Certificate (under 1 year)0% vs national median466 grads tracked
Culinary Arts and Related Services at Elgin Community College
Ranked 26th of 58 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$25,818
middle 50%: $19,447 – $33,919
Median · 5 years out
$38,322
middle 50%: $29,060 – $50,073
Median · 10 years out
$50,463
middle 50%: $34,219 – $68,824
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 earn a median of $26k in their first year. Earnings reach $38k after five years and $50k after ten years.
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 yrs
≈ $13,852 total interest
Same major at other universities
Lincoln Land Community College
$39,655 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$39,127 · 5 yrs out
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
McHenry County College
$38,077 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$38,026 · 5 yrs out
Joliet Junior College
$37,841 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
$37,801 · 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
Other majors at Elgin Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$79,834 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,251 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$75,786 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,752 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$75,598 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out