Culinary Arts at Pierpont Community and Technical College

Fairmont, WV · Public · Associate Degree · Culinary Arts and Related Services

with a smaller student body of 906 in Fairmont, WV.

Program Analysis

At $26,399 per year, Culinary Arts graduates from Pierpont Community and Technical College earn slightly above the $23,994 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 36.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Culinary Arts programs nationally.

The 32% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 20% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Culinary Arts graduates.

At #53 of 137 Culinary Arts programs, Pierpont Community and Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $26,399 to $37,821 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $26,399/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (80% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (789,200 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$409K
9.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
36.5x
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)
$11,188
Out-of-state: $26,524
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,821
43% growth from Year 1

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

What can you do with a Culinary Arts credential from Pierpont Community and Technical College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Culinary Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Culinary Arts Overview

Culinary Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pierpont Community and Technical 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 is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Culinary Arts at Pierpont Community and Technical College?
At 63/100, Pierpont Community and Technical College's Culinary Arts program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How safe is Culinary Arts from automation?
Highly resilient. Culinary Arts careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Pierpont Community and Technical College graduates retain 13 of 13 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Culinary Arts graduates?
The DOL recognizes 17 apprenticeship pathways related to Culinary Arts. For students weighing Pierpont Community and Technical College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Culinary Arts graduates from Pierpont Community and Technical College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Culinary Arts have roughly 789,200 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →