Job outlook for line cooks, prep cook in the United States

Line cook, prep cook job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

The projected line cook, prep cook job growth rate is 16% from 2018-2028.
About 419,300 new jobs for line cooks, prep cook are projected over the next decade.
Line cook, prep cook salaries have increased 19% for line cooks, prep cook in the last 5 years.
There are over 1,114,101 line cooks, prep cook currently employed in the United States.
There are 164,756 active line cook, prep cook job openings in the US.
The average line cook, prep cook salary is $32,982.

Are line cook, prep cook jobs in demand?

Yes, line cook, prep cook jobs are in demand. Line cook, prep cook demand is projected to grow 16% from 2018 to 2028.

Line cook, prep cook job and salary trends over time

Compare the number of line cook, prep cook jobs and the average line cook, prep cook salary over time.

Line cook, prep cook jobs over time

Line cook, prep cook job growth rate over time

Year	# of jobs	% of population
2021	1,114,101	0.33%
2020	1,034,835	0.31%
2019	1,307,371	0.39%
2018	1,250,623	0.38%
2017	1,190,968	0.36%

Average line cook, prep cook salary over time

Line cook, prep cook salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$32,982	$15.86	+3.6%
2024	$31,825	$15.30	+4.7%
2023	$30,382	$14.61	+5.4%
2022	$28,836	$13.86	+4.3%
2021	$27,645	$13.29	+4.5%

Top line cook, prep cook jobs near you

Line cook, prep cook jobs by state

The map below shows you the number of line cook, prep cook job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where line cooks, prep cook earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average salary: Job openings:

Most common states for line cooks, prep cook

Rank	State	Population	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl
1	Colorado	5,607,154	1,295	23%
2	Florida	20,984,400	4,670	22%
3	Arizona	7,016,270	1,469	21%
4	Indiana	6,666,818	1,339	20%
5	Minnesota	5,576,606	1,122	20%
6	Georgia	10,429,379	1,965	19%
7	North Carolina	10,273,419	1,908	19%
8	Kentucky	4,454,189	826	19%
9	Iowa	3,145,711	612	19%
10	Illinois	12,802,023	2,272	18%
11	Tennessee	6,715,984	1,232	18%
12	Missouri	6,113,532	1,096	18%
13	Utah	3,101,833	572	18%
14	Kansas	2,913,123	526	18%
15	Montana	1,050,493	187	18%
16	Wyoming	579,315	105	18%
17	Idaho	1,716,943	284	17%
18	Delaware	961,939	167	17%
19	North Dakota	755,393	132	17%
20	Alaska	739,795	127	17%

Most common cities for line cooks, prep cook

Rank	City	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl	Avg. salary
1	Knoxville	8	4%	$27,225
2	Atlanta	13	3%	$28,192
3	Orlando	7	3%	$30,387
4	Columbus	13	2%	$29,527
5	Las Vegas	12	2%	$32,611
6	Denver	11	2%	$36,827
7	Colorado Springs	10	2%	$36,621
8	Chicago	18	1%	$33,645
9	Houston	13	1%	$30,054
10	Phoenix	10	1%	$32,825
11	Charlotte	9	1%	$28,620
12	Jacksonville	8	1%	$30,799
13	San Diego	8	1%	$35,977
14	Baltimore	7	1%	$32,729
15	San Francisco	7	1%	$37,423
16	Los Angeles	18	0%	$36,380
17	New York	18	0%	$37,781
18	San Antonio	7	0%	$30,738
19	Dallas	6	0%	$30,462

Line cook, prep cook jobs

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