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Culinary Arts at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School

Toms River, NJ · Public · Certificate · Culinary Arts and Related Services

a smaller institution with 450 students in Toms River, NJ.

Program Analysis

At $16,566 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Ocean County Vocational-Technical School earn below the $23,994 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Ranked #96 of 137 Culinary Arts programs, Ocean County Vocational-Technical School falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Culinary Arts offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $16,566/yr (-31% vs median)

AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings

$173K

1.0% annual growth

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.

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Culinary Arts 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 →

Culinary Arts Career Guide

Explore what Culinary Arts graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 137 programs nationwide.

Read the full Culinary Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts Overview

Culinary Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School

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 is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Culinary Arts at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School?

This program scores 57/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Culinary Arts programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Culinary Arts jobs?

AI resilience is a strength here. Only 20% of Culinary Arts tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 13 of 13 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.

Is Ocean County Vocational-Technical School a good choice for Culinary Arts despite lower starting pay?

Lower starting pay at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Culinary Arts program at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School?

There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Culinary Arts occupations, such as Baker (Bake Produce) and Baker (Hotel & Restaurant). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.

How many job openings are there for Culinary Arts graduates?

At 789,200 annual openings, Culinary Arts has a very large employment base. Ocean County Vocational-Technical School graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.

Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →