States with the Highest Wages
You might think that life as a professional chef is a glamorous one. But the reality is that chefs and head cooks work very hard. They face long hours, fast-paced shifts, and stressful work environments. Not to mention, the success of the entire business rests on their shoulders. A career in the culinary arts can be physically and mentally taxing. But for the right person, the hard work is definitely worth it, especially if you work in a state that honors chefs with great paychecks.
If you want to make big bucks as a professional chef, the best state to live in is, without a doubt, New York. The state is known for glamorous restaurants and five-star dining. In New York, chefs earn $58,390 in average annual income. In Rhode Island, chefs earn an average annual income of $53,700. In New Jersey, just a short jaunt from New York, chefs can earn a nice average salary of $53,460.
Connecticut takes cues from its neighbors when it comes to paying the states chef and head cook population. Connecticut chefs earn average annual incomes of $52,420. The District of Columbia also offers high salaries for chefs, with average annual incomes around $51,650.
When you work as a chef, you’re lucky to make a living doing something you love. But at the end of the day, you still have to pay the bills so it's worth the effort to take the highest paying job you can find.
States with the Highest Employment Levels
In a tough economy, the luxuries in life are usually the first things to go. For many Americans, eating at home instead of dining out is one way to save money when living on a budget. With that, the restaurant industry has taken some tough hits in the years since the U.S. economic downturn. But the industry is all but dead and no one should give up hope if they have dreams of a career in the culinary arts. Even in difficult times, chefs are still finding jobs in states all of the country. To launch your career as a chef, consider working in states with high employment levels for chefs.
For starters, consider Nevada. Nevada has the highest employment level for chefs and head cooks of any state in the country. Someone had to feed all the people in a 24-hour theme park. Salaries for chefs in Nevada are strong, too, with average incomes around $45,060. Alaska has the second highest employment level with an average annual income of $44,990.
Idaho has the third highest employment level but a lower salary, with average incomes for chefs at $25,600. New Hampshire has a high employment levels for chefs with average salaries at $37,860. And in Hawaii, chefs have great opportunities and great income potential, with average salaries at $49,920.
Employment opportunities for chefs are everywhere, even in some of the most unique places in the country.
