How to Become a Culinary Professional in Nebraska (2026)

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 about 4,750 culinary professionals earning a median $37,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Nebraska.

Key Facts

Median wage (Nebraska): $37,030/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Nebraska: 4,750 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.51x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 14.9% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Nebraska

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Flint Hills Technical College	75.5	Contact school for pricing	$52,442	68%	Yes*	185 mi
2	Washburn Institute of Technology	71.0	Contact school for pricing	$56,774	66%	Yes*	152 mi
3	Fort Hays Tech North Central	60.9	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	122 mi
4	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	Contact school for pricing	$47,713	44%	Yes*	105 mi
5	Southeast Community College Area	55.6	Contact school for pricing	$54,277	36%	Yes*	24 mi
6	Johnson County Community College	55.0	Contact school for pricing	$52,956	30%	Yes*	188 mi
7	Iowa Central Community College	54.0	Contact school for pricing	$46,682	Not reported	Yes*	175 mi
8	Des Moines Area Community College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,817	37%	Yes*	181 mi
9	Iowa Western Community College	48.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,139	Not reported	Yes*	64 mi
10	Metropolitan Community College Area	46.7	Contact school for pricing	$53,376	27%	Yes*	56 mi

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.

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.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Nebraska): $37,030 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Nebraska

How to 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? culinary professional training length in Nebraska varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

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.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Nebraska

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Nebraska training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Nebraska that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to culinary professionals in Nebraska 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 Nebraska

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( 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 .

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 state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for 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.

In Nebraska

Best Trade Schools in Nebraska (2026)

Top local programs

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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

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)