How long does the training take?

Typically no schooling after high school, then 5 years or more of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do chefs and head cooks make?

The US median is $62,470 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.

Where can you train for this work?

517 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Chefs and head cooks: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Food & culinary · SOC 35-1011

$62,470US median pay, 2025

+6.6%Projected growth, 2025–35

25,200Openings per year

On the jobUsual way in

How you get in

Most people are hired and trained on the job, so school is optional. A program can still help you stand out.

High school diploma or equivalent (a program is optional for this job)
5 years or more of experience in a related job
Work in: chefs and head cooks

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Culinary Arts/Chef Training	CIP 12.0503	355
Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef	CIP 12.0501	184
Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General	CIP 12.0500	133
Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager	CIP 12.0504	115
Culinary Science/Culinology	CIP 12.0509	10

See the 517 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically no schooling after high school, then 5 years or more of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do chefs and head cooks make?: The US median is $62,470 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.
Where can you train for this work?: 517 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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