Each year, approximately 0.1% of Tennessee graduates receive degrees in culinary arts. That means an estimated 162 chefs graduate from Tennessee's 4 culinary schools each year.

Top Schools

Walters State Community College, which is located in Morristown, is the top-ranked school in Tennessee that has a culinary program. It received a ranking of 82nd in the country in 2010. 8 students graduated with a degree in culinary from Walters State Community College in 2010. The tuition rate at Walters State Community College was $3,101 per year.

Nashville State Community College, which is located in Nashville, is the second-ranked school in Tennessee that has a culinary program. It received a ranking of 86th in the country in 2010. In 2010, Nashville State Community College graduated 10 students from its culinary program. Students at Nashville State Community College paid $3,057 per year in tuition fees.

The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville, which is located in Nashville, is the third-ranked school in Tennessee that has a culinary program. It received a ranking of 88th in the country in 2010. In 2010, 53 students graduated from The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville culinary program. The tuition rate at The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville was $17,546 per year.

Cost

If you choose to attend a Tennessee culinary school, average tuition will be $9,101 per year. However, tuition at your particular institution may range from $3,057 per year to $17,546 per year. In 2010, the following Tennessee culinary schools had the highest tuition rates:

1. The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville - located in Nashville, students are charged $17,546 per year
2. L - located in Memphis, students are charged $12,700 per year
3. Walters State Community College - located in Morristown, students are charged $3,101 per year

The culinary schools in Tennessee that charged the lowest tuition rates were:

1. Nashville State Community College - located in Nashville, students are charged $3,057 per year
2. Walters State Community College - located in Morristown, students are charged $3,101 per year
3. L - located in Memphis, students are charged $12,700 per year

A culinary degree from a Tennessee school... what next?

A large number of Tennessee culinary graduates become chefs. If you decide to work as a chef in Tennessee, you will be joining the ranks of approximately 1,780 Tennessee chefs as of 2010. The following counties have the largest number of Tennessee chefs:

1. Crittenden County - 680 chefs
2. Cannon County - 370 chefs
3. Anderson County - 290 chefs

Projected Growth

The government projects that by 2018, the number of chefs in the state of Tennessee will grow to 1,530. This would require a 2% growth in the profession.

Salary

A chef in Tennessee makes an average of $32,450 per year. In 2010, however, some Tennessee chefs earned as little as less than $16,530 per year or as much as more than $67,780 per year. On average a chef earns the most in the following Tennessee counties:

1. Cannon County - $38,230 per year
2. Bledsoe County - $36,890 per year
3. Hawkins County - $36,590 per year

On average, chefs earns the least in the following Tennessee counties:

1. Benton County - $23,380 per year
2. Anderson County - $27,800 per year
3. Catoosa County - $30,070 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Tennessee statistics regarding a career in culinary arts and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as pastry or culinary.