How to Become a Culinary Professional in Oklahoma (2026)

Q: How much do culinary professionals earn in Oklahoma?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), culinary professionals in Oklahoma earned a median annual wage of approximately $31,720. Employment concentration in Oklahoma is about 1.10 times the national average for this occupation.

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

Oklahoma currently employs approximately 17,050 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

Oklahoma chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $58,540 ($28.14/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,430 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -6.3% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,540 ($28.14/hr)
25th percentile: $37,840 per year
75th percentile: $67,560 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,450 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $28,920 per year
Workers employed in Oklahoma: 1,430
Versus national median: -6.3% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.65 - this occupation is less concentrated in Oklahoma than the national average

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

Oklahoma employs about 17,050 culinary professionals earning a median $31,720 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Oklahoma.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Oklahoma

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	Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center	78.8	Contact school for pricing	$56,311	89%	—	27 mi
2	Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology	69.4	$5,774 - $17,256	$65,328	42%	Yes*	58 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee	68.1	Contact school for pricing	$36,725	98%	—	92 mi
4	Northeast Technology Center	60.2	Contact school for pricing	$49,636	97%	—	98 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Pioneer Technology Center	54.4	Contact school for pricing	$37,175	73%	—	63 mi
6	Caddo Kiowa Technology Center	46.4	Contact school for pricing	$21,039	66%	—	97 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Metro Technology Centers	45.5	Contact school for pricing	$47,829	36%	—	37 mi
8	Independence Community College	45.4	Contact school for pricing	$34,293	30%	Yes*	117 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Autry Technology Center	43.0	Contact school for pricing	$44,150	61%	—	67 mi
10	Kiamichi Technology Center-McAlester	42.2	Contact school for pricing	$36,651	47%	—	92 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

Oklahoma employs approximately 17,050 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,720 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 Oklahoma, 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 (Oklahoma): $31,720 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Oklahoma

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Oklahoma? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Oklahoma is $31,720 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $22,850 and experienced professionals can earn $44,170 or more ¹.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Oklahoma

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Oklahoma

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Oklahoma City	8,600	$37,688	$37,741	$24,909	$51,249
Tulsa	5,530	$35,433	$36,186	$24,656	$46,326
Fort Smith	1,020	$29,395	$30,332	$24,228	$35,983
Lawton	450	$29,043	$31,000	$22,282	$37,604
Enid	220	$29,340	$29,720	$21,790	$37,190

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 Oklahoma? Oklahoma currently employs approximately 17,050 culinary professionals ¹. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Oklahoma compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Oklahoma is $31,720, which is $5,110 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data ¹.

In Oklahoma

Best Trade Schools in Oklahoma (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Oklahoma

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)