Best cities for a prep cook
The best cities for prep cooks are Portland, OR, Las Vegas, NV, and Gilbert, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for prep cooks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for prep cooks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a prep cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for prep cooks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for prep cooks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a prep cook. While the absolute best city for prep cooks is Portland, OR, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for prep cooks in 2024.
If you're looking for a prep cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for prep cooks in 2025
1. Portland, OR
Prep cook jobs in PortlandTotal prep cook jobs: 130 Average annual salary: $36,582 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location quotient: 1.37 2. Las Vegas, NV
Prep cook jobs in Las VegasTotal prep cook jobs: 86 Average annual salary: $31,802 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.31 3. Gilbert, AZ
Prep cook jobs in GilbertTotal prep cook jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $32,273 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 2.37 4. Henderson, NV
Prep cook jobs in HendersonTotal prep cook jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $31,738 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 1.16 5. Scottsdale, AZ
Prep cook jobs in ScottsdaleTotal prep cook jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $32,336 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.14 6. Chandler, AZ
Prep cook jobs in ChandlerTotal prep cook jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $32,294 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.16 7. Reno, NV
Prep cook jobs in RenoTotal prep cook jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $32,907 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 0.86 8. Nashville, TN
Prep cook jobs in NashvilleTotal prep cook jobs: 140 Average annual salary: $28,167 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 1.92 9. Cleveland, OH
Prep cook jobs in ClevelandTotal prep cook jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $29,410 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 0.81 10. Mesa, AZ
Prep cook jobs in MesaTotal prep cook jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $32,275 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 0.76
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Best cities for prep cooks
- Portland, OR
- Las Vegas, NV
- Gilbert, AZ
- Henderson, NV
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Chandler, AZ
- Reno, NV
- Nashville, TN
- Cleveland, OH
- Mesa, AZ
Detailed list of the best cities for a prep cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $36,582 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 130 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,802 | $25,000 | 632,912 | 86 |
| 3 | Gilbert, AZ | $32,273 | $25,000 | 237,133 | 16 |
| 4 | Henderson, NV | $31,738 | $25,000 | 292,969 | 9 |
| 5 | Scottsdale, AZ | $32,336 | $25,000 | 246,645 | 33 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $32,294 | $25,000 | 247,477 | 32 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $32,907 | $26,000 | 245,255 | 18 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $28,167 | $21,000 | 660,388 | 140 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $29,410 | $23,000 | 385,809 | 36 |
| 10 | Mesa, AZ | $32,275 | $25,000 | 484,587 | 10 |
| 11 | Anaheim, CA | $36,855 | $28,000 | 351,043 | 39 |
| 12 | Hempstead, NY | $35,451 | $28,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 13 | Buffalo, NY | $35,948 | $28,000 | 256,902 | 21 |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $40,582 | $32,000 | 704,352 | 146 |
| 15 | Lexington, KY | $25,987 | $20,000 | 318,449 | 40 |
| 16 | Colorado Springs, CO | $33,593 | $26,000 | 465,101 | 79 |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $30,299 | $23,000 | 559,277 | 42 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $28,029 | $21,000 | 652,717 | 57 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $33,990 | $26,000 | 2,704,958 | 163 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,379 | $25,000 | 1,615,017 | 103 |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $34,884 | $27,000 | 302,398 | 27 |
| 22 | Toledo, OH | $29,226 | $22,000 | 278,508 | 9 |
| 23 | Chula Vista, CA | $36,404 | $28,000 | 267,172 | 5 |
| 24 | Tucson, AZ | $31,956 | $24,000 | 530,706 | 23 |
| 25 | Glendale, AZ | $32,398 | $25,000 | 245,895 | 4 |
| 26 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,767 | $28,000 | 351,792 | 44 |
| 27 | Lubbock, TX | $27,514 | $21,000 | 252,506 | 20 |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $36,907 | $28,000 | 470,130 | 17 |
| 29 | Denver, CO | $33,718 | $26,000 | 693,060 | 210 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $35,681 | $28,000 | 673,184 | 76 |
| 31 | New Orleans, LA | $26,076 | $20,000 | 391,495 | 40 |
| 32 | Oakland, CA | $38,003 | $29,000 | 420,005 | 15 |
| 33 | Greensboro, NC | $26,384 | $20,000 | 287,027 | 21 |
| 34 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,196 | $23,000 | 1,567,872 | 67 |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $30,033 | $23,000 | 264,488 | 7 |
| 36 | Wichita, KS | $27,936 | $21,000 | 389,902 | 21 |
| 37 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,993 | $29,000 | 3,976,322 | 175 |
| 38 | Minneapolis, MN | $34,884 | $27,000 | 413,651 | 31 |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $31,765 | $25,000 | 238,702 | 1 |
| 40 | Madison, WI | $30,331 | $23,000 | 252,551 | 24 |
| 41 | Aurora, CO | $33,687 | $26,000 | 361,710 | 27 |
| 42 | Omaha, NE | $30,706 | $24,000 | 446,970 | 28 |
| 43 | San Diego, CA | $36,460 | $28,000 | 1,406,630 | 117 |
| 44 | Fort Worth, TX | $26,277 | $20,000 | 854,113 | 37 |
| 45 | Corpus Christi, TX | $26,031 | $19,000 | 325,733 | 19 |
| 46 | Louisville, KY | $25,960 | $20,000 | 597,337 | 35 |
| 47 | Orlando, FL | $27,081 | $20,000 | 277,173 | 68 |
| 48 | San Antonio, TX | $26,399 | $20,000 | 1,492,510 | 60 |
| 49 | Anchorage, AK | $33,562 | $28,000 | 298,192 | 5 |
| 50 | Milwaukee, WI | $30,524 | $24,000 | 595,047 | 21 |
Highest paying cities for prep cooks
| Rank | City | Avg. prep cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $40,582 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $36,993 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,767 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $36,582 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $35,681 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $35,438 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $34,842 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $33,990 |
| 9 | Austin, MN | $33,915 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $33,718 |
| 11 | Glendale, AZ | $32,398 |
| 12 | Portland, ME | $31,823 |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,802 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $31,416 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $30,299 |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,196 |
| 17 | Washington, MI | $29,582 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,804 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $28,370 |
| 20 | Memphis, TN | $28,029 |
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Updated January 8, 2025