37,798 | $26,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 23 | Colorado Springs, CO | $27,878 | $19,000 | 465,101 | 16 |
| 24 | Anaheim, CA | $30,771 | $21,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 25 | Columbus, OH | $30,159 | $20,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 26 | Newark, NJ | $37,909 | $25,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 27 | Minneapolis, MN | $34,060 | $24,000 | 413,651 | 1 |
| 28 | Jersey City, NJ | $37,904 | $25,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 29 | Riverside, CA | $30,631 | $21,000 | 324,722 | 3 |
| 30 | Denver, CO | $28,279 | $19,000 | 693,060 | 14 |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $25,521 | $17,000 | 842,051 | 4 |
| 32 | Long Beach, CA | $30,838 | $21,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 33 | Brookhaven, NY | $36,152 | $24,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 34 | Oyster Bay, NY | $35,935 | $23,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 35 | Islip, NY | $35,898 | $23,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 36 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,388 | $20,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 37 | Kansas City, MO | $25,366 | $17,000 | 481,420 | 2 |
| 38 | Hempstead, NY | $35,668 | $23,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 39 | Madison, WI | $29,089 | $20,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 40 | Corpus Christi, TX | $23,770 | $16,000 | 325,733 | 2 |
| 41 | San Jose, CA | $32,398 | $22,000 | 1,025,350 | 4 |
| 42 | Saint Louis, MO | $25,364 | $17,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 43 | North Las Vegas, NV | $28,980 | $20,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 44 | Henderson, NV | $28,932 | $20,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 45 | Irving, TX | $24,003 | $16,000 | 238,289 | 8 |
| 46 | Lexington, KY | $24,649 | $17,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 47 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,927 | $21,000 | 3,976,322 | 8 |
| 48 | Louisville, KY | $24,646 | $17,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 49 | Oakland, CA | $32,586 | $22,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 50 | Sacramento, CA | $32,563 | $22,000 | 495,234 | - |
Highest paying cities for line chefs
| Rank | City | Avg. line chef salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicopee, MA | $40,183 |
| 2 | Rochester, NY | $38,082 |
| 3 | Novi, MI | $37,848 |
| 4 | Edison, NJ | $37,479 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $36,573 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $36,342 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $34,058 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $33,166 |
| 9 | Santa Rosa, CA | $32,834 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $30,166 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $29,395 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $29,020 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $28,279 |
| 14 | Rockville, MD | $27,802 |
| 15 | Alexandria, VA | $26,923 |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $25,521 |
| 17 | Plano, TX | $24,026 |
| 18 | Duluth, GA | $23,814 |
| 19 | Orlando, FL | $22,209 |
| 20 | Little Rock, AR | $20,845 |
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Updated January 8, 2025