How to Become a Culinary Professional in Kentucky (2026)

Updated October 28, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky employs about 13,510 culinary professionals earning a median $34,640 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Kentucky.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Kentucky

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
156.0$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$41,50758%Yes*82 mi
255.9$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$54,48549%Yes*122 mi
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355.0$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$43,58459%Yes*30 mi
452.5$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$42,97056%Yes*103 mi
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551.0$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state$48,18143%Yes*49 mi
650.7$5,517 in-state / $10,044 out-of-state$59,23516%Yes*106 mi
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750.3Contact school for pricing$41,87574%—102 mi
849.7$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state$50,10635%Yes*42 mi
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948.2$7,126 in-state / $16,858 out-of-state$54,33339%Yes*136 mi
1047.1$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$43,25243%Yes*61 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.

Kentucky employs approximately 13,510 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,640 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 218,600 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in Kentucky, 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 (Kentucky): $34,640 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Kentucky

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Kentucky? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Kentucky is $34,640 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $24,750 and experienced professionals can earn $43,750 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Kentucky

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Cincinnati13,300$37,665$37,071$27,874$48,064
Louisville/Jefferson County6,750$37,144$37,867$28,706$50,642
Lexington-Fayette2,870$37,771$37,198$28,311$50,138
Huntington-Ashland1,340$31,889$32,781$23,377$41,870
Clarksville1,120$36,709$35,846$24,323$44,063
Bowling Green730$33,063$34,520$24,355$43,899
Paducah530$32,220$33,816$27,338$40,326
Owensboro470$31,134$33,502$24,190$39,889
Elizabethtown370$30,120$31,580$23,470$37,270

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 Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 13,510 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Kentucky is $34,640, which is $2,190 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Kentucky

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 Statistics2025-2035
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 31.0 (updated 2026-10-14)