Chef/Head Cook

Careers / Chef/Head Cook

👨‍🍳

Oversee kitchen operations and create menus

📚

Typical Education

Certificate

→

💼

Annual Openings

18,800

→

💰

Median Salary

$56,920

10-Year Job Outlook

↑ 5%Good

Projected employment change 2023-2033 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

216

Schools

229

Programs

$15k

Avg Earnings

Regions

Reading the Numbers

Earnings/yr

Median salary 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard)

ROI %

Return on investment: (Earnings − Debt) ÷ Debt. Higher = better payoff.

Debt

Median total student debt at graduation for this program

Net Price

Annual cost after grants/scholarships (avg for all students at school)

How to Get There

Multiple educational paths can lead to a career as a Chef/Head Cook. Explore programs by credential level below.

Certificate211 programs

Arizona Culinary Institute

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Scottsdale, AZ • Southwest

$29,223/yr

+207.6% ROI

$9,500 debt

Aveda Institute-Des Moines

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

West Des Moines, IA • Midwest

$27,081/yr

+126.9% ROI

$11,937 debt

Aveda Institute-Denver

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

Denver, CO • West

$26,636/yr

+170.9% ROI

$9,833 debt

Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

Woburn, MA • Northeast

$26,234/yr

+316.2% ROI

$6,303 debt

Capitol Beauty School

Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

Omaha, NE • Midwest

$25,942/yr

+275.9% ROI

$6,901 debt

+206 more Certificate programs available

Associate17 programs

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Cincinnati, OH • Midwest

$36,330/yr

+319.3% ROI

$8,664 debt

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Asheville, NC • Southeast

$32,602/yr

Atlantic Cape Community College

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Mays Landing, NJ • Northeast

$31,639/yr

+187.6% ROI

$11,000 debt

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Boulder

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Boulder, CO • West

$30,224/yr

+88.9% ROI

$16,000 debt

Central Piedmont Community College

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Charlotte, NC • Southeast

$27,127/yr

+12 more Associate programs available

Master's1 program

Boston University

Culinary Arts and Related Services.

Boston, MA • Northeast

—/yr

Schools by Region

Compare programs across different regions to find the best fit for you.

Midwest36 programs

Avg earnings: $16,289/yr

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati, OH

$36,330

+319.3%

Aveda Institute-Des Moines

West Des Moines, IA

$27,081

+126.9%

Capitol Beauty School

Omaha, NE

Career outlook data from Bureau of Labor Statistics. Program earnings and ROI from College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Earnings represent median income 1 year after graduation. ROI is calculated as (Earnings - Debt) / Debt.