by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 353 U.S. colleges awarded 11,809 degrees and certificates in Culinary Arts/Chef Training. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 37% of graduates. College Factual ranks 222 schools in its 2027 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing, rising to $36,678 after four years.
A degree in Culinary Arts/Chef Training involves the study of Culinary Arts/chef Training. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Professional Chef And Related Cooking Services In Restaurants And Other Commercial Food Establishments. Includes Instruction In Recipe And Menu Planning, Preparing And Cooking Of Foods, Supervising And Training Kitchen Assistants, The Management Of Food Supplies And Kitchen Resources, Aesthetics Of Food Presentation, And Familiarity Or Mastery Of A Wide Variety Of Cuisines And Culinary Techniques.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., culinary arts/chef training is a widely-pursued major, with 11,809 degrees awarded annually. 353 colleges award culinary arts/chef training degrees, an average of 33 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,735.
By level, the 11,809 awards include 3,546 certificates, 4,415 associate degrees, 177 bachelor’s degrees and 3,635 master’s degrees.
Women earned 53% of culinary arts/chef training degrees and certificates in the latest year (6,229 of 11,809). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4,719) and Black or African American (2,812), and international students earned 178.
College Factual ranks 222 schools in its 2027 Best Culinary Arts/Chef Training Schools ranking, including 129 for associate degrees and 5 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks culinary arts/chef training schools within 34 states. In all, 353 colleges offer culinary arts/chef training programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Culinary Arts/Chef Training Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common culinary arts/chef training credential is the associate degree: 4,415 of the 11,809 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to culinary arts/chef training call most for Monitoring, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Food Production, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Near Vision and Oral Expression.
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How long a culinary arts/chef training degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3,546 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4,415 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 177 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,635 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to culinary arts/chef training, at 37.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 37.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 19.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 16.3% |
| Some college courses | 5.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Culinary Arts/Chef Training, with an average median salary of $37,164; the strongest outlook belongs to Cooks, Private Household, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Cook, Culinary Artist, Cooking Chef and Culinary Specialist.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to culinary arts/chef training, at 2,026,560.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Private Household | 2,026,560 | 13.9% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 1,757,049 | 0.9% |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 1,329,217 | 12.5% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| Cooks, All Other | 304,257 | 4.4% |
Culinary Arts/Chef Training graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing their program, $36,678 after four years and $32,093 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,237 |
| 4 years | $36,678 |
| 5 years | $32,093 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to culinary arts/chef training is Cooks, Restaurant, with a median salary of $41,438.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $41,438 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,104 |
| Cooks, All Other | $36,782 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $35,292 |
| Cooks, Private Household | $35,204 |
Culinary Arts/Chef Training has 11 similar majors in the Personal & Culinary Services field, which together award 14,027 degrees a year; the largest are Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef (5,575), Culinary Arts and Related Services (4,439) and Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager (1,663). Browse all Personal & Culinary Services majors or the full list of college majors.
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