Culinary Arts and Related Services at Kapiolani Community College

Honolulu, HI · Public · Associate Degree

a compact campus enrolling 3,955 students in Honolulu, HI.

Program Analysis

Kapiolani Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates start at $26,882/yr — above the $23,994 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 58.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 28% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Culinary Arts and Related Services career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Kapiolani Community College ranks #15 among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 36% earnings increase from $26,882 to $36,477 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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.

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
69
Score
70
High End
Earnings $26,882/yr (12% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$388K
7.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.1x
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)
$6,568
Out-of-state: $16,840
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,477
36% growth from Year 1

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

Culinary Arts and Related Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Kapiolani Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 69/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts and Related Services at Kapiolani Community College?
At 69/100, Kapiolani Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Will AI replace Culinary Arts and Related Services jobs?
Highly resilient. Culinary Arts and Related Services careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 13 of 13 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What makes Kapiolani Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program stand out?
Among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, Kapiolani Community College's #15 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Are there apprenticeship options for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Culinary Arts and Related Services connects to 17 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
The career paths mapped to Culinary Arts and Related Services have roughly 789,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →