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Cooking instructor salary
Average cooking instructor salary
$87,520
Understanding Cooking Instructor Salaries
The average salary for a Cooking Instructor is approximately $87,520 per year, or about $42 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the type of institution employing the instructor. For instance, instructors in culinary schools or private cooking classes may command higher salaries compared to those teaching in community centers.
In addition to salary, Cooking Instructors can explore benefits such as flexible hours and the chance to inspire others through cooking. States like California, New York, and Texas often offer the highest salaries for this profession due to demand and cost of living. To maximize earning potential, instructors should consider gaining certifications or additional culinary training.
Salary Insights by Experience Level
New instructors may start with lower salaries, while those with advanced culinary skills and teaching experience can earn a significantly higher wage. By understanding these dynamics, prospective Cooking Instructors can make informed career decisions and seek positions that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Cooking Instructor earn more?
Cooking instructor salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level cooking instructor | $65,600 | $31.54 |
| Mid-level cooking instructor | $79,300 | $38.11 |
| Senior-level cooking instructor | $94,200 | $45.27 |
Cooking instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average cooking instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for cooking instructors are New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The lowest average cooking instructor salary states are Utah, Mississippi, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cooking instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $137,803 | $66.25 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $134,835 | $64.82 |
| 3 | New York | $128,767 | $61.91 |
| 4 | Vermont | $123,410 | $59.33 |
| 5 | Delaware | $120,735 | $58.05 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $122,189 | $58.74 |
| 7 | Michigan | $114,542 | $55.07 |
| 8 | Georgia | $114,325 | $54.96 |
| 9 | Nevada | $114,223 | $54.91 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $125,775 | $60.47 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $129,439 | $62.23 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $117,261 | $56.38 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $123,916 | $59.58 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $108,066 | $51.95 |
| 15 | Virginia | $114,284 | $54.94 |
| 16 | Maryland | $120,674 | $58.02 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $106,772 | $51.33 |
| 18 | Illinois | $117,175 | $56.33 |
| 19 | Maine | $117,998 | $56.73 |
| 20 | District of Columbia | $135,717 | $65.25 |
| 21 | Iowa | $105,273 | $50.61 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $114,429 | $55.01 |
| 23 | Florida | $105,056 | $50.51 |
| 24 | Indiana | $110,349 | $53.05 |
| 25 | California | $105,378 | $50.66 |
| 26 | Ohio | $102,423 | $49.24 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $98,727 | $47.46 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $98,813 | $47.51 |
| 29 | Colorado | $94,113 | $45.25 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $99,722 | $47.94 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $95,599 | $45.96 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $95,595 | $45.96 |
| 33 | Arizona | $96,274 | $46.29 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $96,242 | $46.27 |
| 35 | Missouri | $102,915 | $49.48 |
| 36 | Texas | $95,190 | $45.76 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $81,673 | $39.27 |
| 38 | Oregon | $90,090 | $43.31 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $80,183 | $38.55 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $88,620 | $42.61 |
| 41 | Alabama | $90,723 | $43.62 |
| 42 | Washington | $93,684 | $45.04 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $83,142 | $39.97 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $91,814 | $44.14 |
| 45 | Alaska | $65,098 | $31.30 |
| 46 | Montana | $73,717 | $35.44 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $91,091 | $43.79 |
| 48 | Kansas | $86,900 | $41.78 |
| 49 | Idaho | $87,500 | $42.07 |
| 50 | Utah | $83,659 | $40.22 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $87,723 | $42.17 |
Highest paying cities for cooking instructors
The highest-paying cities for cooking instructors are New York, NY, Evanston, IL, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $135,768 | $65.27 |
| 2 | Evanston, IL | $124,767 | $59.98 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $120,428 | $57.90 |
| 4 | North Atlanta, GA | $118,246 | $56.85 |
| 5 | Santa Monica, CA | $107,652 | $51.76 |
| 6 | Coral Springs, FL | $103,248 | $49.64 |
| 7 | Plano, TX | $97,477 | $46.86 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $95,826 | $46.07 |
| 9 | Parker, CO | $95,527 | $45.93 |
Cooking instructor salary details
A cooking instructor's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $207,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cooking instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $207,000 | $17,250 | $100 |
| 75th Percentile | $137,000 | $11,417 | $66 |
| Average | $87,520 | $7,293 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying cooking instructor jobs
The highest paying types of cooking instructors are instructor, associate instructor, and cook manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short Order Cook | $30,734 | $2,561 | $14.78 | 176,187 |
| Lead Line Cook | $34,293 | $2,858 | $16.49 | 173,672 |
| Kitchen Cook | $31,452 | $2,621 | $15.12 | 250,354 |
| Grill Cook | $31,895 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 184,603 |
| Line Cook | $32,895 | $2,741 | $15.81 | 168,993 |
| Prep Cook | $32,292 | $2,691 | $15.53 | 168,265 |
Top companies hiring cooking instructors now:
Which companies pay cooking instructors the most?
Cooking instructor salaries at H-E-B and 1871 are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cooking instructor salary at companies like Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta and Young Chefs Academy are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H-E-B | $75,779 | $36.43 |
| 2 | 1871 | $71,830 | $34.53 |
| 3 | Ymca Of Metropolitan Atlanta | $67,661 | $32.53 |
| 4 | Young Chefs Academy | $64,953 | $31.23 |
| 5 | Town of Leesburg, VA | $49,430 | $23.76 |
| 6 | City of Lakewood | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| 7 | City of Boise | $41,918 | $20.15 |
| 8 | Associated Recreation Council | $37,970 | $18.25 |
| 9 | City of Aurora | $35,871 | $17.25 |
| 10 | FareStart | $32,951 | $15.84 |
| 11 | South Suburban Parks and Recreation | $31,198 | $15.00 |
| 12 | YMCA of Metro Chattanooga | $28,116 | $13.52 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cooking instructor salary trends
The average cooking instructor salary has risen by $20,422 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cooking instructor earned $67,098 annually, but today, they earn $87,520 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for cooking instructors over the last decade.
Compare cooking instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cooking instructor salary over time
Compare cooking instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cooking instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,500 | $42.08 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $84,500 | $40.60 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $80,600 | $38.76 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $76,500 | $36.79 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $73,400 | $35.27 | +4.3% |
Recently added cooking instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood Companies | Variable LCC Cooking Instructor | Lakewood, CO | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Park Ridge Park District | Early Childhood Cooking Instructor, (42243) | Park Ridge, IL | 06/16/2025 | $104,350 |
| St. Andrew's Parks & Playground | Cooking Camp Instructor-Summer Camp | Charleston, SC | 05/26/2025 | $29,740 |
| Icook After School Website | Summer Camp Cooking and Steam Instructor | Rancho Cordova, CA | 05/16/2025 | $125,220 |
| Icook Isteam Master Page | After-School Cooking Instructor | Mamaroneck, NY | 05/09/2025 | $166,960 |
| St. Andrew's Parks & Playground | Summer Camp-JR. Cooking Camp Instructor | Charleston, SC | 04/13/2025 | $29,740 |
| PCC Natural Markets | PCC Seasonal Cooking Camp Instructor | Bellevue, WA | 04/08/2025 | $60,857 |
| PCC Community Markets | PCC Seasonal Cooking Camp Instructor | Seattle, WA | 03/29/2025 | $60,857 |
| Bannockburn | Weekend Kids Cooking Instructor | Bannockburn, IL | 03/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Icook Isteam Master Page | After-School Cooking Instructor | Baltimore, MD | 03/20/2025 | $146,090 |
Cooking instructor salary FAQs
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