How to Become a Culinary Professional in Idaho (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Idaho?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Idaho earned a median annual wage of approximately $36,440.

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

Idaho currently employs approximately 8,130 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

Idaho chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $52,000 ($25.00/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 550 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.8% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $52,000 ($25.00/hr)
25th percentile: $42,330 per year
75th percentile: $66,930 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $83,240 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,590 per year
Workers employed in Idaho: 550
Versus national median: -16.8% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.50 - this occupation is less concentrated in Idaho than the national average

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

Idaho employs about 8,130 culinary professionals earning a median $36,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Idaho.

Key Facts

Median wage (Idaho): $36,440/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Idaho: 8,130 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.05x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 14.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Idaho

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	Bridgerland Technical College	73.8	Contact school for pricing	$42,070	Not reported	Yes*	228 mi
2	Walla Walla Community College	70.4	Contact school for pricing	$56,719	43%	Yes*	214 mi
3	Spokane Community College	68.4	Contact school for pricing	$52,567	35%	Yes*	265 mi
4	College of Southern Idaho	68.2	Contact school for pricing	$46,129	34%	Yes*	122 mi
5	Ogden-Weber Technical College	63.7	Contact school for pricing	$47,224	54%	Yes*	252 mi
6	Mountainland Technical College	59.3	Contact school for pricing	$39,284	81%	—	305 mi
7	Flathead Valley Community College	54.5	$4,912 - $14,882	$47,642	28%	Yes*	269 mi
8	Salt Lake Community College	51.6	Contact school for pricing	$55,279	29%	Yes*	288 mi
9	Davis Technical College	47.9	Contact school for pricing	$47,706	Not reported	—	267 mi
10	North Idaho College	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$50,312	37%	Yes*	253 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.

Idaho employs approximately 8,130 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,440 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 Idaho, 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 (Idaho): $36,440 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Idaho

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Idaho? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Idaho is $36,440 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $25,470 and experienced professionals can earn $47,020 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Idaho

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Idaho training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Idaho

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boise City	4,900	$37,439	$38,572	$26,579	$50,037
Coeur d'Alene	1,340	$39,578	$40,610	$28,035	$51,439
Idaho Falls	890	$35,636	$35,492	$23,867	$46,959
Twin Falls	650	$33,838	$34,300	$24,102	$44,712
Logan	610	$34,198	$34,866	$26,172	$45,081
Pocatello	400	$34,334	$34,248	$24,594	$44,502
Lewiston	270	$36,084	$36,839	$27,118	$45,600

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 Idaho? Idaho currently employs approximately 8,130 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Idaho compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Idaho is $36,440, which is $390 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Idaho

Best Trade Schools in Idaho (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Idaho

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)