How to Become a Culinary Professional in Colorado (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado employs about 30,600 culinary professionals earning a median $41,600 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Colorado.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Colorado

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
167.1$4,613 in-state / $10,913 out-of-state$49,81838%Yes*104 mi
264.2$4,859 in-state / $17,459 out-of-state$62,69532%Yes*22 mi
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359.7Contact school for pricing$64,65286%—236 mi
456.7$9,927 in-state / $25,124 out-of-state$58,60141%Yes*165 mi
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555.0$5,140 in-state / $9,250 out-of-state$44,69376%—42 mi
652.3$2,616 in-state / $12,840 out-of-state$55,40627%Yes*94 mi
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751.5$5,049 in-state / $17,649 out-of-state$49,17931%Yes*113 mi
850.3$4,510 in-state / $17,110 out-of-state$48,53821%Yes*79 mi
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948.5$4,800 in-state / $11,100 out-of-state$43,06837%Yes*271 mi
1041.4$2,136 in-state / $5,136 out-of-state$59,81830%—233 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Colorado employs approximately 30,600 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $41,600 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 250,700 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in Colorado, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school or community college
  • Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
  • Median wage (Colorado): $41,600 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Colorado

How to become a Culinary Professional in Colorado? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in Colorado.

How long does it take? culinary professional training length in Colorado varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do culinary professionals earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Colorado is $41,600 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,590 and experienced professionals can earn $49,650 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Colorado

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Colorado training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Colorado that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to culinary professionals in Colorado before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Colorado vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial19,830$46,198$46,312$37,122$55,119
Colorado Springs4,280$40,401$42,913$34,239$51,423
Boulder2,850$43,930$45,241$34,653$58,655
Fort Collins-Loveland2,570$40,518$43,253$35,055$52,019
Greeley1,270$38,986$41,458$33,071$51,524
Grand Junction900$39,687$41,867$32,739$51,556
Pueblo730$38,376$40,628$32,281$48,959

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 30,600 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Colorado? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Colorado.

How much do culinary professionals earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Colorado is $41,600, which is $4,770 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Colorado

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)