10 Best Cities for Chefs in 2017

Do you know what are the best cities for chefs in 2017?

Those people who like to cook, but are not making a living out of it, they usually think that it is one of the most enjoyable professions. However, chefs couldn’t completely agree with that. Even though it is a creative job, it is everything but not easy. There is a lot of stress, and if you work at some popular restaurant, speed and timing are all you think about. However, the amount of effort and stress that is put, is later paid off. At least, for some chefs.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the year 2016 median pay for chefs and head cooks was $43 180 per year, or $20.76 per hour. The number of chefs for 2014 was 127 500 in the USA, and the average growth rate for them currently is 9%, which is faster than the average. By analyzing these statistics, we can see that being a chef is a very popular profession, which can additionally mean that they can change their jobs easier than the others. If they don’t like the city they are working, probably many other places are in search of them. Of, course there are requirements that have to be met.

Chefs that direct kitchen staff and oversee all the food preparation, usually need to have at least 5 years of experience. Most of them learn their skills through work experience, but some of them also go to special schools and colleges. Nowadays, there are many training and workshops that could be helpful in the specialization of some particular skill. The more knowledge chefs have about different food and their preparation, the more possibilities they have to move from one city to another to find a new job. If you just look at the US, you can choose from 25 Best States For Chefs and Head Cooks!

We tried to think what would be the most important factor when it comes to choosing a city for a chef, and we realized it is a subjective matter. However, one common thing for everybody is of course salary, or more precisely the ratio between salary and the cost of living in a chosen city. If countries interest you more, you should read our previous article about 10 Highest Paying Countries for Chefs.

To create our list of best cities for chefs in 2017, first, we searched for cities that currently have the highest demand for chefs on Indeed. Then, we compared their average annual salaries from Pay Scale and cost of living for each of them. We finally ranked them according to the ratio of those two factors, going from the lowest to the highest one. For reference’s sake, cost of living is per month for one person without the rent, as it varies a lot depending on the size of the flat. Here are the results:

 11. Denver, Colorado

Average annual salary: $54 013

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $906

The capital of Colorado is currently looking for 146 chefs! The ratio between annual average salary and the monthly cost of living is, however, the lowest on our list.

 10. Austin, Texas

Average annual salary: $51 064

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $842

This city in Texas offers 137 open positions for chefs. Even though it has the lowest salary on our list, its monthly expenses are not that big. It is considered to be one of the fastest growing large cities in the US.

 9. San Francisco, California

Average annual salary: $72 834

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $1108

This is the smallest county in California, however the only consolidated city-county. It is currently looking for 162 chefs. Cost of living is among the highest ones, which can be a little bit disappointing, but on the other hand, the salary is among the top ones on our list.

8. Miami, Florida

Average annual salary: $67 061

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $994

Miami is a seaport city on the Atlantic coast. Because of its beautiful beaches it attracts many tourists, and in addition there are many restaurants. Currently, the number of chefs that are searched for is 122.

 7. Atlanta, Georgia

Average annual salary: $61 810

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $893

At number 7 on our list of best cities for chefs in 2017 we have Atlanta that is offering a very good ratio of annual salary and the monthly cost of living for one chef! If you are ready to apply for a job in this city, don’t think twice, as there are 141 free positions. There are over 35 million visitors per year, so restaurants are basically working non-stop.

 6. New York, New York

Average annual salary: $79 738

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $1 114

The highest number of currently open positions for chefs (392) is right here -New York, New York! In a city that never sleeps, chefs won’t sleep that much as well! However, it is worth it having in mind that annual salary is almost $80,000.

 5. Los Angeles, California

Average annual salary: $65 546

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $912

Los Angeles is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists, as there are many places to visit. Moreover, it is also a good place for chefs, as there are currently 165 opened positions. It is the second most populous city in America, and one of the best cities for chefs in 2017.

4. Nashville, Tennessee

Average annual salary: $63 871

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $883

We are continuing our list of best cities for chefs in 2017 with Nashville that is the capital of Tennessee, and it is mostly known for its country music industry, which is why it has a nickname ‘Music City, USA’. Currently, there are 127 open positions for chefs. The average salary is very high compared to how much you have to spend monthly, so don’t wait too long!

3. Chicago, Illinois

Average annual salary: $67 407

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $928

Third most populous city in the US is offering 215 open positions for chefs. Its annual salary is among the highest ones, whereas in the rank of the cost of living from 516 cities in the world, it is in 61st place. So, how does Chicago sound?

 2. Dallas, Texas

Average annual salary: $58 429

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $789

The number of currently available jobs for chefs in Dallas is 157. Moreover, it is the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the US and one of the largest economic centers. There are many restaurants, as it is the city which is often visited by tourists.

 1. Las Vegas, Nevada

Average annual salary: $62 627

Monthly cost of living without the rent: $770

Las Vegas is looking for 214 chefs according to Indeed database. It is not very expensive town to live in, comparing to others, and the salary is among the highest ones, which is the reason why it is on the top of our list of best cities for chefs in 2017. However, the craziness of this town is something you have to be prepared for!