by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a culinary arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the early-career earnings of their culinary arts graduates.
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Below are the schools whose culinary arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Culinary Institute Of America earned the #1 spot for highest-paid culinary arts graduates in the United States. Located in the suburb of Hyde Park, Culinary Institute Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Culinary Institute Of America earn a median of about $43,808 a year early in their careers.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science produces some of the highest-paid graduates in culinary arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paul Smiths. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science make a median of around $42,296 per year.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte produces some of the highest-paid graduates in culinary arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Culinary Arts graduates of Johnson And Wales University Charlotte earn a median of about $39,083 a year early in their careers.
Johnson And Wales University Providence came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Johnson And Wales University Providence make a median of around $39,083 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Philadelphia, The Restaurant School At Walnut Hill College is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,928.
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Located in the town of Cobleskill, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill typically earn about $35,701 annually.
Nicholls State University landed the #7 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Nicholls State University is a public school located in the city of Thibodaux. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Nicholls State University typically earn about $38,417 annually.
Mississippi University For Women ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,618.
Universidad Del Este ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Carolina, Universidad Del Este is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,032.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #10 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi typically earn about $20,213 annually.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Culinary Arts rankings across 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 · 10 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.