New York has a Hell’s Kitchen, and so does Las Vegas. In fact, every city has wannabe Gordon Ramsays, Marcus Samuelssons, Lorena Garcias, and Julia Childs.
So where can tomorrow’s kitchen leaders find all the right ingredients to turn their culinary dreams into a lucrative career?
Ahead of International Chefs Day on Oct. 20, LawnStarter sifted through the data to rank 2021’s Best Cities for Aspiring Chefs.
We compared 120 of the biggest U.S. cities offering access to culinary arts programs and school ratings. We also measured career potential based on historical employment growth, long-term job outlook, and salary figures.
Check out our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, and a new-age twist that makes every city a Best City for Aspiring Chefs.
Table of Contents
City Rankings
See how each city fared in our ranking:
OVERALL RANK | City | Overall Score | Program Access Rank | School Quality Rank | School Cost Rank | Job Growth Rank | Job Outlook Rank | Earning Potential Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Miami, FL | 56.78 | 5 | 26 | 81 | 1 | 4 | 73 |
2 | Cape Coral, FL | 55.3 | 45 | 1 | 23 | 4 | 64 | 24 |
3 | San Francisco, CA | 55.04 | 45 | 37 | 80 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
4 | Chula Vista, CA | 54.92 | 45 | 59 | 20 | 32 | 62 | 1 |
5 | Oceanside, CA | 54.65 | 45 | 38 | 53 | 32 | 55 | 1 |
6 | Hollywood, FL | 52.65 | 45 | 4 | 87 | 1 | 38 | 73 |
7 | San Diego, CA | 51.86 | 20 | 44 | 105 | 32 | 34 | 1 |
8 | Seattle, WA | 51.73 | 1 | 60 | 110 | 41 | 12 | 14 |
9 | Los Angeles, CA | 51.23 | 8 | 76 | 35 | 16 | 8 | 31 |
10 | Oxnard, CA | 50.9 | 45 | 35 | 1 | 47 | 65 | 16 |
11 | Orlando, FL | 50.38 | 5 | 12 | 76 | 22 | 3 | 80 |
12 | Tallahassee, FL | 49.74 | 45 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 39 | 100 |
13 | Santa Rosa, CA | 48.46 | 45 | 20 | 40 | 15 | 48 | 23 |
14 | Pasadena, CA | 48.29 | 45 | 29 | 26 | 16 | 31 | 31 |
15 | Stockton, CA | 47.59 | 45 | 57 | 16 | 120 | 59 | 17 |
16 | Albuquerque, NM | 47.58 | 20 | 48 | 14 | 27 | 94 | 21 |
17 | Orange, CA | 47.38 | 45 | 19 | 49 | 16 | 42 | 31 |
18 | Glendale, CA | 47.3 | 45 | 31 | 32 | 16 | 46 | 31 |
19 | Chicago, IL | 47.04 | 4 | 104 | 86 | 53 | 23 | 39 |
20 | Santa Clarita, CA | 46.79 | 45 | 21 | 52 | 16 | 56 | 31 |
21 | Riverside, CA | 46.69 | 45 | 55 | 19 | 96 | 51 | 10 |
22 | Savannah, GA | 46.64 | 45 | 16 | 6 | 62 | 36 | 76 |
23 | Tampa, FL | 46.17 | 20 | 10 | 58 | 11 | 18 | 102 |
24 | Bakersfield, CA | 46.16 | 45 | 99 | 5 | 36 | 49 | 49 |
25 | Philadelphia, PA | 46.12 | 8 | 13 | 113 | 6 | 86 | 45 |
26 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 46.08 | 45 | 66 | 30 | 96 | 53 | 10 |
27 | Augusta, GA | 46 | 45 | 24 | 7 | 50 | 71 | 48 |
28 | San Bernardino, CA | 45.99 | 45 | 95 | 8 | 96 | 63 | 10 |
29 | Vancouver, WA | 45.46 | 20 | 27 | 88 | 65 | 21 | 19 |
30 | Long Beach, CA | 45.43 | 45 | 94 | 41 | 16 | 50 | 31 |
31 | Springfield, MO | 45.38 | 45 | 34 | 10 | 73 | 95 | 44 |
32 | Phoenix, AZ | 45.21 | 20 | 52 | 28 | 79 | 61 | 27 |
33 | Atlanta, GA | 44.94 | 20 | 63 | 60 | 75 | 13 | 37 |
34 | Bellevue, WA | 44.82 | 45 | 68 | 92 | 41 | 23 | 14 |
35 | Portland, OR | 44.76 | 45 | 69 | 73 | 65 | 13 | 19 |
36 | Sacramento, CA | 44.63 | 20 | 71 | 18 | 85 | 28 | 55 |
37 | St. Petersburg, FL | 44.45 | 45 | 5 | 62 | 11 | 47 | 102 |
38 | Mesa, AZ | 44.41 | 16 | 50 | 68 | 79 | 57 | 27 |
39 | Jersey City, NJ | 44.17 | 45 | 110 | 77 | 37 | 59 | 6 |
40 | Killeen, TX | 44.16 | 45 | 98 | 47 | 77 | 22 | 111 |
41 | Paterson, NJ | 44.09 | 45 | 112 | 65 | 37 | 80 | 6 |
42 | Tempe, AZ | 43.75 | 45 | 108 | 25 | 79 | 33 | 27 |
43 | Arlington, VA | 43.67 | 5 | 22 | 108 | 29 | 68 | 59 |
44 | San Antonio, TX | 43.56 | 20 | 56 | 94 | 40 | 15 | 51 |
45 | Tulsa, OK | 43.55 | 20 | 8 | 89 | 35 | 83 | 66 |
46 | El Paso, TX | 43.08 | 45 | 78 | 4 | 43 | 19 | 104 |
47 | Honolulu, HI | 43.01 | 45 | 81 | 69 | 113 | 84 | 5 |
48 | New York, NY | 42.72 | 8 | 51 | 120 | 37 | 6 | 6 |
49 | Baltimore, MD | 42.68 | 45 | 117 | 61 | 105 | 5 | 22 |
50 | Modesto, CA | 42.58 | 45 | 101 | 12 | 30 | 51 | 97 |
51 | Eugene, OR | 42.54 | 45 | 97 | 21 | 24 | 40 | 95 |
52 | Little Rock, AR | 42.45 | 45 | 54 | 36 | 72 | 69 | 84 |
53 | Dallas, TX | 42.4 | 20 | 87 | 79 | 25 | 16 | 86 |
54 | Lincoln, NE | 42.34 | 45 | 18 | 9 | 52 | 98 | 85 |
55 | Reno, NV | 42.24 | 45 | 49 | 44 | 102 | 35 | 56 |
56 | Buffalo, NY | 42.1 | 45 | 79 | 50 | 56 | 112 | 18 |
57 | Spokane, WA | 42.02 | 8 | 32 | 109 | 67 | 29 | 57 |
58 | Oklahoma City, OK | 41.99 | 16 | 7 | 95 | 76 | 88 | 60 |
59 | Fresno, CA | 41.95 | 45 | 96 | 3 | 50 | 54 | 96 |
60 | Houston, TX | 41.94 | 16 | 17 | 97 | 93 | 10 | 81 |
60 | McAllen, TX | 41.94 | 45 | 73 | 24 | 48 | 11 | 114 |
62 | Scottsdale, AZ | 41.93 | 20 | 25 | 107 | 79 | 32 | 27 |
63 | Salt Lake City, UT | 41.91 | 8 | 14 | 119 | 10 | 1 | 110 |
64 | Austin, TX | 41.81 | 8 | 41 | 114 | 109 | 9 | 38 |
65 | Las Vegas, NV | 41.56 | 20 | 107 | 70 | 91 | 7 | 68 |
66 | Tucson, AZ | 41.5 | 45 | 75 | 48 | 83 | 41 | 62 |
67 | Columbus, GA | 41.49 | 45 | 62 | 2 | 106 | 67 | 108 |
68 | Charlotte, NC | 41.43 | 20 | 33 | 100 | 9 | 73 | 94 |
69 | Pasadena, TX | 41.12 | 45 | 28 | 66 | 93 | 27 | 81 |
70 | St. Paul, MN | 41.09 | 45 | 36 | 27 | 107 | 105 | 46 |
71 | Virginia Beach, VA | 40.79 | 2 | 53 | 99 | 115 | 70 | 90 |
71 | Aurora, CO | 40.79 | 45 | 2 | 78 | 44 | 120 | 63 |
73 | Boston, MA | 40.78 | 20 | 46 | 104 | 31 | 91 | 25 |
74 | Raleigh, NC | 40.74 | 45 | 45 | 63 | 63 | 74 | 67 |
75 | McKinney, TX | 40.48 | 45 | 102 | 84 | 25 | 26 | 86 |
76 | Fayetteville, NC | 40.42 | 45 | 90 | 15 | 13 | 76 | 112 |
77 | Chesapeake, VA | 40.38 | 20 | 6 | 67 | 115 | 81 | 90 |
78 | Birmingham, AL | 40.27 | 45 | 58 | 11 | 64 | 85 | 99 |
78 | Kansas City, KS | 40.27 | 45 | 39 | 45 | 88 | 114 | 41 |
80 | Indianapolis, IN | 40.18 | 20 | 74 | 75 | 57 | 92 | 58 |
81 | Louisville, KY | 40.12 | 20 | 77 | 56 | 87 | 82 | 77 |
82 | Worcester, MA | 40.07 | 45 | 70 | 59 | 68 | 99 | 53 |
83 | Detroit, MI | 40 | 45 | 113 | 17 | 8 | 116 | 98 |
84 | Minneapolis, MN | 39.81 | 45 | 83 | 42 | 107 | 101 | 46 |
85 | Laredo, TX | 39.8 | 45 | 100 | 29 | 103 | 25 | 120 |
86 | San Jose, CA | 39.74 | 45 | 120 | 103 | 55 | 66 | 4 |
87 | Overland Park, KS | 39.62 | 45 | 30 | 64 | 88 | 113 | 41 |
88 | Cincinnati, OH | 39.51 | 45 | 82 | 46 | 28 | 87 | 105 |
89 | Anchorage, AK | 39.48 | 45 | 115 | 72 | 119 | 89 | 9 |
90 | Omaha, NE | 39.25 | 45 | 65 | 54 | 14 | 96 | 107 |
91 | Corpus Christi, TX | 39.24 | 45 | 84 | 43 | 70 | 20 | 119 |
92 | Grand Rapids, MI | 39.06 | 45 | 80 | 85 | 49 | 110 | 43 |
92 | Syracuse, NY | 39.06 | 45 | 93 | 38 | 23 | 111 | 88 |
94 | Fort Collins, CO | 39.04 | 45 | 15 | 106 | 7 | 118 | 69 |
95 | Nashville, TN | 38.95 | 20 | 85 | 98 | 90 | 37 | 61 |
96 | St. Louis, MO | 38.89 | 45 | 106 | 51 | 61 | 43 | 101 |
97 | Cleveland, OH | 38.83 | 45 | 67 | 37 | 92 | 103 | 72 |
98 | Pittsburgh, PA | 38.47 | 20 | 116 | 74 | 71 | 44 | 70 |
99 | Jacksonville, FL | 38.43 | 45 | 40 | 55 | 78 | 58 | 109 |
100 | Dayton, OH | 38.33 | 45 | 88 | 57 | 114 | 100 | 54 |
101 | Colorado Springs, CO | 38.21 | 45 | 105 | 34 | 101 | 117 | 78 |
102 | Providence, RI | 38.19 | 45 | 11 | 116 | 86 | 79 | 26 |
103 | Richmond, VA | 37.42 | 8 | 109 | 118 | 99 | 29 | 52 |
104 | Rochester, NY | 37.26 | 20 | 118 | 39 | 112 | 106 | 50 |
105 | Knoxville, TN | 37.11 | 20 | 43 | 82 | 111 | 17 | 117 |
106 | Huntsville, AL | 36.76 | 45 | 89 | 22 | 104 | 93 | 106 |
107 | Columbus, OH | 36.73 | 20 | 47 | 90 | 100 | 109 | 71 |
108 | Mobile, AL | 36.57 | 45 | 64 | 31 | 69 | 90 | 115 |
109 | Joliet, IL | 36.42 | 45 | 86 | 111 | 53 | 102 | 39 |
110 | Norfolk, VA | 36.37 | 20 | 61 | 93 | 115 | 72 | 90 |
111 | Milwaukee, WI | 36.33 | 2 | 91 | 117 | 95 | 108 | 83 |
112 | Memphis, TN | 36.06 | 45 | 9 | 101 | 60 | 45 | 118 |
113 | New Orleans, LA | 35.93 | 16 | 119 | 83 | 58 | 77 | 79 |
114 | Lakewood, CO | 35.9 | 45 | 42 | 96 | 44 | 119 | 63 |
115 | Montgomery, AL | 35.84 | 45 | 92 | 33 | 59 | 97 | 116 |
116 | Denver, CO | 35.73 | 20 | 114 | 91 | 44 | 115 | 63 |
117 | Madison, WI | 35.6 | 8 | 72 | 102 | 110 | 104 | 89 |
118 | Akron, OH | 35.13 | 45 | 111 | 71 | 84 | 107 | 75 |
119 | Newport News, VA | 33.1 | 45 | 22 | 115 | 115 | 75 | 90 |
120 | Baton Rouge, LA | 31.88 | 20 | 103 | 112 | 74 | 78 | 113 |
Highlights and Lowlights
Miami: Latin Flair, Cuban Flavor
The home of South Beach, all those Art Deco hotels, and cafe con leche is also Miami Nice for aspiring chefs.
The Gateway to the Americas is also a gateway to top jobs in the food industry, ranking No. 1 in Job Growth, No. 4 in Job Outlook, and No. 5 in Cooking Program Access.
Want proof? Miami’s once aspiring — and now inspiring — chefs include Stubborn Seed’s Jeremy Ford, Stiltsville Fish Bar’s Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, Chef Adrianne’s Adrianne Calvo, and Casa Isola’s José Mendín.
Miami’s halo — or seafood bib — as the Best City for Aspiring Chefs extends to two other South Florida cities: Cape Coral at No. 2 and Hollywood at No. 6.
Chef Cities USA
Major metros have more head chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, and sauce chefs. If you’re looking to break big in the restaurant and cooking biz, think big cities.
Some examples? San Francisco landed at No. 3, San Diego at No. 7, Seattle at No. 8, and Los Angeles at No. 9 on our list of the Best Cities for Aspiring Chefs.
A tip of the toque to two other cities known for their food — Orlando at No. 11 and Chicago at No. 19 — which also have loads of restaurants and opportunities for aspiring chefs.
Big Fish in Small Ponds
Some aspiring chefs get their start in smaller cities where cooking school tuition and the cost of living are far less than in the big cities. And some small markets lure big-city chefs with their quality of life and loyal employees.
That explains how Oxnard, California, landed at No. 10 overall. The city aced the Cooking School Cost category and landed at No. 1 for the Increase in Average Salary for Non-Chef and Non-Head Cooks (2020 vs. 2017) and No. 16 in Earning Potential.
Oxnard has a lot on its menu for aspiring chefs: Beachfront living in one of the most affordable places to live in the Golden State about 1.5 hours northwest of LA.
Big Apple in the Middle
You might be surprised to find New York City at No. 48 in our ranking, but the Big Apple’s cooking schools have costly tuition, and subpar reviews from students suggest these schools aren’t worth the extra change.
With more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other U.S. city, The City That Never Sleeps is a prime destination for aspiring chefs, but the competition to land top jobs is intense.
New York City is full of rags-to-riches chef and restaurateur stories, though, such as Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer’s start selling hot dogs at Madison Square Park and Bobby Flay, whose first job was a cook at the renowned Joe Allen restaurant in the Theater District.
Ask The Experts
Not every good cook has the chops to become a professional chef. For sage advice, we asked a panel of food, restaurant, and hospitality industry experts to marinate on some important questions. See what insights they cooked up below.
- Considering the fierce competition in the restaurant industry, what are your three best tips to help budding chefs stand out?
- Are culinary schools worth the investment? Why or why not? If not, what are the best alternatives to culinary school?
- Besides securing internships and externships, how can culinary students find the mentorship they need to grow?
- Besides bragging rights, what are the three biggest benefits of competing in cooking contests?
- How can inspired cooking at home for friends and family turn into a career as a chef for paying customers?
- Are chef-inspired meal kits just time savers and kitchen helpers for healthier eating, or can they help average home cooks grow into professional chefs?
Considering the fierce competition in the restaurant industry, what are your three best tips to help budding chefs stand out?
- Attend a reputable culinary school (2year degree)a. I recommend a two-year associate’s degree because normally the final year of culinary school contains an internship, advanced culinary classes and management classes.
- Get a job in the industry. Make sure the job meets your expectations and has a learning environment.
- Watch Culinary videos. You can get some great tips from watching the professionals work. My favorite is Good Eats by Alton Brown.
Are culinary schools worth the investment? Why or why not? If not, what are the best alternatives to culinary school?
- Yes, culinary schools are worth the effort. You can attend culinary school at many technical colleges with little to no cost. Private schools have become too pricey and they don’t guarantee a better paying job.Many students will not be able to advance to the executive level without a degree. I’ve personally had many students with years of experience but cannot advance without an education.
Three keys to success: 1) Education 2) Experience 3) Certification
- If not culinary school, I would consider an apprenticeship program either through the state or a company.
Besides securing internships and externships, how can culinary students find the mentorship they need to grow?
Many restaurants and resorts have career fairs. Talk to the employees of the places that interest you.
Some restaurants and/or resorts will also ask a person to “stage”, which is an unpaid brief work experience.
Besides bragging rights, what are the three biggest benefits of competing in cooking contests?
- The experience is always worth the work and time.
- This is great for the resume (along with a portfolio)
- This is also great practice for a cooking practicum for certification as a professional chef.
How can inspired cooking at home for friends and family turn into a career as a chef for paying customers?
- This is a great way to learn more about the art of entertaining. Many lessons can be taken from entertaining guests, such as time, experimenting with different types of foods, cuisines, and preparation techniques.
- Consider continuing educational classes to refine your skills, ask a professional and read books or articles on catering for additional ideas.
Are chef-inspired meal kits just time savers and kitchen helpers for healthier eating, or can they help average home cooks grow into professional chefs?
Yes, the meal kits can save money, time and for the most part, are nutritious. They are a great idea because they send you the amounts that you need to complete a meal without having to buy/make a large portion of food. The “methods of preparation” are normally easy to follow.
I don’t necessarily feel that they will make you a professional chef because of the science of what a chef does, i.e.: Why do foods react to certain elements in our kitchen like, the viscosity of a sauce, the flavor profile, and usage.
Considering the fierce competition in the restaurant industry, what are your three best tips to help budding chefs stand out?
Budding chefs should be concerned about their reputation, my top three tips are:
- Be consistent preparing and delivering quality meals and good value
- highlight your work on social media
- seek partnerships with the community by sourcing locally as much as possible.
Are culinary schools worth the investment? Why or why not? If not, what are the best alternatives to culinary school?
Yes, they certainly are. Culinary schools can provide fluency in a language you would like to speak.
If you are not able to attend a formal school, some alternatives are involvement in industry associations, mentors, continuing education courses and degree-seeking culinary programs.
Besides securing internships and externships, how can culinary students find the mentorship they need to grow?
There are several industry associations offering formal mentorship programs.
Culinary students can also seek mentors while attending events, visiting business and even connecting with professionals on social media, especially LinkedIn.
Besides bragging rights, what are the three biggest benefits of competing in cooking contests?
The benefits of competing in cooking contests include networking within the industry, showing the ability to participate in extracurricular activities, and working under pressure.
How can inspired cooking at home for friends and family turn into a career as a chef for paying customers?
Understanding of the business, what it is like to work as chef, and what kind of service you would like to provide is essential.
Be aware of your strengths and opportunities, and be open to learn and to receive candid feedback.
Are chef-inspired meal kits just time savers and kitchen helpers for healthier eating, or can they help average home cooks grow into professional chefs?
They certainly can help the average home cooks by providing ideas, measurement and pairing basics. But most importantly, they can provide inspiration for a fulfilling career.
Methodology
We ranked 120 of the biggest U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 120) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.
Metric | Weighting | Min. Value | Max. Value | Best |
---|---|---|---|---|
Program Access | ||||
Number of Schools with Culinary Arts Programs | 2 | 1 | 9 | Max. Value |
School Quality | ||||
Average Student Rating (Out of 5 Stars) for Schools with Culinary Arts Program(s) | 2 | 0.00 | 5.00 | Max. Value |
Average Acceptance Rate | 1 | 58.75% | 100.00% | Max. Value |
Average Graduation Rate | 1.5 | 10% | 85% | Max. Value |
School Cost | ||||
Average In-State Tuition Rate | 2 | $1,104 | $34,376 | Min. Value |
Average Out-of-State Tuition Rate | 1.5 | $1,293 | $39,019 | Min. Value |
Average Total Financial Aid Awarded | 1 | $2,995.50 | $21,210 | Max. Value |
Average Share of Financial Aid Recipients | 1 | 37% | 100% | Max. Value |
Job Growth | ||||
3-Year % Change in Estimated Total Employment for Chefs and Head Cooks (2020 vs. 2017) | 2 | -71.79% | 143.10% | Max. Value |
3-Year % Change in Estimated Total Employment for Non-Chef and Non-Head Cooks (2020 vs. 2017) | 1 | -66.23% | 164.85% | Max. Value |
Job Outlook | ||||
State Long-Term Job Outlook for Chefs and Head Cooks (2028 vs. 2018) | 2 | 0% | 32.20% | Max. Value |
Number of Restaurants per 100,000 Residents | 1 | 32.51 | 1065.76 | Max. Value |
Number of Michelin-Designated Restaurants | 1.5 | 1.00 | 477.00 | Max. Value |
Earning Potential | ||||
Average Salary for Chefs and Head Cooks (2020) | 2 | $36,940 | $98,210 | Max. Value |
3-Year Change in Average Salary for Chefs and Head Cooks (2020 vs. 2017) | 1.5 | -18.38% | 83.09% | Max. Value |
Average Salary for Non-Chef and Non-Head Cooks (2020) | 1 | $21,230 | $40,592 | Max. Value |
3-Year Change in Average Salary for Non-Chef and Non-Head Cooks (2020 vs. 2017) | 0.5 | -8.52% | 36.42% | Max. Value |
Sources: 529 Planning, Michelin Guide, Niche, Prepler, TripAdvisor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and U.S. Department of Labor
In the Kitchen With YouTube
Aspiring chefs often get their start cooking at home, experimenting in their own kitchen. Then it’s off to cooking school or working one’s way up at a local restaurant. Every once in a while, an aspiring chef will win his or her golden ticket on “Chopped” or another cooking show.
Now some aspiring chefs are stay-at-home cooks with huge followings on YouTube. All you need is your fridge, oven, mixer, kitchen island, and your phone on a tripod to record everything for uploading.
Jamie Oliver has 5.57 million YouTube subscribers, Laura Vitale’s Laura in the Kitchen has 3.8 million, and Binging with Babish’s channel has 9.3 million.
What does this new trend mean? Any city can be the best city for an aspiring chef. Cooking school? Maybe you don’t need to go. A camera, a kitchen, a stocked pantry — and a dash of personality — can be a recipe for success. Bon appétit!
Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock