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Culinary internship salary
Average culinary internship salary
$15.08
Average Culinary Internship Salary
The average culinary internship salary is $31,368 annually, or about $15.08 per hour. This figure can vary based on several factors, including location, experience, and the specific culinary field. Interns in metropolitan areas often earn more due to higher living costs and greater demand for skilled culinary professionals.
Salary by State
Analyzing salaries by state reveals significant disparities. States like California and New York typically offer higher wages due to their vibrant culinary scenes. In contrast, states with a lower cost of living may offer competitive salaries that reflect local market conditions.
Top Paying Cities
Culinary interns in cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles tend to earn the highest salaries. These urban centers boast a diverse range of culinary establishments, providing ample opportunities for interns to gain valuable experience while earning competitive pay.
Career Advancement
Interns who leverage their experiences effectively can transition into higher-paying positions within the culinary industry. Networking, gaining specialized skills, and seeking opportunities in renowned establishments can significantly enhance earning potential.
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Where can a Culinary Internship earn more?
Average culinary internship salary by state
The average culinary internship salary in Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average culinary internship salary states are Tennessee, Louisiana, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for culinary interns
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $36,804 | $17.69 |
| 2 | Oregon | $38,415 | $18.47 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $36,208 | $17.41 |
| 4 | Nevada | $33,974 | $16.33 |
| 5 | California | $38,323 | $18.42 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $39,438 | $18.96 |
| 7 | Idaho | $34,547 | $16.61 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $37,588 | $18.07 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $43,357 | $20.84 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $34,553 | $16.61 |
| 11 | Alaska | $37,314 | $17.94 |
| 12 | Missouri | $33,823 | $16.26 |
| 13 | Washington | $36,221 | $17.41 |
| 14 | Texas | $32,101 | $15.43 |
| 15 | New York | $34,836 | $16.75 |
| 16 | Colorado | $32,938 | $15.84 |
| 17 | Ohio | $31,171 | $14.99 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $32,079 | $15.42 |
| 19 | Vermont | $32,863 | $15.80 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $32,248 | $15.50 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $31,910 | $15.34 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $33,519 | $16.11 |
| 23 | Indiana | $31,864 | $15.32 |
| 24 | Arizona | $32,648 | $15.70 |
| 25 | Michigan | $31,601 | $15.19 |
| 26 | Utah | $30,597 | $14.71 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $36,303 | $17.45 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $31,298 | $15.05 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $29,805 | $14.33 |
| 30 | Florida | $32,244 | $15.50 |
| 31 | Maine | $31,481 | $15.14 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $29,788 | $14.32 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $30,357 | $14.59 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $28,335 | $13.62 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $30,235 | $14.54 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $28,314 | $13.61 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $27,430 | $13.19 |
| 38 | Delaware | $31,377 | $15.09 |
| 39 | Montana | $29,362 | $14.12 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $27,591 | $13.26 |
| 41 | Virginia | $29,506 | $14.19 |
| 42 | Iowa | $28,937 | $13.91 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $27,814 | $13.37 |
| 44 | Maryland | $30,504 | $14.67 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $27,628 | $13.28 |
| 46 | Kansas | $27,772 | $13.35 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $25,029 | $12.03 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $24,870 | $11.96 |
| 49 | Alabama | $26,678 | $12.83 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $26,774 | $12.87 |
| 51 | Georgia | $26,575 | $12.78 |
Highest paying cities for culinary interns
The highest-paying cities for culinary interns are Napa, CA, Chicago, IL, and Henrietta, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa, CA | $38,898 | $18.70 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $36,865 | $17.72 |
| 3 | Henrietta, NY | $35,181 | $16.91 |
| 4 | Broomfield, CO | $32,958 | $15.85 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $32,249 | $15.50 |
| 6 | Fort Worth, TX | $32,147 | $15.46 |
| 7 | Beloit, WI | $31,864 | $15.32 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $31,488 | $15.14 |
| 9 | Alexandria, VA | $30,064 | $14.45 |
| 10 | Charleston, SC | $29,593 | $14.23 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,357 | $13.63 |
| 12 | Bethlehem, PA | $27,929 | $13.43 |
| 13 | Asheville, NC | $27,602 | $13.27 |
| 14 | Franklin, TN | $27,445 | $13.19 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $26,689 | $12.83 |
| 16 | Auburn, AL | $26,457 | $12.72 |
Culinary internship salary details
A culinary internship's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a culinary internship's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $31,368 | $2,614 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
Highest paying culinary internship jobs
The highest paying types of culinary interns are sous chef, chef/catering, and chef.
Top companies hiring culinary interns now:
Which companies pay culinary interns the most?
Culinary internship salaries at The Culinary Institute of America and The Walt Disney Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average culinary internship salary at companies like JEAN-GEORGES MANAGEMENT and Legends Hospitality are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Culinary Institute of America | $43,481 | $20.90 |
| 2 | The Walt Disney Company | $38,834 | $18.67 |
| 3 | JEAN-GEORGES MANAGEMENT | $38,271 | $18.40 |
| 4 | Legends Hospitality | $37,543 | $18.05 |
| 5 | Sierra Nevada | $36,894 | $17.74 |
| 6 | Proviso Township Schools | $36,082 | $17.35 |
| 7 | Hyatt Hotels | $35,586 | $17.11 |
| 8 | Wildhorse Resort & Casino | $34,665 | $16.67 |
| 9 | Yaamava' Resort & Casino | $34,350 | $16.51 |
| 10 | Compass Group USA | $33,967 | $16.33 |
| 11 | Montage Hotels & Resorts | $33,676 | $16.19 |
| 12 | Morgan's Restaurants of Pennsylvania Inc | $33,515 | $16.11 |
| 13 | Foxwoods Resort Casino | $33,024 | $15.88 |
| 14 | MARTA | $32,991 | $15.86 |
| 15 | Self Regional Healthcare | $32,919 | $15.83 |
| 16 | Troon | $32,798 | $15.77 |
| 17 | Oneida Indian Nation | $32,640 | $15.69 |
| 18 | Colonial Williamsburg Foundation | $32,511 | $15.63 |
| 19 | Cherokee Town and Country Club | $32,286 | $15.52 |
| 20 | Delicato Family Wines | $32,205 | $15.48 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Culinary Internship salary by industry
The average culinary internship salary varies across industries:
- The average culinary internship salary in the media industry is $38,284, the highest of any industry.
- The average culinary internship salary in the finance industry is $33,420.
- Culinary interns in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $31,390, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for culinary interns
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $38,284 | $18.41 |
| 2 | Education | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $32,742 | $15.74 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $31,390 | $15.09 |
High paying culinary internship jobs
Culinary internship salary trends
The average culinary internship salary has risen by $7,319 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average culinary internship earned $24,049 annually, but today, they earn $31,368 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for culinary interns over the last decade.
Compare culinary internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average culinary internship salary over time
Compare culinary internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Culinary internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,400 | $15.08 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $30,300 | $14.55 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $28,900 | $13.89 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $27,400 | $13.19 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $26,300 | $12.64 | +4.3% |
Recently added culinary internship salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ymca of The Rockies | Intern-Kitchen & Culinary | Granby, CO | 06/28/2025 | $30,908 |
| Delaware North Companies | 2025 Culinary Positions, Lambeau Field | Green Bay, WI | 06/25/2025 | $31,305 |
| Coraltreehospitality | Culinary Extern at Terranea Resort | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 06/24/2025 | $45,914 |
| UMOM New Day Centers | Culinary Enterprises Intern | Phoenix, AZ | 06/21/2025 | $37,566 |
| Wildhorse Championship Golf | Hamley Steakhouse Culinary | Pendleton, OR | 06/20/2025 | $41,740 |
| Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises | Fall Culinary Internship | Chicago, IL | 06/18/2025 | $33,809 |
| Hyatt Hotels Corp | Culinary Intern-Onsite Housing Available | Ione, CA | 06/17/2025 | $37,566 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Culinary Intern, Flik/Baltimore Ravens/Owings | Owings Mills, MD | 06/17/2025 | $39,653 |
| Coraltree Hospitality | Culinary Extern at Terranea Resort | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 06/15/2025 | $45,914 |
| The Daily Catch | Culinary Internship | Boston, MA | 06/13/2025 | $37,566 |
Culinary internship salary FAQs
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