by our College Data Analytics TeamFood Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant was the 1,267 most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 801 degrees in this year alone. This 131 less than the prior year, a decrease of 16.4%.
This year's Best Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant Schools ranking compares 1 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant rankings further below.
When studying Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant, you’ll learn that actively looking for ways to help people will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree levels. Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree you can get. Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant, with approximately 8.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 58.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 22.2% |
| Some College Courses | 10.3% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.5% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4.5% |
The chart below shows what degree level those who work in food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree? Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant careers are expected to grow 7.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Institution and Cafeteria Cooks | 457,400 | 7.7% |
| Private Cooks | 26,300 | 5.2% |
| Cooks | 19,400 | 9.0% |
As you might expect, salaries for food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Private Cooks | $41,240 |
| Cooks | $30,360 |
| Institution and Cafeteria Cooks | $28,290 |
With over 82 different food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased food preparation/professional cooking/kitchen assistant school rankings to help you with this.
Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant is one of 11 different types of Culinary Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Culinary Arts/Chef Training | 9,052 |
| Baking & Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef | 4,322 |
| General Cooking & Related Culinary Arts | 3,156 |
| Restaurant, Culinary, & Catering Management/Manager | 1,380 |
| Other Culinary Arts & Related Services | 433 |
View All Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant Related Majors >
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