Here's a different take on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment and Wage estimates page. I've downloaded all the data and ranked states (for every occupation with at least 100 workers).

You can use the drop-down menus to filter by state or by occupation.

Occupation Selected: Chefs and head cooks

Click on state name to filter.
State Jobs Average
Salary		 Rank
District of Columbia 850 $49,010 1
New Jersey 3,210 $47,760 2
New York 5,460 $46,940 3
Hawaii 1,100 $44,200 4
Nevada 2,530 $43,860 5
Connecticut 2,280 $42,950 6
Massachusetts 3,730 $42,480 7
Washington 1,610 $42,100 8
Rhode Island 390 $42,060 9
California 12,620 $41,210 10
Florida 7,320 $39,970 11
Colorado 2,030 $39,050 12
Minnesota 1,390 $39,020 13
Maryland 2,490 $38,960 14
Virginia 1,920 $38,810 15
Delaware 370 $38,040 16
Ohio 3,070 $37,960 17
Maine 620 $37,550 18
Arizona 2,450 $37,540 19
Missouri 1,650 $36,220 20
Vermont 330 $36,200 21
Texas 4,900 $36,110 22
North Carolina 2,520 $35,830 23
Michigan 3,470 $35,000 24
Alaska 520 $34,840 25.5
Pennsylvania 5,190 $34,840 25.5
Illinois 5,500 $34,770 27
Oregon 1,280 $34,540 28
New Hampshire 1,170 $34,510 29
Indiana 1,520 $34,340 30
Iowa 580 $34,060 31.5
Georgia 2,140 $34,060 31.5
Utah 590 $33,830 33
Louisiana 1,760 $33,330 34
South Carolina 2,180 $33,100 35
Kentucky 1,090 $32,900 36.5
New Mexico 670 $32,900 36.5
Tennessee 1,770 $32,720 38
West Virginia 460 $32,380 39
Nebraska 750 $32,270 40
Montana 340 $31,360 41
Wisconsin 2,300 $31,250 42
Guam 150 $31,240
Wyoming 280 $30,740 43
Arkansas 440 $29,750 44
Alabama 790 $29,140 45
North Dakota 140 $28,290 46
Kansas 980 $28,010 47
Mississippi 670 $28,000 48
Puerto Rico 430 $26,030
Idaho 1,020 $24,370 49
Oklahoma 1,530 $23,630 50