List of Salaries of Chefs by State

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One of the biggest factors in determining the salaries of chefs across the United States is location. Chefs in each state can expect to earn a different salary than their counterparts across the country because of the differences in the socio-economic, cultural, and financial aspects of each area. Before considering a culinary career as a chef, it is wise to take a look at the following list of salaries by state to see if the average take home pay (for executive chefs) of a specific area is worth the time and commitment it takes to be a successful chef in that location.

Average Salaries of Chefs by States

•Alabama – $72,000
•Alaska – $62,000
•Arizona – $62,000
•Arkansas – $60,000
•California – $69,000
•Colorado – $63,000
•Connecticut – $75,000
•Delaware – $68,000
•Florida – $69,000
•Georgia – $74,000
•Hawaii – $62,000
•Idaho – $60,000
•Illinois – $73,000
•Iowa – $70,000
•Kansas – $62,000
•Kentucky – $60,000
•Louisiana – $60,000
•Maine – $54,000
•Maryland – $73,000
•Massachusetts – $79,000
•Michigan – $71,000
•Minnesota – $64,000
•Mississippi – $89,000
•Missouri -$74,000
•Montana – $67,000
•Nebraska – $64,000
•Nevada – $66,000
•New Hampshire – $64,000
•New Jersey – $73,000
•New Mexico – $68,000
•New York – $83,000
•North Carolina – $70,000
•North Dakota – $75,000
•Ohio – $67,000
•Oklahoma – $64,000
•Oregon – $68,000
•Pennsylvania – $66,000
•Rhode Island – $68,000
•South Carolina – $60,000
•South Dakota – $66,000
•Tennessee – $71,000
•Texas – $66,000
•Utah – $54,000
•Vermont – $71,000
•Virginia – $74,000
•Washington – $62,000
•West Virginia – $81,000
•Wisconsin – $56,000
•Wyoming – $74,000

Company Differences in Average Salaries of Chefs

Of course, location isn’t the only factor that affects salaries of chefs. Another thing to consider is the employer or company where a chef chooses to work. According to the website Payscale.com, the following companies offer varying salaries for the same position. Before choosing where to apply, knowing how much a potential employer pays is important for a chef looking for work.

•Sodexo, Compass Group, Aramark Food Services – $55,000
•Petit Management Company, Hilton Worldwide, Aramark – $65,000
•Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn – $75,000
•Morrison Healthcare – $50,000

Summary

The state where a chef chooses to live and work has a large impact on income. The salaries of chefs in states where the population is larger and the socio-economic atmosphere is stronger should expect to earn more than those who work in more rural areas. In addition, the company where a chef works also has an impact on salary expectations as well.

No two chefs should expect to earn the same amount of money because there are so many factors at work to determine the salaries of chefs. However, most chefs aren’t in the business for the money anyway, so salary expectations aren’t usually at the top of their list of concerns. Instead, true chefs are worried more about reputation, creativity, and producing quality food. If those things come together as they should – a decent salary will naturally follow.