by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Wine Steward/Sommelier explores Wine Steward/sommelier. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage Wine Selection, Purchasing, Storage, Sales, And Service For A Variety Of Establishments In The Hospitality Industry. Includes Instruction In Wine Production, Wine Regions Of The World, Wine Tasting, Food And Wine Matching, Service Techniques, And Wine Program Management. Continue reading for the key facts every wine steward/sommelier major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering wine steward/sommelier programs.
Nationwide, wine steward/sommelier is a popular field of study, with 7 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Wine Steward/Sommelier Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for wine steward/sommelier students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of wine steward/sommelier programs later in this article.
Studies in Wine Steward/Sommelier emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations wine steward/sommelier graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a wine steward/sommelier program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a wine steward/sommelier major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several wine steward/sommelier 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 | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to wine steward/sommelier tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 24.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.6% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in wine steward/sommelier careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying wine steward/sommelier opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to wine steward/sommelier.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to wine steward/sommelier.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | 465,393 | 2.6% |
| Food Service Managers | 397,799 | 7.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of wine steward/sommelier graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,617 |
| 4 years | $29,033 |
| 5 years | $32,264 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for wine steward/sommelier graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers wine steward/sommelier grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
With 1 different wine steward/sommelier programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased wine steward/sommelier school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in wine steward/sommelier, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
