How to Become a Culinary Professional in New Mexico (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs about 7,810 culinary professionals earning a median $35,020 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in New Mexico.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in New Mexico

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
154.6$2,256 in-state / $5,616 out-of-state$54,82732%Yes*89 mi
252.4$1,095$34,65214%Yes*88 mi
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351.8$2,060 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state$48,65231%Yes*82 mi
449.2$1,372 in-state / $3,268 out-of-state$54,82729%Yes*63 mi
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548.7$2,322 in-state / $6,360 out-of-state$54,87419%Yes*152 mi
646.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*96 mi
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746.5$4,080 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state$39,71224%Yes*177 mi
843.4$1,474 in-state / $3,418 out-of-state$38,11128%Yes*96 mi
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943.0$4,346Not reported12%Yes*175 mi
1041.4$2,136 in-state / $5,136 out-of-state$59,81830%—146 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.

New Mexico employs approximately 7,810 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $35,020 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 New Mexico, 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 (New Mexico): $35,020 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in New Mexico

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in New Mexico is $35,020 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,100 and experienced professionals can earn $43,400 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in New Mexico

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque4,520$37,310$38,129$31,044$48,417
Santa Fe1,400$39,695$40,964$32,146$50,366
Las Cruces1,040$32,974$34,034$28,004$40,208
Farmington410$34,620$34,442$28,880$40,223

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 New Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 7,810 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in New Mexico is $35,020, which is $1,810 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In New Mexico

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 Statistics2024-2034
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 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)