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 17 schools on the early-career earnings of their culinary arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send culinary arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Clover Park Technical College, our #1 for culinary arts graduate salaries in the Far Western Region. Clover Park Technical College is a public school located in the city of Lakewood. Culinary Arts graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of about $39,692 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes West Hills College Lemoore one of the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Set in the rural area of Lemoore, West Hills College Lemoore is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,021.
Strong graduate earnings at Cet San Jose earned it the #3 place for culinary arts. Set in the city of San Jose, Cet San Jose is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Cet San Jose typically earn about $30,352 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Leeward Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Pearl City, Leeward Community College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Leeward Community College make a median of around $35,023 per year.
Spokane Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Spokane Community College typically earn about $40,814 annually.
Lane Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Lane Community College typically earn about $32,470 annually.
Southwestern Oregon Community College landed the #7 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Set in the town of Coos Bay, Southwestern Oregon Community College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Southwestern Oregon Community College earn a median of about $31,973 a year early in their careers.
Kapiolani Community College landed the #8 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Kapiolani Community College is a public school located in the city of Honolulu. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,477.
University Of Hawaii Maui College came in at #9 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Kahului, University Of Hawaii Maui College is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,985.
Institute Of Technology Inc came in at #10 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Institute Of Technology Inc is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Clovis. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Institute Of Technology Inc make a median of around $30,052 per year.
International Air And Hospitality Academy earned the #11 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Vancouver, International Air And Hospitality Academy is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from International Air And Hospitality Academy typically earn about $19,654 annually.
Institute Of Culinary Education Los Angeles earned the #12 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Institute Of Culinary Education Los Angeles is a private for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Institute Of Culinary Education Los Angeles typically earn about $22,759 annually.
Hawaii Community College came in at #13 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Hawaii Community College is a public school located in the town of Hilo. Culinary Arts graduates of Hawaii Community College earn a median of about $34,234 a year early in their careers.
College Of Southern Nevada placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,814.
Kauai Community College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Kauai Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Lihue. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,788.
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education landed the #16 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Hacienda La Puente Adult Education is a public school located in the suburb of La Puente. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,342.
Clark College came in at #17 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Vancouver, Clark College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Clark College earn a median of about $24,922 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries culinary arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 17 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.