How to Become a Culinary Professional in Missouri (2026)

Updated October 28, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Missouri employs about 25,990 culinary professionals earning a median $36,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Missouri.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Missouri

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
157.2$5,250 in-state / $8,850 out-of-state$50,93738%Yes*118 mi
255.0$2,424 in-state / $5,688 out-of-state$52,95631%Yes*115 mi
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354.7$4,512 in-state / $7,200 out-of-state$42,62833%Yes*84 mi
453.5Contact school for pricing$40,42183%—121 mi
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552.6$3,342 in-state / $5,238 out-of-state$48,05631%Yes*159 mi
651.7$3,048 in-state / $6,096 out-of-state$48,36925%Yes*116 mi
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749.6$3,960 in-state / $6,720 out-of-state$51,51636%Yes*152 mi
846.2$4,272 in-state / $7,680 out-of-state$42,27248%Yes*95 mi
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944.4$3,210 in-state / $6,945 out-of-state$50,54542%Yes*121 mi
1034.3$3,660 in-state / $6,990 out-of-state$48,39621%Yes*126 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.

Missouri employs approximately 25,990 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,940 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 Missouri, 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 (Missouri): $36,940 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Missouri

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Missouri? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Missouri is $36,940 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,890 and experienced professionals can earn $46,970 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Missouri

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis16,000$39,182$41,769$30,619$50,324
Kansas City12,440$39,053$40,562$31,077$50,153
Springfield2,300$36,192$36,272$29,264$44,835
Columbia1,210$35,645$36,596$29,127$45,895
Joplin700$33,930$34,150$28,600$42,610
Jefferson City500$34,646$34,795$28,625$42,893
Cape Girardeau430$34,298$34,257$28,821$42,471
St. Joseph390$35,377$36,198$29,762$45,005

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 Missouri? Missouri currently employs approximately 25,990 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Missouri compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Missouri is $36,940, which is $110 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Missouri

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)