Best cities for a line cook, prep cook
The best cities for line cooks, prep cook are Portland, OR, Denver, CO, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for line cooks, prep cook vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for line cooks, prep cook in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a line cook, prep cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for line cooks, prep cook to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for line cooks, prep cook. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a line cook, prep cook. While the absolute best city for line cooks, prep cook is Portland, OR, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for line cooks, prep cook in 2024.
If you're looking for a line cook, prep cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for line cooks, prep cook in 2025
1. Portland, OR
Line cook, prep cook jobs in PortlandTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $37,087 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 5.82 2. Denver, CO
Line cook, prep cook jobs in DenverTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 81 Average annual salary: $36,827 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 2.18 3. Las Vegas, NV
Line cook, prep cook jobs in Las VegasTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $32,611 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 2.71 4. Seattle, WA
Line cook, prep cook jobs in SeattleTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 78 Average annual salary: $42,326 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location quotient: 2.11 5. Henderson, NV
Line cook, prep cook jobs in HendersonTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $32,549 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 2.46 6. Omaha, NE
Line cook, prep cook jobs in OmahaTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $32,949 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.18 7. Colorado Springs, CO
Line cook, prep cook jobs in Colorado SpringsTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $36,621 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 1.58 8. Scottsdale, AZ
Line cook, prep cook jobs in ScottsdaleTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $32,775 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 3.51 9. Tucson, AZ
Line cook, prep cook jobs in TucsonTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $32,552 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 2.01 10. Phoenix, AZ
Line cook, prep cook jobs in PhoenixTotal line cook, prep cook jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $32,825 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.57
Choose from 10+ customizable line cook, prep cook resume templates
Choose from a variety of easy-to-use line cook, prep cook resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your line cook, prep cook resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Best cities for line cooks, prep cook
- Portland, OR
- Denver, CO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Seattle, WA
- Henderson, NV
- Omaha, NE
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Tucson, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a line cook, prep cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $37,087 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 87 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $36,827 | $29,000 | 693,060 | 81 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,611 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 28 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $42,326 | $34,000 | 704,352 | 78 |
| 5 | Henderson, NV | $32,549 | $25,000 | 292,969 | 3 |
| 6 | Omaha, NE | $32,949 | $25,000 | 446,970 | 11 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $36,621 | $28,000 | 465,101 | 15 |
| 8 | Scottsdale, AZ | $32,775 | $25,000 | 246,645 | 16 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $32,552 | $25,000 | 530,706 | 10 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,825 | $25,000 | 1,615,017 | 43 |
| 11 | Aurora, CO | $36,803 | $29,000 | 361,710 | 5 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $30,601 | $23,000 | 947,890 | 68 |
| 13 | Lubbock, TX | $31,158 | $24,000 | 252,506 | 7 |
| 14 | Toledo, OH | $30,497 | $24,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 15 | Chandler, AZ | $32,759 | $25,000 | 247,477 | 6 |
| 16 | Lincoln, NE | $32,916 | $25,000 | 280,364 | 2 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $31,000 | $24,000 | 303,625 | 13 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $35,518 | $28,000 | 302,398 | 3 |
| 19 | Mesa, AZ | $32,734 | $25,000 | 484,587 | 2 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $30,738 | $23,000 | 1,492,510 | 17 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | $37,358 | $29,000 | 673,184 | 12 |
| 22 | Buffalo, NY | $38,522 | $30,000 | 256,902 | 3 |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $30,542 | $23,000 | 854,113 | 9 |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,514 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 15 |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $30,617 | $24,000 | 385,809 | 4 |
| 26 | Columbus, OH | $29,527 | $23,000 | 860,090 | 15 |
| 27 | Minneapolis, MN | $35,520 | $28,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 28 | Oakland, CA | $37,383 | $29,000 | 420,005 | 7 |
| 29 | Milwaukee, WI | $31,950 | $25,000 | 595,047 | 2 |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $30,462 | $23,000 | 1,317,929 | 21 |
| 31 | El Paso, TX | $32,037 | $25,000 | 683,080 | 1 |
| 32 | Lexington, KY | $28,017 | $21,000 | 318,449 | 6 |
| 33 | Stockton, CA | $37,214 | $29,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 34 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,380 | $28,000 | 3,976,322 | 71 |
| 35 | Long Beach, CA | $36,307 | $28,000 | 470,130 | 5 |
| 36 | Anchorage, AK | $37,540 | $32,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 37 | Madison, WI | $31,787 | $25,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 38 | Fort Wayne, IN | $31,653 | $24,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 39 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,812 | $24,000 | 855,164 | 6 |
| 40 | Louisville, KY | $28,007 | $21,000 | 597,337 | 14 |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $30,189 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 3 |
| 42 | Anaheim, CA | $36,247 | $28,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 43 | Reno, NV | $33,788 | $26,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 44 | North Las Vegas, NV | $32,578 | $25,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 45 | Sacramento, CA | $37,259 | $29,000 | 495,234 | 8 |
| 46 | Nashville, TN | $27,389 | $21,000 | 660,388 | 18 |
| 47 | New York, NY | $37,781 | $29,000 | 8,537,673 | 29 |
| 48 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $39,396 | $32,000 | 351,792 | 7 |
| 49 | Wichita, KS | $30,087 | $23,000 | 389,902 | 1 |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | $28,960 | $22,000 | 298,800 | 5 |
Highest paying cities for line cooks, prep cook
| Rank | City | Avg. line cook, prep cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $42,326 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $37,781 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $37,423 |
| 4 | Grand Junction, CO | $37,415 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $37,358 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $37,087 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $36,588 |
| 8 | Norwich, CT | $35,848 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $33,645 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,825 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $32,611 |
| 12 | Bethesda, MD | $32,427 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $31,514 |
| 14 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,812 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $30,799 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $30,738 |
| 17 | Salt Lake City, UT | $30,638 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $30,310 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $29,527 |
| 20 | Greenville, SC | $29,345 |
Line cook, prep cook best cities FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.
Search for line cook, prep cook jobs
Updated January 8, 2025