Best cities for a line cook
The best cities for line cooks are Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and Henderson, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for line cooks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for line cooks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a line cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for line cooks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for line cooks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a line cook. While the absolute best city for line cooks is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for line cooks in 2024.
If you're looking for a line cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for line cooks in 2025
1. Seattle, WA
Line cook jobs in SeattleTotal line cook jobs: 240 Average annual salary: $41,098 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 1.73 2. Portland, OR
Line cook jobs in PortlandTotal line cook jobs: 210 Average annual salary: $36,228 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 4.13 3. Henderson, NV
Line cook jobs in HendersonTotal line cook jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $34,214 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.68 4. Las Vegas, NV
Line cook jobs in Las VegasTotal line cook jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $34,274 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.29 5. North Las Vegas, NV
Line cook jobs in North Las VegasTotal line cook jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $34,223 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 1.25 6. Scottsdale, AZ
Line cook jobs in ScottsdaleTotal line cook jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $32,655 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.67 7. Gilbert, AZ
Line cook jobs in GilbertTotal line cook jobs: 44 Average annual salary: $32,611 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 3.54 8. Mesa, AZ
Line cook jobs in MesaTotal line cook jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $32,607 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 2.15 9. Reno, NV
Line cook jobs in RenoTotal line cook jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $35,124 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 0.96 10. Urban Honolulu, HI
Line cook jobs in Urban HonoluluTotal line cook jobs: 70 Average annual salary: $45,685 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 1.09
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Best cities for line cooks
- Seattle, WA
- Portland, OR
- Henderson, NV
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Gilbert, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- Reno, NV
- Urban Honolulu, HI
Detailed list of the best cities for a line cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $41,098 | $32,000 | 704,352 | 240 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $36,228 | $28,000 | 639,863 | 210 |
| 3 | Henderson, NV | $34,214 | $26,000 | 292,969 | 24 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $34,274 | $26,000 | 632,912 | 156 |
| 5 | North Las Vegas, NV | $34,223 | $26,000 | 238,702 | 7 |
| 6 | Scottsdale, AZ | $32,655 | $25,000 | 246,645 | 89 |
| 7 | Gilbert, AZ | $32,611 | $25,000 | 237,133 | 44 |
| 8 | Mesa, AZ | $32,607 | $25,000 | 484,587 | 52 |
| 9 | Reno, NV | $35,124 | $27,000 | 245,255 | 37 |
| 10 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,685 | $36,000 | 351,792 | 70 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $35,422 | $27,000 | 693,060 | 87 |
| 12 | Chandler, AZ | $32,637 | $25,000 | 247,477 | 60 |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $39,443 | $30,000 | 420,005 | 44 |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $28,646 | $22,000 | 660,388 | 15 |
| 15 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,397 | $27,000 | 465,101 | 127 |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA | $38,479 | $30,000 | 351,043 | 36 |
| 17 | Glendale, AZ | $32,741 | $25,000 | 245,895 | 12 |
| 18 | Chula Vista, CA | $38,131 | $29,000 | 267,172 | 22 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,716 | $25,000 | 1,615,017 | 245 |
| 20 | Toledo, OH | $29,237 | $23,000 | 278,508 | 23 |
| 21 | Long Beach, CA | $38,549 | $30,000 | 470,130 | 32 |
| 22 | Austin, TX | $29,212 | $22,000 | 947,890 | 194 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | $38,622 | $30,000 | 3,976,322 | 124 |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $32,306 | $25,000 | 530,706 | 49 |
| 25 | Anchorage, AK | $36,164 | $29,000 | 298,192 | 13 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,291 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 136 |
| 27 | Madison, WI | $29,875 | $23,000 | 252,551 | 84 |
| 28 | Arlington, TX | $28,683 | $22,000 | 392,772 | 27 |
| 29 | San Diego, CA | $38,163 | $29,000 | 1,406,630 | 27 |
| 30 | Aurora, CO | $35,396 | $27,000 | 361,710 | 47 |
| 31 | Buffalo, NY | $36,530 | $29,000 | 256,902 | 40 |
| 32 | Albuquerque, NM | $29,454 | $23,000 | 559,277 | 71 |
| 33 | Pittsburgh, PA | $30,236 | $23,000 | 303,625 | 110 |
| 34 | San Antonio, TX | $29,613 | $22,000 | 1,492,510 | 134 |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $28,491 | $22,000 | 860,090 | 175 |
| 36 | El Paso, TX | $31,414 | $24,000 | 683,080 | 22 |
| 37 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,243 | $26,000 | 413,651 | 90 |
| 38 | Boston, MA | $36,155 | $29,000 | 673,184 | 133 |
| 39 | Detroit, MI | $30,312 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 57 |
| 40 | Orlando, FL | $29,853 | $23,000 | 277,173 | 164 |
| 41 | Santa Ana, CA | $38,460 | $30,000 | 334,217 | 17 |
| 42 | Stockton, CA | $39,199 | $30,000 | 307,072 | 8 |
| 43 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $29,992 | $23,000 | 260,999 | 33 |
| 44 | San Francisco, CA | $39,493 | $30,000 | 870,887 | 117 |
| 45 | Chesapeake, VA | $28,658 | $22,000 | 237,940 | 20 |
| 46 | Saint Paul, MN | $33,250 | $26,000 | 302,398 | 34 |
| 47 | Virginia Beach, VA | $28,809 | $22,000 | 452,602 | 46 |
| 48 | Riverside, CA | $38,329 | $30,000 | 324,722 | 19 |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $29,875 | $22,000 | 453,579 | 162 |
| 50 | Fort Wayne, IN | $27,932 | $21,000 | 264,488 | 26 |
Highest paying cities for line cooks
| Rank | City | Avg. line cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $41,098 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $39,493 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $36,765 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $36,228 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $36,155 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $36,042 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $35,422 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $34,274 |
| 9 | Portland, ME | $33,418 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,243 |
| 11 | Washington, UT | $32,961 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,716 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $31,696 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,291 |
| 15 | Washington, MI | $30,488 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $30,083 |
| 17 | Madison, WI | $29,875 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $29,613 |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $29,454 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $28,529 |
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Updated January 8, 2025