Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Chef's pay go, state by state?
A Chef's pay leaves the most room in Hawaii — about $6,112/mo take-home against $1,927/mo typical rent — and the least in Oklahoma.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $6,112/mo | $1,927/mo | 32% |
| North Dakota | $4,901/mo | $911/mo | 19% |
| Rhode Island | $4,913/mo | $1,289/mo | 26% |
| Massachusetts | $4,925/mo | $1,716/mo | 35% |
| New Mexico | $4,124/mo | $1,034/mo | 25% |
| Wyoming | $4,044/mo | $979/mo | 24% |
| Alabama | $3,786/mo | $967/mo | 26% |
| Wisconsin | $3,845/mo | $1,033/mo | 27% |
| Arizona | $4,196/mo | $1,419/mo | 34% |
| Vermont | $3,981/mo | $1,207/mo | 30% |
| Illinois | $3,992/mo | $1,246/mo | 31% |
| West Virginia | $3,587/mo | $848/mo | 24% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,913/mo | $1,176/mo | 30% |
| Washington | $4,364/mo | $1,641/mo | 38% |
| Maine | $3,802/mo | $1,104/mo | 29% |
| North Carolina | $3,766/mo | $1,147/mo | 30% |
| District of Columbia | $4,512/mo | $1,900/mo | 42% |
| Michigan | $3,681/mo | $1,072/mo | 29% |
| New Jersey | $4,225/mo | $1,656/mo | 39% |
| Alaska | $3,916/mo | $1,361/mo | 35% |
| Missouri | $3,525/mo | $997/mo | 28% |
| Tennessee | $3,617/mo | $1,111/mo | 31% |
| Minnesota | $3,734/mo | $1,230/mo | 33% |
| Kansas | $3,494/mo | $1,025/mo | 29% |
| Colorado | $4,126/mo | $1,659/mo | 40% |
| New York | $4,079/mo | $1,621/mo | 40% |
| Connecticut | $3,937/mo | $1,483/mo | 38% |
| Maryland | $4,131/mo | $1,683/mo | 41% |
| Nebraska | $3,376/mo | $1,017/mo | 30% |
| Indiana | $3,344/mo | $1,022/mo | 31% |
| Mississippi | $3,221/mo | $933/mo | 29% |
| South Carolina | $3,413/mo | $1,131/mo | 33% |
| Oregon | $3,699/mo | $1,431/mo | 39% |
| New Hampshire | $3,643/mo | $1,424/mo | 39% |
| Florida | $3,699/mo | $1,542/mo | 42% |
| Montana | $3,178/mo | $1,031/mo | 32% |
| Ohio | $3,119/mo | $986/mo | 32% |
| Arkansas | $3,015/mo | $903/mo | 30% |
| South Dakota | $3,007/mo | $910/mo | 30% |
| Georgia | $3,395/mo | $1,320/mo | 39% |
| Delaware | $3,351/mo | $1,321/mo | 39% |
| California | $3,960/mo | $1,969/mo | 50% |
| Nevada | $3,444/mo | $1,478/mo | 43% |
| Louisiana | $2,932/mo | $1,028/mo | 35% |
| Texas | $3,156/mo | $1,328/mo | 42% |
| Utah | $3,214/mo | $1,396/mo | 43% |
| Idaho | $2,964/mo | $1,163/mo | 39% |
| Iowa | $2,716/mo | $932/mo | 34% |
| Virginia | $3,228/mo | $1,547/mo | 48% |
| Kentucky | $2,390/mo | $918/mo | 38% |
| Oklahoma | $2,151/mo | $970/mo | 45% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.