How to Become a Culinary Professional in Nevada (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Nevada?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Nevada earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,610. Employment concentration in Nevada is about 1.94 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Nevada currently employs approximately 27,250 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

Nevada chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $62,380 ($29.99/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,940 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.1% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,380 ($29.99/hr)
25th percentile: $49,920 per year
75th percentile: $78,650 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $100,980 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,410 per year
Workers employed in Nevada: 3,940
Versus national median: -0.1% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.97 - this occupation is more concentrated in Nevada than the national average

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

Nevada employs about 27,250 culinary professionals earning a median $38,610 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Nevada.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Nevada

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	Truckee Meadows Community College	63.0	Contact school for pricing	$55,261	30%	Yes*	184 mi
2	Dixie Technical College	58.7	Contact school for pricing	$46,064	80%	—	200 mi
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3	Lemoore College	55.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,402	44%	Yes*	190 mi
4	Merced College	51.7	Contact school for pricing	$51,136	32%	Yes*	191 mi
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5	College of the Sequoias	47.3	Contact school for pricing	$44,147	36%	—	167 mi
6	College of Southern Nevada	46.6	Contact school for pricing	$51,080	19%	Yes*	161 mi
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7	Institute of Technology	44.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,172	74%	—	165 mi
8	Fresno City College	41.3	Contact school for pricing	$46,885	24%	—	170 mi
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9	Columbia College	32.3	Contact school for pricing	$45,420	28%	—	180 mi
10	Lake Tahoe Community College	30.5	$1,131 - $17,666	$45,548	43%	Yes*	170 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.

Nevada employs approximately 27,250 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,610 ¹. The state’s concentration of culinary professional jobs is 1.94x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Nevada, 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 (Nevada): $38,610 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Nevada

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Nevada? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Nevada is $38,610 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,300 and experienced professionals can earn $56,540 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Nevada

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Nevada training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved culinary professional program in Nevada 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 Nevada 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 Nevada

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Nevada

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas	27,580	$41,797	$45,739	$31,018	$63,784
Reno	3,840	$41,018	$42,812	$29,726	$52,128
Carson City	320	$38,317	$39,653	$30,760	$48,568

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 Nevada? Nevada currently employs approximately 27,250 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Nevada compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Nevada is $38,610, which is $1,780 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Nevada

Best Trade Schools in Nevada (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)