by our College Data Analytics TeamFood Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant was the 1,267 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 801 degrees in this year alone. This 131 less than the prior year, a decrease of 16.4%.
This year's Best Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant rankings further below.
When studying Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant, you’ll learn that actively looking for ways to help people will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and talking to others to convey information effectively.
food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree levels. Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree you can get. Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant, with approximately 8.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 58.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.2% |
| Some College Courses | 10.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4.5% |
The chart below shows what degree level those who work in food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree? Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant careers are expected to grow 7.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Institution and Cafeteria Cooks | 457,400 | 7.7% |
| Private Cooks | 26,300 | 5.2% |
| Cooks | 19,400 | 9.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Private Cooks | $41,240 |
| Cooks | $30,360 |
| Institution and Cafeteria Cooks | $28,290 |
With over 82 different food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant school rankings to help you with this.
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant is one of 11 different types of Culinary Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts/Chef Training | 9,052 |
| Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef | 4,322 |
| General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts | 3,156 |
| Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager | 1,380 |
| Other Culinary Arts & Related Services | 433 |
View All Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant Related Majors >
Image Credit: By U.S. Army Europe Images under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
