by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their culinary arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where culinary arts graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose culinary arts graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in culinary arts, no school beat Capital Community College this year. Capital Community College is a public school located in the city of New Britain. Culinary Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of about $53,983 a year early in their careers.
Iowa Western Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,785.
Brookdale Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Brookdale Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,261.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,529.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Saint Augustine College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Augustine College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Saint Augustine College typically earn about $43,384 annually.
Suffolk County Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of about $42,704 a year early in their careers.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #7 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,795.
Southern Maine Community College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Set in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,344.
Spokane Community College landed the #9 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Spokane Community College make a median of around $40,814 per year.
Atlanta Technical College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Atlanta Technical College earn a median of about $40,302 a year early in their careers.
North Dakota State College Of Science landed the #11 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. North Dakota State College Of Science is a public school located in the town of Wahpeton. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,940.
Central Community College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Central Community College is a public school located in the city of Grand Island. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Central Community College make a median of around $39,855 per year.
Clover Park Technical College earned the #13 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College typically earn about $39,692 annually.
Johnson County Community College earned the #14 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Johnson County Community College typically earn about $40,068 annually.
Richland Community College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Richland Community College is a public school located in the city of Decatur. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Richland Community College make a median of around $39,371 per year.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg typically earn about $39,335 annually.
Hocking College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Hocking College is a public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Hocking College make a median of around $39,137 per year.
Austin Community College District earned the #18 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Austin Community College District is a public school located in the city of Austin. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,732.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #19 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area typically earn about $38,492 annually.
Luzerne County Community College earned the #20 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Nanticoke, Luzerne County Community College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Luzerne County Community College make a median of around $38,333 per year.
Collin County Community College District came in at #21 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Collin County Community College District make a median of around $37,524 per year.
Fox Valley Technical College landed the #22 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College typically earn about $40,883 annually.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Cincinnati State Technical And Community College typically earn about $38,302 annually.
Mitchell Technical Institute earned the #24 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Mitchell Technical Institute make a median of around $36,953 per year.
Gwinnett Technical College earned the #25 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Gwinnett Technical College typically earn about $36,839 annually.
These schools also send culinary arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying culinary arts schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their culinary arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.