How to Become a Culinary Professional in Indiana (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Indiana employs about 26,960 culinary professionals earning a median $35,170 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Indiana.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Indiana

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
160.0$3,822 in-state / $9,846 out-of-state$51,35740%Yes*125 mi
255.7$3,675 in-state / $8,556 out-of-state$48,98041%Yes*113 mi
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355.1$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state$51,12121%Yes*129 mi
450.7$5,517 in-state / $10,044 out-of-state$59,23516%Yes*122 mi
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549.9$4,144 in-state / $9,094 out-of-state$48,13128%Yes*130 mi
649.2$5,154 in-state / $9,935 out-of-state$53,36940%Yes*40 mi
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747.7$4,176 in-state / $11,064 out-of-state$50,64721%Yes*110 mi
843.9$4,590 in-state / $15,150 out-of-state$51,66518%Yes*130 mi
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941.5$4,440 in-state / $7,440 out-of-state$47,29945%—76 mi
1037.3$4,590 in-state / $15,150 out-of-state$43,24731%Yes*123 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.

Indiana employs approximately 26,960 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,170 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 Indiana, 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 (Indiana): $35,170 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Indiana

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Indiana? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Indiana is $35,170 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,000 and experienced professionals can earn $44,190 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Indiana

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Indiana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Indiana 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
Cincinnati13,300$37,665$37,071$27,874$48,064
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood11,280$37,692$37,215$26,845$48,366
Louisville/Jefferson County6,750$37,144$37,867$28,706$50,642
Fort Wayne2,330$35,401$34,554$26,173$42,357
South Bend-Mishawaka1,630$36,026$35,176$26,661$46,445
Evansville1,580$35,207$34,493$26,541$42,866
Lafayette-West Lafayette1,110$35,051$34,030$25,288$44,829
Bloomington1,100$36,596$35,852$27,259$47,141
Elkhart-Goshen810$34,511$34,957$27,424$44,373
Terre Haute690$34,141$34,409$24,009$43,351
Michigan City-La Porte590$31,552$33,727$24,250$43,839
Muncie500$30,680$32,518$26,426$39,017
Kokomo410$35,236$34,319$26,978$42,453
Columbus400$30,336$32,916$25,580$41,429

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 Indiana? Indiana currently employs approximately 26,960 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Indiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Indiana is $35,170, which is $1,660 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Indiana

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)