How to Become a Culinary Professional in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 53,540 culinary professionals earning a median $37,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Illinois

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
166.2$4,560 - $13,901$49,27342%Yes*64 mi
260.0Contact school for pricing$51,35737%Yes*74 mi
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359.2Contact school for pricing$56,704Not reportedYes*87 mi
455.1$4,530 - $13,800$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
Sponsored Ad
554.9Contact school for pricing$52,701Not reportedYes*85 mi
653.4Contact school for pricing$51,78552%Yes*78 mi
Sponsored Ad
750.2Contact school for pricing$54,22041%—77 mi
850.0Contact school for pricing$55,058Not reportedYes*36 mi
Sponsored Ad
947.7Contact school for pricing$55,98425%—73 mi
1047.7Contact school for pricing$50,64720%Yes*77 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.

Illinois employs approximately 53,540 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,580 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $37,580 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Illinois

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Illinois is $37,580 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $46,460 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Illinois

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin58,450$41,197$43,159$33,145$51,863
St. Louis16,000$39,182$41,769$30,619$50,324
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island1,990$36,530$37,452$30,319$46,698
Peoria1,880$37,003$38,581$32,082$48,782
Rockford1,470$37,173$38,295$32,065$46,552
Champaign-Urbana1,350$37,296$38,736$31,605$47,671
Springfield1,110$37,301$38,957$32,243$46,698
Bloomington1,100$37,045$37,891$32,312$45,618
Paducah530$32,220$33,816$27,338$40,326
Kankakee460$37,440$38,286$32,466$46,420
Cape Girardeau430$34,298$34,257$28,821$42,471
Decatur320$36,440$36,800$31,200$45,090

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 53,540 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Illinois is $37,580, which is $750 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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)