Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a line cook, prep cook
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like line cooks, prep cook are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for line cooks, prep cook aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In order to help you decide which state is the best for line cooks, prep cook, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for line cook, prep cook jobs.
In order to get you the best states for line cooks, prep cook, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a line cook, prep cook, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for line cooks, prep cook in 2025
1. Colorado
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 1,295 Average annual salary: $36,829 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
2. Wyoming
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 105 Average annual salary: $35,415 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
3. Washington
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 813 Average annual salary: $42,190 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
4. Minnesota
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 1,122 Average annual salary: $35,523 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Alaska
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $37,408 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.85
6. Nevada
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 426 Average annual salary: $32,809 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
7. Oregon
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 496 Average annual salary: $37,074 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
8. Massachusetts
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 1,111 Average annual salary: $37,296 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location Quotient: 0.68
9. New Hampshire
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 167 Average annual salary: $36,291 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 0.54
10. Arizona
Total line cook, prep cook jobs: 1,469 Average annual salary: $32,766 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
Line cook, prep cook jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a line cook, prep cook
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a line cook, prep cook
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $36,829 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,295 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $35,415 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 105 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,190 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 813 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $35,523 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,122 |
| 5 | Alaska | $37,408 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 127 |
| 6 | Nevada | $32,809 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 426 |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,074 | $29,000 | 4,142,776 | 496 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $37,296 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,111 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $36,291 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 167 |
| 10 | Arizona | $32,766 | $25,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,469 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $39,377 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 141 |
| 12 | New York | $37,902 | $30,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,612 |
| 13 | Vermont | $35,920 | $29,000 | 623,657 | 67 |
| 14 | Illinois | $33,575 | $26,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,272 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $35,754 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 521 |
| 16 | Idaho | $33,229 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 284 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $33,790 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 132 |
| 18 | Maine | $34,309 | $27,000 | 1,335,907 | 198 |
| 19 | Indiana | $31,011 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,339 |
| 20 | California | $36,620 | $29,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,402 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $33,037 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 309 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $35,316 | $28,000 | 9,005,644 | 992 |
| 23 | Texas | $30,548 | $23,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,537 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $32,078 | $25,000 | 5,795,483 | 855 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $33,558 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 117 |
| 26 | Michigan | $30,245 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,529 |
| 27 | Ohio | $29,907 | $23,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,914 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $31,533 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,883 |
| 29 | Florida | $30,340 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,670 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $31,394 | $24,000 | 2,088,070 | 338 |
| 31 | Montana | $31,709 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 187 |
| 32 | Delaware | $33,011 | $26,000 | 961,939 | 167 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $36,556 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 101 |
| 34 | Utah | $30,673 | $24,000 | 3,101,833 | 572 |
| 35 | Kansas | $30,113 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 526 |
| 36 | Missouri | $30,423 | $23,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,096 |
| 37 | Maryland | $32,614 | $25,000 | 6,052,177 | 995 |
| 38 | Iowa | $29,871 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 612 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $29,390 | $22,000 | 4,684,333 | 649 |
| 40 | Alabama | $28,680 | $22,000 | 4,874,747 | 803 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $27,980 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 826 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $28,822 | $22,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,908 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $28,939 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 852 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $27,338 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,232 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $29,946 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 122 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $28,121 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 440 |
| 47 | Georgia | $28,015 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,965 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,171 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 560 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $23,502 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 407 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $25,267 | $19,000 | 1,815,857 | 263 |
| 51 | Virginia | $27,063 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,379 |
Highest paying states for line cooks, prep cook
| Rank | State | Avg. Line Cook, Prep Cook Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $36,829 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $35,415 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,190 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $35,523 |
| 5 | Alaska | $37,408 |
| 6 | Nevada | $32,809 |
| 7 | Oregon | $37,074 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $37,296 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $36,291 |
| 10 | Arizona | $32,766 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $39,377 |
| 12 | New York | $37,902 |
| 13 | Vermont | $35,920 |
| 14 | Illinois | $33,575 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $35,754 |
| 16 | Idaho | $33,229 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $33,790 |
| 18 | Maine | $34,309 |
| 19 | Indiana | $31,011 |
| 20 | California | $36,620 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $33,037 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $35,316 |
| 23 | Texas | $30,548 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $32,078 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $33,558 |
| 26 | Michigan | $30,245 |
| 27 | Ohio | $29,907 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $31,533 |
| 29 | Florida | $30,340 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $31,394 |
| 31 | Montana | $31,709 |
| 32 | Delaware | $33,011 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $36,556 |
| 34 | Utah | $30,673 |
| 35 | Kansas | $30,113 |
| 36 | Missouri | $30,423 |
| 37 | Maryland | $32,614 |
| 38 | Iowa | $29,871 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $29,390 |
| 40 | Alabama | $28,680 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $27,980 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $28,822 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $28,939 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $27,338 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $29,946 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $28,121 |
| 47 | Georgia | $28,015 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $27,171 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $23,502 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $25,267 |
| 51 | Virginia | $27,063 |
Line cook, prep cook best states 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