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Culinary Arts and Related Services at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Chicago, IL · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 1,564 students in Chicago, IL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $19,447 place City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College below the $23,994 national median for Culinary Arts and Related Services — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 23.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Culinary Arts and Related Services involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

A #110 ranking among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs places City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The 17 apprenticeship pathways connected to Culinary Arts and Related Services reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

55 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
55
Score
56
High End
Earnings $19,447/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$203K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
23.2x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 13
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$8,760
Out-of-state: $28,860

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Food scientists and technologists $85,310 +6.5% 65%
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 +1.8% 100%
Food service managers $65,310 +6.4% 58%
Food scientists and technologists
$85,310
+6.5% growth 65% AI-proof
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490
+1.8% growth 100% AI-proof
Food service managers
$65,310
+6.4% growth 58% AI-proof

View all 13 career paths with full salary data →

About Culinary Arts and Related Services Careers

Your career will likely begin in the controlled chaos of a professional kitchen. As a restaurant cook, you'll spend your days prepping ingredients with precision and working the line during a busy service, mastering the grill, sauté pans, and fryer. This path is seeing incredible growth, with huge demand for skilled cooks.

Read the full Culinary Arts and Related Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts and Related Services Overview

View all 137 schools offering Culinary Arts and Related Services →

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

Johnson County Community College ($38,977) Southeast Community College Area ($36,734) Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ($36,330) Fox Valley Technical College ($34,736) Washtenaw Community College ($33,382) Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College ($32,602) Saint Paul College ($32,478) Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($32,023)

Other Majors at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers ($142,516) Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services ($82,055) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($27,643) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($27,284) Biological and Physical Sciences ($21,207) Carpenters ($17,697)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Culinary Arts and Related Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 55/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts and Related Services at City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College?
A score of 55/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College trails the majority of Culinary Arts and Related Services programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How safe is Culinary Arts and Related Services from automation?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Culinary Arts and Related Services work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
Is City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College a good choice for Culinary Arts and Related Services despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Culinary Arts and Related Services through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 17 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Culinary Arts and Related Services career paths, including Baker (Bake Produce). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
With approximately 789,200 annual openings across mapped careers, Culinary Arts and Related Services offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →