by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you are a people person and enjoy helping others look and feel their best, a career in Personal and Culinary Services is right for you.
In personal services, you will be able to get a degree in areas such as Cosmetology which allows you to practice creativity and expertise as you perfect someone's hair or makeup. A major in Culinary Arts allows you to explore your passion for food and cooking to work in the kitchen as an assistant or top chef. A degree in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science will allow you to meet people's needs in a very emotional time. No matter what occupation you decide to purse, a career in Personal and Culinary Services will give you the opportunity to serve others while following your passion.
Many of these degrees are offered as an Associate's, although some college have Bachelor's programs associated with them.
Studying Personal & Culinary Services involves the study of Culinary, Entertainment, And Personal Services. Instructional Programs That Prepare Individuals To Provide Professional Services Related To Cosmetology, Funeral Services, Entertainment, And Food Preparation And Service. Continue reading for the important information every personal & culinary services major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering personal & culinary services programs.
In the U.S., personal & culinary services draws strong interest, with 164,764 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Personal & Culinary Services Schools ranking analyzes these 1,989 schools to determine the best overall colleges for personal & culinary services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of personal & culinary services programs later in this article.
Coursework for Personal & Culinary Services build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations personal & culinary services graduates commonly enter.
Any career in personal services requires strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills. It is also important to be able to work in a team and swiftly meet your client's needs. Personal and Culinary Services graduates often have management roles within their companies requiring them to work with other managers or assign tasks to colleagues. The background in business also makes graduates stand out to employers.
Some careers within Personal and Culinary Services require a state-specific license. Be sure to check with the state you want to work in to ensure you are fulfilling all requirements to obtain the license. These programs also require apprenticeships that can last between 1 - 3 years. These careers are experience based making a summer job or internship beneficial to current students.
The skill set built by a personal & culinary services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a personal & culinary services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several personal & culinary services degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 77,747 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 11,276 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 665 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 68,933 |
People currently working in careers related to personal & culinary services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 22.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 12.7% |
| Some college courses | 5.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
| Master’s degree | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in personal & culinary services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Personal services are always needed in our society. Graduates of this field of study become funeral directors, embalmers, hair stylists, makeup artists, masseuses, chefs, restaurant or hotel managers and any other occupation that involves hospitality or service.
Jobs in personal services tend to grow at a steady rate that is about average when compared to other jobs. Personal services are convenient and necessary, meaning they are in demand even in a bad economy.
Majoring in personal & culinary services can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to personal & culinary services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to personal & culinary services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Private Household | 2,026,560 | 13.9% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 1,757,049 | 0.9% |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | 1,329,217 | 12.5% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | 606,268 | 3.4% |
| Bartenders | 586,986 | 12.2% |
| Concierges | 586,532 | 0.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of personal & culinary services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $18,199 |
| 4 years | $21,507 |
| 5 years | $23,957 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for personal & culinary services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers personal & culinary services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Funeral Home Managers | $179,553 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Spa Managers | $143,396 |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
| Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | $66,320 |
| Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers | $58,312 |
With 1,989 different personal & culinary services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased personal & culinary services school rankings to help you.
Students interested in personal & culinary services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 136,936 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | 24,487 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | 2,676 |
| Casino Operations and Services | 564 |
| Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal Services, Other | 101 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
