by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 12 degrees and certificates in Wine Steward/Sommelier. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing, rising to $36,678 after four years.
Studying Wine Steward/Sommelier explores Wine Steward/sommelier. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Wine Selection, Purchasing, Storage, Sales, And Service For A Variety Of Establishments In The Hospitality Industry. Includes Instruction In Wine Production, Wine Regions Of The World, Wine Tasting, Food And Wine Matching, Service Techniques, And Wine Program Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, wine steward/sommelier is a popular field of study, with 12 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award wine steward/sommelier degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 9.
By level, the 12 awards include 4 certificates, 5 associate degrees and 3 master’s degrees.
Women earned 67% of wine steward/sommelier degrees and certificates in the latest year (8 of 12). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (4) and Hispanic or Latino (3), and international students earned 3.
The most common wine steward/sommelier credential is the associate degree: 5 of the 12 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to wine steward/sommelier call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management and Sales and Marketing, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a wine steward/sommelier degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to wine steward/sommelier, at 24.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 24.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Wine Steward/Sommelier, with an average median salary of $138,482; the strongest outlook belongs to Food Service Managers, at 7.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Merchant, Category Planner, Merchandise for Resale Purchasing Agent and Contracts Specialist.
The occupation related to wine steward/sommelier with the most projected jobs is Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products, at 465,393.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | 465,393 | 2.6% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
Wine Steward/Sommelier graduates earn a median $24,237 one year after completing their program, $36,678 after four years and $32,093 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,237 |
| 4 years | $36,678 |
| 5 years | $32,093 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to wine steward/sommelier, with a median salary of $165,782.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
Wine Steward/Sommelier has 11 similar majors in the Personal & Culinary Services field, which together award 25,824 degrees a year; the largest are Culinary Arts/Chef Training (11,809), Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef (5,575) and Culinary Arts and Related Services (4,439). Browse all Personal & Culinary Services majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.