by our College Data Analytics Team
[Culinary Arts](/majors/personal-and-culinary-services/culinary-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their culinary arts graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying culinary arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose culinary arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Indian River State College the top school for culinary arts graduate earnings in Florida. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Indian River State College make a median of around $33,188 per year.
Atlantic Technical College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the suburb of Coconut Creek, Atlantic Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Atlantic Technical College typically earn about $33,286 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in culinary arts will find them at Lively Technical Center, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Lively Technical Center is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Lively Technical Center earn a median of about $28,289 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Manatee Technical College one of the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Manatee Technical College make a median of around $27,210 per year.
Miami Dade College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Miami Dade College make a median of around $31,101 per year.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale make a median of around $32,736 per year.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College typically earn about $29,451 annually.
Sheridan Technical College came in at #8 for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hollywood, Sheridan Technical College is a public institution. Culinary Arts graduates of Sheridan Technical College earn a median of about $23,831 a year early in their careers.
Pinellas Technical College Clearwater placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Pinellas Technical College Clearwater is a public school located in the city of Clearwater. Culinary Arts graduates of Pinellas Technical College Clearwater earn a median of about $21,965 a year early in their careers.
Florida Education Institute placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for culinary arts. Florida Education Institute is a private for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. Culinary Arts graduates of Florida Education Institute earn a median of about $20,531 a year early in their careers.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,899.
Valencia College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public institution. Early-career culinary arts graduates from Valencia College make a median of around $29,578 per year.
William T Mcfatter Technical College earned the #13 position for culinary arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Davie, William T Mcfatter Technical College is a public institution. After graduating, culinary arts degree recipients from William T Mcfatter Technical College typically earn about $20,738 annually.
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus landed the #14 spot for culinary arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the culinary arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,317.
Daytona State College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying culinary arts schools. Daytona State College is a public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Culinary Arts graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of about $25,094 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.