Top States for Culinary Workers
Culinary salaries for each state as a "Culinary Artist."
October 17, 2013
By Hcareers.com
Anyone who works with food preparation for a living works in the culinary arts. From executive chefs to cooks to food scientists, the culinary field throws a wide net. Culinary salaries vary just as widely.
National Culinary Statistics
Nationwide, food scientists and technologists earn a median annual salary of $64,140 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Cooks, on the other hand, (also based on BLS Statistics) earn $20,260 each year. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook places salaries for head cooks and chefs somewhere in the middle, at an average of $40,630 per year. The job outlook is positive across all culinary fields, at about 9 percent project growth, with highly trained culinary specialists receiving the highest-paid positions.
Top States for Culinary Workers
The BLS reports geographic profiles for a range of culinary occupations, including the 5 states that employ the most individuals and the 5 states that pay the highest wages.
For chefs and head cooks, the BLS reports that the 5 states that employ the most positions in the field are California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. The 5 highest paying states are New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia. New York places well on both lists with a mean annual wage of $59,730.
For short order cooks, the states with the highest employment level include California, Texas, New York, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Top paying states include Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Nevada, and Connecticut. The top paying state is Hawaii, with an annual mean wage of $28,800.
Food scientists are most employed in California, Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. They are paid the most in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Colorado, and New Jersey. Washington, D.C. tops the list, paying its food scientists and technologists an annual mean wage of $78,540.
Salary By State
SalaryByState.com has factored in job descriptions across a range of culinary positions to average culinary salaries for each state (including U.S. territories) as a “Culinary Artist.” The broad spectrum of culinary positions makes it a bit dicey to create an average that indicates exactly what you’ll be paid in a particular position—but it’s still an interesting exercise. By state, culinary salaries average:
1. Alabama: $43,000; 2 percent higher than the national U.S. average for culinary positions.
2. Alaska: $36,000; 15 percent lower than the national average.
3. American Samoa: $45,000; 6 percent higher than the national average.
4. Arizona: $37,000; 12 percent lower than average.
5. Arkansas: $42,000; 1 percent lower than average.
6. California: $47,000, 10 percent higher than average.
7. Colorado: $37,000, 12 percent lower.
8. Connecticut: $46,000; 8 percent higher.
9. Delaware: $39,000; 7 percent lower.
10. Florida: $40,000; 5 percent lower.
11. Georgia: $46,000; 9 percent higher.
12. Guam: $35,000; 17 percent lower.
13. Hawaii: $30,000; 29 percent lower.
14. Idaho: $35,000; 17 percent lower.
15. Illinois: $44,000; 5 percent higher.
16. Indiana: $43,000; 1 percent higher.
17. Iowa: $39,000; 7 percent lower.
18. Kansas: $38,000; 9 percent lower.
19. Kentucky: $37,000; 12 percent lower.
20. Louisiana: $35,000; 17 percent lower.
21. Maine: $38,000; 10 percent lower.
22. Maryland: $42,000; even with the national U.S. average salary.
23. Massachusetts: $48,000; 14 percent higher than the national average.
24. Michigan: $41,000; 3 percent lower than the national average.
25. Minnesota: $38,000; 9 percent lower than average.
26. Mississippi: $50,000; 17 percent higher than average.
27. Missouri: $42,000; on average with national numbers.
28. Montana: $43,000; 1 percent higher than the national average.
29. Nebraska: $34,000; 19 percent lower than average.
30. Nevada: $39,000; 7 percent lower than average.
31. New Hampshire: $41,000; 2 percent lower.
32. New Jersey: $45,000; 5 percent higher.
33. New Mexico: $38,000; 10 percent lower.
34. New York: $49,000; 17 percent higher.
35. North Carolina: $42,000; even with the national average.
36. North Dakota: $40,000; 6 percent lower than the national average.
37. Ohio: $40,000; 6 percent lower than average.
38. Oklahoma: $38,000; 9 percent lower.
39. Oregon: $40,000; 6 percent lower.
40. Pennsylvania: $37,000; 13 percent lower.
41. Puerto Rico: $42,000; on average.
42. Rhode Island: $42,000; on average.
43. South Carolina: $38,000; 10 percent lower than the national average.
44. South Dakota: $33,000; 22 percent lower.
45. Tennessee: $40,000; 6 percent lower.
46. Texas: $40,000; 6 percent lower.
47. Utah: $37,000; 11 percent lower.
48. Vermont: $40,000; 6 percent lower.
49. Virgin Islands: $48,000; 14 percent higher.
50. Virginia: $42,000; the same as the U.S. national average for culinary positions.
51. Washington: $48,000; 14 percent higher than average.
52. Washington, D.C.: $40,000; 6 percent lower.
53. West Virginia: $42,000; 1 percent lower.
54. Wisconsin: $37,000; 12 percent lower.
55. Wyoming: $39,000; 7 percent lower.
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