Best cities for a specialty cook
The best cities for specialty cooks are Las Vegas, NV, Seattle, WA, and Scottsdale, AZ, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for specialty cooks vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for specialty cooks in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a specialty cook or considering a move, this list of the best cities for specialty cooks to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for specialty cooks. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a specialty cook. While the absolute best city for specialty cooks is Las Vegas, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for specialty cooks in 2024.
If you're looking for a specialty cook job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for specialty cooks in 2025
1. Las Vegas, NV
Total specialty cook jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $42,271 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 15.58 2. Seattle, WA
Total specialty cook jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $42,910 Lowest 10 percent warn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location quotient: 14.00 3. Scottsdale, AZ
Total specialty cook jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $35,165 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 15.68 4. Portland, OR
Total specialty cook jobs: 19 Average annual salary: $37,817 Lowest 10 percent warn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 22.76 5. Chandler, AZ
Total specialty cook jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $35,186 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location quotient: 12.33 6. Cleveland, OH
Total specialty cook jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $30,998 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 23.11 7. Minneapolis, MN
Total specialty cook jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $37,352 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 3.25 8. Chicago, IL
Total specialty cook jobs: 80 Average annual salary: $34,506 Lowest 10 percent warn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 32.98 9. New York, NY
Total specialty cook jobs: 91 Average annual salary: $40,505 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 11.33 10. Saint Paul, MN
Total specialty cook jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $37,353 Lowest 10 percent warn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for specialty cooks
- Las Vegas, NV
- Seattle, WA
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Chandler, AZ
- Cleveland, OH
- Minneapolis, MN
- Chicago, IL
- New York, NY
- Saint Paul, MN
- (9 specialty cook jobs)
- (29 specialty cook jobs)
- (4 specialty cook jobs)
- (19 specialty cook jobs)
- (3 specialty cook jobs)
- (9 specialty cook jobs)
- (3 specialty cook jobs)
- (80 specialty cook jobs)
- (91 specialty cook jobs)
- (0 specialty cook jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a specialty cook
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,271 | $33,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $42,910 | $34,000 | 704,352 | 29 |
| 3 | Scottsdale, AZ | $35,165 | $27,000 | 246,645 | 4 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $37,817 | $29,000 | 639,863 | 19 |
| 5 | Chandler, AZ | $35,186 | $27,000 | 247,477 | 3 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $30,998 | $24,000 | 385,809 | 9 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $37,352 | $30,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $34,506 | $27,000 | 2,704,958 | 80 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $40,505 | $32,000 | 8,537,673 | 91 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $37,353 | $30,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $48,063 | $40,000 | 351,792 | 2 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,241 | $27,000 | 1,615,017 | 9 |
| 13 | Tucson, AZ | $35,041 | $27,000 | 530,706 | 2 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $39,184 | $32,000 | 673,184 | 7 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $33,560 | $27,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 16 | Reno, NV | $43,253 | $34,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 17 | Henderson, NV | $42,232 | $33,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 18 | Milwaukee, WI | $32,318 | $26,000 | 595,047 | 7 |
| 19 | North Las Vegas, NV | $42,218 | $33,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 20 | Anchorage, AK | $39,586 | $34,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $32,305 | $25,000 | 303,625 | 4 |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $32,785 | $26,000 | 1,567,872 | 11 |
| 23 | Glendale, AZ | $35,271 | $27,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 24 | Islip, NY | $40,595 | $32,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 25 | Brookhaven, NY | $40,652 | $33,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 26 | Oyster Bay, NY | $40,586 | $32,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 27 | Buffalo, NY | $40,539 | $32,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 28 | Gilbert, AZ | $35,158 | $27,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 29 | Hempstead, NY | $40,530 | $32,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 30 | Mesa, AZ | $35,143 | $27,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $38,746 | $30,000 | 351,043 | 10 |
| 32 | Orlando, FL | $33,077 | $25,000 | 277,173 | 13 |
| 33 | Kansas City, MO | $33,947 | $27,000 | 481,420 | - |
| 34 | Saint Louis, MO | $33,658 | $26,000 | 311,404 | 5 |
| 35 | Columbus, OH | $30,334 | $24,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 36 | Jacksonville, FL | $33,067 | $25,000 | 880,619 | 15 |
| 37 | San Francisco, CA | $39,604 | $30,000 | 870,887 | 9 |
| 38 | Madison, WI | $32,173 | $25,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 39 | Toledo, OH | $30,827 | $24,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 40 | El Paso, TX | $32,763 | $25,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 41 | Oklahoma City, OK | $31,272 | $25,000 | 638,367 | - |
| 42 | Jersey City, NJ | $38,648 | $31,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 43 | Tulsa, OK | $31,254 | $25,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 44 | Oakland, CA | $39,553 | $30,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 45 | Newark, NJ | $38,644 | $31,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 46 | Tampa, FL | $33,117 | $25,000 | 377,165 | 8 |
| 47 | Omaha, NE | $31,562 | $25,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 48 | Lincoln, NE | $31,562 | $25,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 49 | Fremont, CA | $39,512 | $30,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 50 | San Jose, CA | $39,510 | $30,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
Highest paying cities for specialty cooks
| Rank | City | Avg. specialty cook salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vancouver, WA | $43,094 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,271 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $40,505 |
| 4 | Dublin, CA | $39,480 |
| 5 | Beverly, MA | $39,191 |
| 6 | Edison, NJ | $38,558 |
| 7 | Beaverton, OR | $37,852 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $37,739 |
| 9 | Loveland, CO | $35,176 |
| 10 | Arlington, VA | $34,951 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $34,506 |
| 12 | Annapolis, MD | $33,573 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $33,117 |
| 14 | Allentown, PA | $32,904 |
| 15 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,586 |
| 16 | Milwaukee, WI | $32,318 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $30,998 |
| 18 | Matthews, NC | $30,708 |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $30,583 |
| 20 | Savannah, GA | $29,868 |
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Updated January 8, 2025