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Culinary Instructor Jobs in Champaign, IL (NOW HIRING)

Culinary Manager

Tuscola, IL

$18.50 - $19/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Responsibilities: * Oversees the food service program with dedication to high-quality dietary services while ensuring adherence to safety and sanitation protocols * Plans and prepares a diverse menu ...

Culinary Manager

Tuscola, IL · On-site

$18.50 - $19/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Responsibilities: * Oversees the food service program with dedication to high-quality dietary services while ensuring adherence to safety and sanitation protocols * Plans and prepares a diverse menu ...

Sous Chef

Urbana, IL · On-site

$50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Requirements POSITION SUMMARY The Sous Chef is a hands-on culinary leadership role responsible for assisting in the oversight of kitchen operations, supervising daily production and service, and ...

Sous Chef

Urbana, IL

$50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Requirements POSITION SUMMARY The Sous Chef is a hands-on culinary leadership role responsible for assisting in the oversight of kitchen operations, supervising daily production and service, and ...

Sous Chef

Urbana, IL · On-site

$50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Requirements POSITION SUMMARY The Sous Chef is a hands-on culinary leadership role responsible for assisting in the oversight of kitchen operations, supervising daily production and service, and ...

EXECUTIVE CHEF

Urbana, IL · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Leading Culinary Operation: * Lead daily culinary production in preparation and production of meals, food quality and presentation, compliance with all safety and sanitation standards and regulation ...

EXECUTIVE CHEF

Urbana, IL

$90K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Leading Culinary Operation: * Lead daily culinary production in preparation and production of meals, food quality and presentation, compliance with all safety and sanitation standards and regulation ...

EXECUTIVE CHEF

Urbana, IL · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Leading Culinary Operation: * Lead daily culinary production in preparation and production of meals, food quality and presentation, compliance with all safety and sanitation standards and regulation ...

EXECUTIVE CHEF

Urbana, IL · On-site

$90K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Leading Culinary Operation: * Lead daily culinary production in preparation and production of meals, food quality and presentation, compliance with all safety and sanitation standards and regulation ...

Culinary Instructor information

See Champaign, IL salary details

$21.5K

$58.9K

$101.1K

How much do culinary instructor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for culinary instructor in Champaign, IL is $58,863.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,100.00 and $63,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a culinary instructor?

As a culinary instructor, also called a chef instructor, you often teach in culinary arts programs where students train to work in professional kitchens. Your job duties as a culinary educator include preparing lesson plans and demonstrating cooking techniques. You supervise students as they practice their new skills and provide feedback on their execution. As a culinary instructor, you may teach general skills courses or specialized classes like butchery, sauces, or classes on regional cuisines. As students advance, you help cultivate professionalism in your students and help them prepare to work in the industry.

What does a culinary instructor do?

A Culinary Instructor teaches students about cooking techniques, food safety, kitchen equipment, and various cuisines. They develop lesson plans, demonstrate recipes, and oversee hands-on practice to help students build practical culinary skills. Culinary Instructors may work in culinary schools, community colleges, or private cooking classes, and they often assess students' progress through exams or practical evaluations. Their goal is to prepare students for careers in the culinary industry or to improve their cooking abilities for personal use.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a culinary instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Culinary Instructor, you need advanced culinary expertise, teaching experience, and often a degree or certification from a culinary school. Familiarity with industry-standard kitchen equipment, food safety regulations, and learning management systems is typically required. Strong communication, patience, and the ability to inspire and mentor students are vital soft skills in this role. These skills ensure high-quality instruction, safe kitchen practices, and effective student engagement, which are crucial for student success and program reputation.

What are some common challenges culinary instructors face when teaching diverse groups of students?

Culinary Instructors often teach students with varying skill levels, cultural backgrounds, and learning styles, which can make it challenging to ensure everyone keeps pace and feels included. Balancing hands-on instruction with classroom theory, maintaining kitchen safety, and managing time effectively during practical sessions are frequent hurdles. Additionally, adapting teaching methods to engage both beginners and advanced students requires flexibility and creativity. Successful instructors foster an inclusive, supportive learning environment while maintaining high standards and encouraging teamwork.

What is the difference between Culinary Instructor vs Pastry Chef?

AspectCulinary InstructorPastry Chef
CredentialsCooking certifications, culinary degreesPastry arts certifications, culinary degrees
Work EnvironmentEducational settings, culinary schoolsRestaurants, bakeries, hotels
Employer & IndustryEducational institutions, culinary schoolsFood service industry, hospitality
Primary FocusTeaching cooking techniques and recipesCreating and preparing baked goods and desserts

While both Culinary Instructors and Pastry Chefs have culinary expertise and certifications, Culinary Instructors focus on teaching cooking skills in educational settings, whereas Pastry Chefs specialize in baking and pastry creation in commercial kitchens. Their work environments and primary responsibilities differ, but both roles require strong culinary knowledge and passion for food.

What job categories do people searching Culinary Instructor jobs in Champaign, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Culinary Instructor jobs in Champaign, IL are:

What cities near Champaign, IL are hiring for Culinary Instructor jobs?

Cities near Champaign, IL with the most Culinary Instructor job openings:

Infographic showing various Culinary Instructor job openings in Champaign, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 63% Full Time, 34% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,863 per year, or $28.3 per hour.

Community Education - Youth Programs Instructor

Parkland College

Champaign, IL • On-site

$25 - $35/hr

Other

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Community Education - Youth Programs Instructor

Adjunct Faculty appointments are located on Parkland College's Campus in Champaign, Illinois and have a salary range of $25.00 - 35.00 commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Community Education provides a variety of youth courses for students, ages 6-18 years, in a relaxed, non-graded environment on a part-time, class by class basis throughout the year after school, a weekend or series of weekends. Courses should engage students in learning that will be challenging and offer a "hands-on" experience.
Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that will engage students in math, science, culinary arts, technology, fine and visual arts, and math, but are not limited to these topics. Examples include but are not limited to the following subject areas are robotics, coding, video game design, graphic arts, painting, culinary, pottery/ceramics, introduction to medicine/medical careers, and 3D design and construction.

Please visit us online at Community Education - Youth Programs website (opens in new window) for more information.

**Hiring is contingent upon the course proposal and meeting the minimum class. **

Applicants must submit:

  • An online employment application
  • Cover letter
  • Resume or CV
  • Copy of official transcripts from the institution where you received your highest degree. If hired, certified official transcript is required.
  • A proposal for each class you wish to teach (may attach as PDF to application).
    • Proposals should include the following:
      • Instructor's name and current contact information, including a valid email address
      • Course title and description
      • Brief description of course objectives and goals
      • Appropriate ages/grade level for the proposed course (e.g., 6-8, 8-11, 8-13, 11-13, 13-18 years, etc.)
      • Preferred session and class time
      • Applicants are encouraged to submit course proposals that will engage students in technology, math, science, engineering, and fine and visual arts, but are not limited to these topics. Specifically, proposals in the following areas will be given consideration: coding, app invention, robotics, engineering, circuit building, graphic design; introduction to invention, painting, fiber arts, weather/climate change, chemistry, physics, introduction to languages, simple construction, and/or cultural studies.

      Questions regarding the position and proposals may be directed to Kathy Buyze at kbuyze@parkland.edu or 217-351-2235.

Program Goals

  • Youth programs are designed to attain the following goals:
  • Provide hands-on explorations in specialized fields such as science, math, language arts, computer science, technology, humanities and fine arts.
  • Provide challenging experiences and intellectual stimulation for students to develop their special interests.
  • Build key skills for future success
  • Expose students to a learning atmosphere that will motivate them to achieve their highest potential.

Essential Job Functions

  • Submit complete daily lesson plans, course syllabus, proposed supply list and budget by established deadline.
  • Provide classroom instructions in accordance with stated objectives and established course outline.
  • Commit to teach the entire class time.
  • Patience when working with youth.
  • Maintain high standard of teaching and learning in classroom.
  • Perform all other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Two (2) years' experience in education (teaching) or related field and/or teaching children ages six (6) through eighteen (18) years.
  • Prospective new hires will successfully complete a post offer, pre-employment criminal background check with fingerprinting. The background check review includes, but is not limited to, exclusionary offenses per the Illinois School Code and Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
  • Demonstrated passion and proficiency in the proposed subject area.
  • Provide classroom and/or online instruction to meet stated course objectives.
  • Excellent organizational, verbal and written communication. Professional attitude and ability to work with others.
  • Ability to work with individuals from various backgrounds and demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity.
  • Ability to commit to the full session for which they are applying. All classes are contingent upon meeting minimum enrollment.
  • In an effort to comply with SURS return-to-work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self-Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.

Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://www.parkland.edu/careers will not be considered.

Please monitor your email, including spam or junk mail folders, for future correspondence from Parkland College Human Resources.
For further information on the application process, please contact Parkland College Human Resources at 217-351-2220.

Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process.

Requests may be submitted by contacting Human Resources at 217-351-2220 or by emailing hr@parkland.edu.


Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Equal Opportunity Employer