Culinary Arts and Related Services at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Asheville, NC · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 4,909 in Asheville, NC.

Program Analysis

At $32,602 per year, Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College significantly outpace the $23,994 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

With a 59.2x 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.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College ranks #6 among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The limited growth from $32,602 to $33,786 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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.

74 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
74
Score
74
High End
Earnings $32,602/yr (36% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$341K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.2x
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)
$5,764
Out-of-state: $18,052
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,786
4% 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 Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 74/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts and Related Services at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How safe is Culinary Arts and Related Services from automation?
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.
Why does Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College rank so high for Culinary Arts and Related Services?
Among 137 Culinary Arts and Related Services programs, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College's #6 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Culinary Arts and Related Services occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts and Related Services workers?
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 →