How to Become a Culinary Professional in Iowa (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa employs about 12,270 culinary professionals earning a median $35,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Iowa.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Iowa

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
165.2$4,904 in-state / $7,147 out-of-state$50,75766%Yes*139 mi
260.0$6,146$52,00339%Yes*128 mi
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359.9$5,496 in-state / $6,504 out-of-state$52,11042%Yes*34 mi
457.6$5,186 in-state / $5,330 out-of-state$47,71350%Yes*157 mi
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556.3$6,176 in-state / $8,220 out-of-state$48,66343%Yes*90 mi
656.2$4,820 in-state / $7,078 out-of-state$53,11434%Yes*141 mi
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756.1$5,040 in-state / $6,120 out-of-state$50,32240%Yes*105 mi
854.0$5,496 in-state / $7,788 out-of-state$46,68242%Yes*48 mi
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950.0$5,790 in-state / $6,690 out-of-state$51,81739%Yes*52 mi
1048.3$6,930 in-state / $7,080 out-of-state$51,13940%Yes*152 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.

Iowa employs approximately 12,270 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,670 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 Iowa, 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 (Iowa): $35,670 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Iowa

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Iowa is $35,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,690 and experienced professionals can earn $44,460 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Iowa

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Des Moines-West Des Moines4,480$37,876$39,244$30,167$49,001
Omaha3,750$39,773$40,913$30,872$50,619
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island1,990$36,530$37,452$30,319$46,698
Cedar Rapids1,410$36,930$37,604$29,211$48,603
Iowa City1,370$37,545$38,188$29,458$47,863
Waterloo-Cedar Falls850$35,285$36,152$28,316$46,173
Sioux City760$36,503$37,327$28,841$48,242
Ames720$37,670$38,663$29,072$51,627
Dubuque620$37,959$38,477$28,649$48,444

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 Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 12,270 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Iowa is $35,670, which is $1,160 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Iowa

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)