How to Become A Culinary Professional in Virginia
Virginia employs approximately 40,310 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,750 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 Virginia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Virginia
How to become a culinary professional in Virginia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for culinary professionals in Virginia.
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 Virginia? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Virginia is $36,750 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,340 and experienced professionals can earn $45,740 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 (Virginia): $36,750 per year 1
Culinary Professional Wages by Metro Area in Virginia
Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks wages in Virginia vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) |
Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 40,090 | $46,042 | $46,054 | $35,818 | $55,863 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 9,920 | $37,188 | $37,596 | $29,753 | $46,159 |
| Richmond | 8,150 | $37,588 | $38,530 | $30,446 | $47,780 |
| Charlottesville | 1,760 | $39,117 | $40,342 | $30,672 | $49,499 |
| Roanoke | 1,660 | $36,267 | $35,894 | $28,854 | $45,041 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | 1,300 | $35,297 | $35,009 | $26,481 | $44,662 |
| Lynchburg | 1,270 | $35,859 | $36,082 | $28,458 | $46,115 |
| Harrisonburg | 930 | $36,885 | $37,196 | $28,968 | $46,037 |
| Winchester | 810 | $36,063 | $36,603 | $29,067 | $46,534 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | 790 | $36,958 | $37,247 | $29,185 | $46,945 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | 500 | $35,900 | $35,900 | $28,950 | $43,650 |
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 .
Top Metros for Culinary professionals in Virginia
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest culinary professional employment within Virginia according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 8,380 | $36,280 |
| Richmond | 6,160 | $37,080 |
| Roanoke | 1,560 | $34,920 |
| Charlottesville | 1,370 | $36,960 |
| Lynchburg | 1,000 | $35,080 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for culinary professionals in Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 40,310 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.
What training programs are available in Virginia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Virginia.
How much do culinary professionals earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Virginia is $36,750, which is $80 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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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) |