Culinary Arts and Chef Training: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Salaries for Culinary Arts and Chef Training graduates vary by role and location. Chefs and Head Cooks earn a median of $60,990 annually, while Cooks, Private Household earn around $44,530. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $58,527 compared to $33,123 in Louisiana. Approximately 2,846,400 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Currently 349 accredited institutions offer Culinary Arts and Chef Training degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder (1,922 graduates), Culinary Institute of America (CIA) (444 graduates), and Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) (406 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 20,132 in 2010 to 11,194 in 2023-24. This represents a 44% decrease overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

This degree prepares you for roles such as Chefs and Head Cooks, Cooks, Private Household, and First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers. Related occupations employ approximately 2,846,400 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.