7. Missouri
Annual median wage: $41,820
Cost of living index: 90.8
Employment: 1,810
Like Ohio, chefs and head cooks in Missouri surely enjoy their wages more than those working in more expensive states. Their salaries do not exceed the average in America, but their living expenses are among the cheapest in the country. It only means they get their cake and eat it, too. Plus, the continuous development of different establishments in Missouri also contributes to their impressive employment rates.
