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Job outlook for line chefs in the United States
Line chef job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected line chef job growth rate is 15% from 2018-2028.
About 23,600 new jobs for line chefs are projected over the next decade.
Line chef salaries have increased 24% for line chefs in the last 5 years.
There are over 353,965 line chefs currently employed in the United States.
There are 144,227 active line chef job openings in the US.
The average line chef salary is $26,651.
Are line chef jobs in demand?
Line chef job and salary trends over time
Line chef jobs over time
Line chef job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 353,965 | 0.11% |
| 2020 | 319,414 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | 403,522 | 0.12% |
| 2018 | 388,939 | 0.12% |
| 2017 | 374,786 | 0.11% |
Average line chef salary over time
Line chef salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $26,651 | $12.81 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $25,728 | $12.37 | +6.3% |
| 2024 | $24,195 | $11.63 | +5.5% |
| 2023 | $22,942 | $11.03 | +6.4% |
| 2022 | $21,559 | $10.36 | +4.0% |
Line chef jobs by state
Most common states for line chefs
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 115 | 17% |
| 2 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 3,044 | 15% |
| 3 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,022 | 15% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 457 | 15% |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 906 | 14% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 787 | 14% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 142 | 14% |
| 8 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 884 | 13% |
| 9 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 635 | 13% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 96 | 13% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 96 | 13% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,216 | 12% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,201 | 12% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 680 | 12% |
| 15 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 513 | 12% |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 487 | 12% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 376 | 12% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 160 | 12% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,307 | 11% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 153 | 11% |
Most common cities for line chefs
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno | 4 | 2% | $31,297 |
| 2 | Battle Creek | 1 | 2% | $37,042 |
| 3 | Chicopee | 1 | 2% | $40,183 |
| 4 | Cleveland | 4 | 1% | $33,166 |
| 5 | Bridgeport | 2 | 1% | $28,234 |
| 6 | Little Rock | 2 | 1% | $20,845 |
| 7 | McKinney | 2 | 1% | $24,054 |
| 8 | Akron | 1 | 1% | $32,533 |
| 9 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $28,389 |
| 10 | Camarillo | 1 | 1% | $31,130 |
| 11 | Columbia | 1 | 1% | $19,460 |
| 12 | Austin | 2 | 0% | $23,836 |
| 13 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $36,342 |
| 14 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $23,747 |
| 15 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $32,651 |
| 16 | Buffalo | 1 | 0% | $37,499 |
| 17 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $27,878 |
Line Chef job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of line chef experts
PattiCakes Bakery and Stoby's Restaurant
What general advice would you give to a Line Chef?
Patti Stobaugh: Being humble and willing to learn will take you far in your career, not just in the beginning. If you have the desire to open your own food service business, go to work for a business that has a great reputation. That will give you the opportunity to learn so much.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Line Chefs, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Patti Stobaugh: Dependent upon location - large city (higher) compared to rural (lower), plus what "extra" does the employee bring to the table? Employees will advance much further with a willing and positive attitude. Our businesses hire based on attitude and train for skill.