18. Minnesota
Annual median wage: $41,510
Cost of living index: 101.1
Employment: 2,330
Minnesota’s wages for their chefs and head cooks hover just around the average. It is perfectly balanced by their cost of living index that is on the average as well. The best thing about being a chef and head cook in Minnesota is the high number of job opportunities. You not only get to enjoy a great income-expense balance, you also would not spend time worrying about whether or not you’ll get a job.