Iowa · Culinary Arts and Related Services

Best Culinary Arts and Related Services institutions in Iowa, 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
8
offering CIP 12.05
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
179
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$24,061
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
43%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Cooks, Restaurant
$35,280
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

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

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny Public · Associate degree
$26,9132839%$11,167
2Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City Public · Associate degree
$24,0613650%$12,530
3Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids Public · Associate degree
$21,3913643%$15,375

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 Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
13,310
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$35,280
median $35,720
Best-paying metro
$37,130
Ames, IA

Related careers

Cooks, Restaurant
$35,280 avg · 13,310 jobs
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
$42,060 avg · 11,760 jobs
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
$33,580 avg · 9,460 jobs
Bartenders
$26,650 avg · 8,740 jobs
Butchers and Meat Cutters
$36,580 avg · 4,130 jobs
Slaughterers and Meat Packers
$43,640 avg · 4,040 jobs

Common questions

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

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Des Moines Area Community College tops the list at $26,913. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Cooks, Restaurant earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Iowa is $35,280 (median $35,720), across about 13,310 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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