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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying culinary arts schools.
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If you want to know which schools send culinary arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in culinary arts, no school beat Suffolk County Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College typically earn about $42,704 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Schenectady County Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Schenectady County Community College earn a median of about $36,504 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Kingsborough Community College one of the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of about $34,465 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Culinary Institute Of America, which ranked #4. Set 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 $41,828 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 #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Paul Smiths, Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science earn a median of about $42,296 a year early in their careers.
Sullivan County Community College landed the #6 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Loch Sheldrake, Sullivan County Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Sullivan County Community College typically earn about $31,492 annually.
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Set in the rural area of Delhi, Suny College Of Technology At Delhi is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Suny College Of Technology At Delhi make a median of around $34,776 per year.
Institute Of Culinary Education landed the #8 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Institute Of Culinary Education is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,759.
Niagara County Community College came in at #9 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Niagara County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. Culinary Arts graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of about $31,183 a year early in their careers.
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill landed the #10 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Set in the town of Cobleskill, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill make a median of around $30,497 per year.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earned the #11 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred typically earn about $26,598 annually.
Monroe College Main Campus came in at #12 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a private for-profit institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Monroe College Main Campus make a median of around $28,947 per year.
Erie Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Erie Community College make a median of around $15,565 per year.
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 · 13 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.