Culinary Arts and Related Services: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$51,558 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$51,558Median year-4 earnings
$24,402Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Culinary Arts and Related Services
How much do Culinary Arts and Related Services master's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $51,558 four years after completion across reportable master's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $51,558 to $51,558 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Culinary Arts and Related Services?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$51,558Median reported earnings · year 4
$42,738Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
4thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $33,155
- Federal debt
- $11,834
- Reporting programs
- 99
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,508
- Federal debt
- $15,584
- Reporting programs
- 111
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,139
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 20
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,558
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $31,636
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$51,558National median$51,55875th percentile$51,558
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Boston University$51,558Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →14%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Chefs and Head Cooks$62,470 median wage200,040 U.S. jobs · SOC 35-1011+6.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 25.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$37,900–$98,560 10th–90th percentileFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$44,080 median wage1,223,240 U.S. jobs · SOC 35-1012+5.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 171.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$29,940–$65,570 10th–90th percentileCooks, All Other$37,690 median wage19,350 U.S. jobs · SOC 35-2019+5.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$27,040–$51,140 10th–90th percentileFood Service Managers$69,390 median wage238,430 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9051+5.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 38.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$45,960–$107,640 10th–90th percentileCooks, Private Household$47,940 median wage1,100 U.S. jobs · SOC 35-2013+5.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award$36,090–$91,130 10th–90th percentileCooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,450 median wage441,050 U.S. jobs · SOC 35-2012+2.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 62.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$28,480–$49,670 10th–90th percentileCooks, Restaurant$37,390 median wage1,409,890 U.S. jobs · SOC 35-2014+12.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 218.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$28,700–$47,900 10th–90th percentileFood Scientists and Technologists$88,720 median wage13,060 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1012+6.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$52,920–$145,280 10th–90th percentilePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$77,640 median wage149,840 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1199+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$44,300–$160,700 10th–90th percentileButchers and Meat Cutters$40,140 median wage136,430 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-3021+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 15.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$29,460–$58,110 10th–90th percentileSlaughterers and Meat Packers$40,130 median wage69,950 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-3023+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$33,340–$51,090 10th–90th percentileBakers$37,160 median wage236,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 51-3011+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 36.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$28,120–$49,020 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston UniversityMaster's Degree | Boston, MA | $51,558 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $24,402 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.