Illinois · Culinary Arts and Related Services

Best Culinary Arts and Related Services institutions in Illinois, ranked by earnings

The Culinary Arts and Related Services program prepares students for a variety of careers in the culinary field, focusing on essential cooking techniques and management skills. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 12.05
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
920
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$24,786
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,904
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
39%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Cooks, Restaurant
$37,840
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Joliet Junior College
Joliet Public · Associate degree
$28,2528221%$16,375
2College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn Public · Associate degree
$26,9524125%
3National Louis University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$24,78610430%$18,904$17,500
4City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy - King College
Chicago Public · Associate degree
$19,4479731%$6,285
5Lake Land College
Mattoon Public · Certificate degree
$14,36617858%$5,163

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+14.9%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~250,700
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$36,830
typically No formal educational credential

Top skills

Critical ThinkingMonitoringSpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Cooks, Restaurant earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
61,630
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$37,840
median $36,630
Best-paying metro
$38,810
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Related careers

Cooks, Restaurant
$37,840 avg · 61,630 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
$43,920 avg · 41,690 jobs
Bartenders
$35,340 avg · 40,520 jobs
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
$38,050 avg · 22,850 jobs
Food Service Managers
$72,690 avg · 12,320 jobs
Bakers
$37,840 avg · 10,730 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Culinary Arts and Related Services programs in Illinois.

Which Culinary Arts and Related Services program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Joliet Junior College tops the list at $28,252. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Illinois?+

The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Illinois is $37,840 (median $36,630), across about 61,630 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

What is the focus of the Culinary Arts and Related Services program?+

The Culinary Arts and Related Services program prepares students for a variety of careers in the culinary field, focusing on essential cooking techniques and management skills. This program is ideal for those passionate about food and…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, monitoring, speaking, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Cooks, Restaurant?+

The national job outlook is about +14.9% growth with around 250,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Culinary Arts and Related Services in other statesKansasNebraskaOhioWisconsinMinnesotaUtahArizonaMaine

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