"How long does it take to become a culinary professional in Nebraska?"

"Most paths into the culinary professional field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for culinary professionals in Nebraska?"

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Culinary Professional in Nebraska

Q: "How much do culinary professionals earn in Nebraska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,030. Employment concentration in Nebraska is roughly 0.51 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Nebraska?"

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 4,750 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Nebraska chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $60,510 ($29.09/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 540 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.1% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,510 ($29.09/hr)
25th percentile: $46,020 per year
75th percentile: $81,660 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $99,990 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,650 per year
Workers employed in Nebraska: 540
Versus national median: -3.1% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.41 - this occupation is less concentrated in Nebraska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Nebraska employs approximately 4,750 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,030 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 Nebraska, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Culinary Professional in Nebraska

How do I become a culinary professional in Nebraska? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in Nebraska.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do culinary professionals earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Nebraska is $37,030 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,680 and experienced professionals can earn $44,880 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Nebraska): $37,030 per year ¹

Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Nebraska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	3,750	$39,773	$40,913	$30,872	$50,619
Lincoln	1,250	$39,622	$41,086	$29,758	$52,552
Sioux City	760	$36,503	$37,327	$28,841	$48,242
Grand Island	230	$36,285	$36,747	$28,890	$44,010

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 2025.

Top Metros for Culinary professionals in Nebraska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest culinary professional employment within Nebraska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	2,850	$37,840
Lincoln	890	$37,290
Grand Island	200	$36,500

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 4,750 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Nebraska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Nebraska.

How much do culinary professionals earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Nebraska is $37,030, which is $200 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)