Certificate (under 1 year)-1% vs national median932 grads tracked
Culinary Arts and Related Services at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
Ranked 30th of 58 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$27,948
middle 50%: $21,543 – $38,189
Median · 5 years out
$37,801
middle 50%: $27,543 – $53,433
Median · 10 years out
$45,474
middle 50%: $32,059 – $66,741
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Culinary Arts and Related Services (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Culinary Arts graduates see median first-year earnings of $28k. Salaries reach $45k by the tenth year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
11.4 yrs
≈ $13,873 total interest
Same major at other universities
Tarrant County College District
$39,048 · 5 yrs out
Emily Griffith Technical College
$38,814 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$38,814 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$38,322 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$38,077 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$38,026 · 5 yrs out
Joliet Junior College
$37,841 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$37,592 · 5 yrs out
Pueblo Community College
$36,956 · 5 yrs out
Saint Augustine College
$36,533 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$36,308 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$36,215 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$133,179 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$101,225 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$91,221 · 5 yrs out
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services (Certificate)
$91,099 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$70,468 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$67,872 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$66,599 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$65,273 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$49,855 · 5 yrs out