How to Become a Culinary Professional in Wisconsin (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Wisconsin employs about 25,410 culinary professionals earning a median $36,550 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most culinary professionals train through an approved program before entering the field in Wisconsin.

Compare Culinary Professional Schools in Wisconsin

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
167.6$5,040 - $16,862$55,85763%Yes*61 mi
266.9$4,819 - $14,583$53,77154%Yes*28 mi
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363.9$4,844 - $14,599$50,98546%Yes*57 mi
462.5Contact school for pricing$54,88749%Yes*81 mi
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562.3Contact school for pricing$57,76445%Yes*31 mi
659.1Contact school for pricing$55,20728%Yes*40 mi
Sponsored Ad
758.3Contact school for pricing$47,58038%Yes*84 mi
856.9$5,002 - $15,840$53,82753%Yes*88 mi
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956.0$4,956 - $16,242$54,14249%Yes*69 mi
1052.5$5,184 - $17,359$52,34625%Yes*45 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.

Wisconsin employs approximately 25,410 culinary professionals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,550 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 Wisconsin, 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 (Wisconsin): $36,550 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Culinary Professional in Wisconsin

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

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

What do culinary professionals earn in Wisconsin? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Wisconsin is $36,550 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,010 and experienced professionals can earn $46,270 or more 1.

How to Become a Culinary Professional in Wisconsin

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

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in Wisconsin

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington20,940$41,321$43,597$36,167$51,956
Milwaukee-Waukesha9,320$38,738$39,702$30,517$49,391
Madison4,180$39,964$41,195$31,859$49,830
Green Bay2,130$37,957$38,059$27,954$47,724
Duluth1,670$37,886$38,550$30,143$48,010
Appleton1,420$38,079$37,758$27,887$48,285
La Crosse-Onalaska1,160$38,174$38,024$28,359$47,452
Eau Claire980$37,320$36,817$27,487$46,861
Kenosha870$38,162$38,329$28,220$49,117
Racine-Mount Pleasant850$37,347$37,209$29,194$47,828
Oshkosh-Neenah840$37,840$37,423$28,199$47,328
Janesville-Beloit790$37,396$36,876$27,959$46,632
Wausau630$37,507$36,477$27,595$45,754
Sheboygan550$37,788$38,046$28,700$48,898
Fond du Lac400$35,496$34,492$25,450$44,950

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 Wisconsin? Wisconsin currently employs approximately 25,410 culinary professionals 1. Nationally, culinary professional employment is projected to grow 14.9% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do culinary professionals earn in Wisconsin compared to the national average? The median annual wage for culinary professionals in Wisconsin is $36,550, which is $280 below the national median of $36,830 according to BLS data 1.

In Wisconsin

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)