Best states for a sushi chef

Q: What is the best state for sushi chefs?

The best state to be a sushi chef is District of Columbia based on sushi chef salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for sushi chefs?

The highest paying state for sushi chefs is Idaho based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for sushi chefs?

The worst state for sushi chefs is Kansas, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to sushi chef jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. In fact, our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state for sushi chefs in America. The best city in America for sushi chefs with the highest pay is Bridgewater, NJ.

We figured that the best places for sushi chef jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the Midwest is best for sushi chefs, and the Northeast is the worst. Bridgewater, NJ is the best city in the country for sushi chef jobs, where as District of Columbia is the best state in the country.

10 best states for sushi chefs in 2025

1. District of Columbia
Total sushi chef jobs: 61
Average annual salary: $64,497
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.95
Sushi chef jobs in District of Columbia
2. New Hampshire
Total sushi chef jobs: 42
Average annual salary: $62,013
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Sushi chef jobs in New Hampshire
3. Nevada
Total sushi chef jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $51,560
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
1.72
Sushi chef jobs in Nevada
4. New York
Total sushi chef jobs: 241
Average annual salary: $61,012
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Sushi chef jobs in New York
5. Rhode Island
Total sushi chef jobs: 22
Average annual salary: $60,646
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Sushi chef jobs in Rhode Island
6. Connecticut
Total sushi chef jobs: 69
Average annual salary: $56,073
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Sushi chef jobs in Connecticut
7. Alaska
Total sushi chef jobs: 50
Average annual salary: $51,594
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
3.22
Sushi chef jobs in Alaska
8. New Jersey
Total sushi chef jobs: 91
Average annual salary: $83,574
Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000
Location Quotient:
0.62
Sushi chef jobs in New Jersey
9. Pennsylvania
Total sushi chef jobs: 146
Average annual salary: $67,171
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $110,000
Location Quotient:
0.67
Sushi chef jobs in Pennsylvania
10. Massachusetts
Total sushi chef jobs: 179
Average annual salary: $51,822
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Sushi chef jobs in Massachusetts

Sushi chef jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a sushi chef

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a sushi chef

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	District of Columbia	$64,497	$39,000	693,972	61
2	New Hampshire	$62,013	$38,000	1,342,795	42
3	Nevada	$51,560	$32,000	2,998,039	67
4	New York	$61,012	$37,000	19,849,399	241
5	Rhode Island	$60,646	$37,000	1,059,639	22
6	Connecticut	$56,073	$34,000	3,588,184	69
7	Alaska	$51,594	$41,000	739,795	50
8	New Jersey	$83,574	$50,000	9,005,644	91
9	Pennsylvania	$67,171	$40,000	12,805,537	146
10	Massachusetts	$51,822	$32,000	6,859,819	179
11	Texas	$48,913	$31,000	28,304,596	423
12	Michigan	$49,940	$31,000	9,962,311	129
13	Illinois	$52,760	$34,000	12,802,023	182
14	Ohio	$48,722	$30,000	11,658,609	178
15	Mississippi	$45,673	$29,000	2,984,100	59
16	Indiana	$45,452	$29,000	6,666,818	161
17	Arizona	$45,559	$29,000	7,016,270	181
18	Wyoming	$43,336	$30,000	579,315	21
19	Minnesota	$44,567	$29,000	5,576,606	221
20	Georgia	$44,683	$29,000	10,429,379	224
21	California	$52,710	$32,000	39,536,653	383
22	Florida	$44,279	$27,000	20,984,400	481
23	Maine	$48,865	$31,000	1,335,907	16
24	Delaware	$50,046	$30,000	961,939	9
25	Virginia	$44,793	$27,000	8,470,020	188
26	Alabama	$42,870	$27,000	4,874,747	74
27	Hawaii	$51,425	$42,000	1,427,538	13
28	Maryland	$48,776	$29,000	6,052,177	81
29	Washington	$47,002	$31,000	7,405,743	83
30	North Dakota	$41,485	$28,000	755,393	18
31	North Carolina	$41,710	$26,000	10,273,419	185
32	Wisconsin	$40,843	$26,000	5,795,483	74
33	South Carolina	$39,184	$25,000	5,024,369	82
34	Colorado	$39,028	$26,000	5,607,154	137
35	Oklahoma	$38,810	$25,000	3,930,864	55
36	West Virginia	$40,367	$25,000	1,815,857	12
37	Missouri	$39,277	$26,000	6,113,532	90
38	Montana	$35,891	$24,000	1,050,493	40
39	Oregon	$39,835	$26,000	4,142,776	55
40	Kentucky	$39,256	$25,000	4,454,189	47
41	Nebraska	$37,418	$25,000	1,920,076	35
42	New Mexico	$39,531	$25,000	2,088,070	23
43	South Dakota	$39,403	$26,000	869,666	10
44	Tennessee	$34,174	$22,000	6,715,984	122
45	Utah	$29,343	$19,000	3,101,833	85
46	Vermont	$39,519	$24,000	623,657	8
47	Arkansas	$35,215	$23,000	3,004,279	35
48	Iowa	$37,018	$24,000	3,145,711	36
49	Louisiana	$34,123	$21,000	4,684,333	43
50	Idaho	$26,777	$17,000	1,716,943	24
51	Kansas	$32,242	$21,000	2,913,123	29

Highest paying states for sushi chefs

Rank	State	Avg. Sushi Chef Salary
1	District of Columbia	$64,497
2	New Hampshire	$62,013
3	Nevada	$51,560
4	New York	$61,012
5	Rhode Island	$60,646
6	Connecticut	$56,073
7	Alaska	$51,594
8	New Jersey	$83,574
9	Pennsylvania	$67,171
10	Massachusetts	$51,822
11	Texas	$48,913
12	Michigan	$49,940
13	Illinois	$52,760
14	Ohio	$48,722
15	Mississippi	$45,673
16	Indiana	$45,452
17	Arizona	$45,559
18	Wyoming	$43,336
19	Minnesota	$44,567
20	Georgia	$44,683
21	California	$52,710
22	Florida	$44,279
23	Maine	$48,865
24	Delaware	$50,046
25	Virginia	$44,793
26	Alabama	$42,870
27	Hawaii	$51,425
28	Maryland	$48,776
29	Washington	$47,002
30	North Dakota	$41,485
31	North Carolina	$41,710
32	Wisconsin	$40,843
33	South Carolina	$39,184
34	Colorado	$39,028
35	Oklahoma	$38,810
36	West Virginia	$40,367
37	Missouri	$39,277
38	Montana	$35,891
39	Oregon	$39,835
40	Kentucky	$39,256
41	Nebraska	$37,418
42	New Mexico	$39,531
43	South Dakota	$39,403
44	Tennessee	$34,174
45	Utah	$29,343
46	Vermont	$39,519
47	Arkansas	$35,215
48	Iowa	$37,018
49	Louisiana	$34,123
50	Idaho	$26,777
51	Kansas	$32,242

Sushi chef best states FAQs

What is the best state for sushi chefs?

What is the highest paying state for sushi chefs?

What is the worst state for sushi chefs?

Have more questions? See all answers to common food preparation and restaurant questions.

Search for sushi chef jobs

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Sushi Chef
Best states for Sushi Chefs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs

Total sushi chef jobs:	61
Average annual salary:	$64,497
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$39,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$105,000
Location Quotient:	1.95

Best states for a sushi chef

10 best states for sushi chefs in 2025

1. District of Columbia

2. New Hampshire

3. Nevada

4. New York

5. Rhode Island

6. Connecticut

7. Alaska

8. New Jersey

9. Pennsylvania

10. Massachusetts