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Culinary Arts and Related Services at Hawaii Community College

Hilo, HI · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 1,470 students in Hilo, HI.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,027 track close to the $23,994 national median for Culinary Arts and Related Services programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 56.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 20% task exposure — and the 28% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates.

Ranked #30 out of 137 programs, Hawaii Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $25,027 to $34,234 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Culinary Arts and Related Services, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
67
Score
68
High End
Earnings $25,027/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$365K
8.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
57.0x
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)
$6,408
Out-of-state: $16,680
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,234
37% 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

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 Hawaii Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($69,990) Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies ($30,809) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($25,212)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Culinary Arts and Related Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 67/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Culinary Arts and Related Services at Hawaii Community College?
A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Culinary Arts and Related Services field.
How AI-proof is a career in Culinary Arts and Related Services?
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 Hawaii Community College's Culinary Arts and Related Services program stand out?
The #30 ranking out of 137 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts and Related Services graduates?
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.
Is there demand for Culinary Arts and Related Services workers?
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 →