How to Become a Culinary Professional in Washington (2026)

Updated October 28, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Washington employs about 35,140 culinary professionals earning a median $46,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Washington.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Washington

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
172.9$5,400 in-state / $7,500 out-of-state$48,53336%Yes*109 mi
268.9$5,997 in-state / $12,062 out-of-state$55,89137%Yes*64 mi
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367.5$4,810 in-state / $10,875 out-of-state$52,87529%Yes*75 mi
465.2$6,027 in-state / $12,165 out-of-stateNot reported43%Yes*62 mi
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563.9$6,634$51,69943%Yes*63 mi
663.3$6,308 in-state / $7,369 out-of-state$56,46646%Yes*56 mi
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763.1$5,233 in-state / $11,183 out-of-state$49,33739%Yes*122 mi
860.1$4,197 in-state / $9,740 out-of-state$57,63431%—78 mi
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959.0$5,252 in-state / $5,813 out-of-state$50,18544%—84 mi
1055.0$5,184 in-state / $5,745 out-of-state$60,07232%—66 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.

Washington employs approximately 35,140 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,800 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 218,600 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Culinary Professional in Washington, 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 (Washington): $46,800 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Washington

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Washington? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Washington is $46,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,940 and experienced professionals can earn $57,910 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Washington

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Washington

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria40,090$46,042$46,054$35,818$55,863
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue28,150$52,118$52,687$40,017$64,533
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro17,120$46,832$47,888$38,024$63,902
Spokane-Spokane Valley3,220$46,043$45,280$37,165$56,704
Bellingham1,470$47,729$47,540$37,791$59,757
Kennewick-Richland1,470$46,570$46,230$37,409$58,281
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater1,410$47,927$47,276$37,357$58,481
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard1,370$49,104$48,898$38,679$60,214
Wenatchee-East Wenatchee960$46,449$46,404$37,743$54,103
Yakima960$45,024$45,162$36,393$56,180
Mount Vernon-Anacortes700$46,100$46,078$36,948$57,044
Longview-Kelso410$46,238$45,640$36,367$56,364
Walla Walla330$46,307$45,815$36,886$54,512
Lewiston270$36,084$36,839$27,118$45,600

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 Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 35,140 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 12.1% from 2025 to 2035 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Washington is $46,800, which is $9,970 above the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Washington

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 Statistics2025-2035
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 31.0 (updated 2026-10-14)