How to Become a Culinary Professional in Hawaii (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Hawaii?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,420. Employment concentration in Hawaii is about 1.95 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Hawaii?

Hawaii currently employs approximately 11,090 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Hawaii chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $77,360 ($37.19/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,240 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 23.8% above the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $77,360 ($37.19/hr)
25th percentile: $54,530 per year
75th percentile: $98,640 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $118,000 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,970 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 1,240
Versus national median: 23.8% above the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.53 - this occupation is more concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Hawaii employs about 11,090 culinary professionals earning a median $45,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Hawaii.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Hawaii

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Kapiolani Community College	64.3	$3,284 - $11,992	$51,544	21%	Yes*	31 mi
2	Leeward Community College	59.1	$3,214 - $12,507	$43,818	33%	Yes*	45 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Kauai Community College	49.7	$3,252 - $18,742	$49,286	37%	Yes*	143 mi
4	University of Hawaii Maui College	49.5	$3,284 - $14,937	$51,461	28%	Yes*	59 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Hawaii Community College	33.3	Contact school for pricing	$46,462	32%	—	177 mi

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.

Hawaii employs approximately 11,090 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,420 ¹. The state’s concentration of culinary professional jobs is 1.95x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Hawaii, 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 (Hawaii): $45,420 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Hawaii

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Hawaii is $45,420 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,740 and experienced professionals can earn $65,320 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Hawaii

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu	8,790	$45,721	$47,649	$32,086	$66,681
Kahului-Wailuku	2,210	$53,350	$58,461	$40,162	$80,321

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 Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 11,090 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Hawaii is $45,420, which is $8,590 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Hawaii

Best Trade Schools in Hawaii (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Hawaii

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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)