The Culinary Arts major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU⢠to find programs that match your goals.
Within Culinary, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Culinary, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry â 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) ⢠Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 Occupation: Food Service Managers | $65,310 | 244,230 | N/A | N/A |
Food Scientists and Technologists SOC: 19-1012 Occupation: Food Scientists and Technologists | $85,310 | 14,370 | N/A | N/A |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC: 25-1199 Occupation: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $78,490 | 151,530 | N/A | N/A |
Chefs and Head Cooks SOC: 35-1011 Occupation: Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,990 | 182,320 | N/A | N/A |
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers SOC: 35-1012 Occupation: First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,010 | 1,187,460 | N/A | N/A |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria SOC: 35-2012 Occupation: Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,450 | 448,260 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) ⢠Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $42,010 | 1,187,460 |
| 2023 | $38,520 | 1,176,540 |
| 2022 | $37,050 | 1,169,620 |
| 2021 | $36,570 | 1,040,600 |
| 2020 | $34,570 | 891,540 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,960 | 140,040 |
| 2023 | $37,650 | 136,330 |
| 2022 | $36,930 | 129,400 |
| 2021 | $36,050 | 145,930 |
| 2020 | $32,900 | 142,220 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,790 | 67,500 |
| 2023 | $38,160 | 71,310 |
| 2022 | $35,240 | 78,660 |
| 2021 | $29,900 | 86,450 |
| 2020 | $30,710 | 77,980 |