Certificate (under 1 year)-1% vs national median528 grads tracked
Culinary Arts and Related Services at Trident Technical College
Ranked 28th of 58 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Culinary Arts and Related Services by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$30,262
middle 50%: $22,731 – $38,819
Median · 5 years out
$38,026
middle 50%: $28,007 – $49,490
Median · 10 years out
$39,556
middle 50%: $29,165 – $56,620
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 certificate recipients at Trident Technical College earn $30k in year 1. Salaries reach nearly $40k after a decade.
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
11.8 yrs
≈ $13,797 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
Elgin Community College
$38,322 · 5 yrs out
McHenry County College
$38,077 · 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
Kirkwood Community College
$36,308 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Trident Technical College
Engineering (Certificate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Certificate)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$80,008 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$78,415 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$78,415 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$75,634 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$75,253 · 5 yrs out
Air Transportation (Certificate)
$75,035 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$74,986 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,635 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$73,565 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$72,871 · 5 yrs out