Welcome to our selection of the best culinary and pastry schools in Massachusetts.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in Massachusetts was $77,120 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $41,450 per year, on average.
This makes Massachusetts the third-highest paying state for cooks and the fourth-highest paying state for bakers.
Salaries vary depending on experience, education, location, and industry of employment.
One way to improve your earning prospects is by completing a diploma or degree in culinary science or a related field.
The schools included in our list take between a few months and two years to complete and offer hands-on training, certificate programs, and associate degrees, preparing students for employment in restaurants, bakeries, and other dining establishments.
Before being ready for your first job in this field, you have to learn a few skills, such as:
- Cooking techniques
- Checking ingredients
- Following safety and sanitation standards
- Planning menus
- Inspecting supplies
- Monitoring sanitation practices
- Ordering and maintaining an inventory of foods
- And more
As more restaurants and dining places are expected to open across the nation, employment for chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 7 percent by 2034.
Employment for bakers in the United States is also projected to grow at an estimated rate of 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re passionate about food, we encourage you to read our list and find out more about the culinary and baking schools in Massachusetts.
#1Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
About the School
Cambridge School of Culinary Arts offers students the opportunity to live their passion for baking and cooking.
Students get the essential knowledge and foundational skills that a strong culinary education demands.
The curriculum covers classic fundamentals of cooking and baking, history and influences of the world’s greatest cuisines, techniques for mastering common and exotic ingredients, and more.
Courses Offered
The following professional chef training programs are available:
- Professional Chef’s Program
- Culinary Certificate Program
- Professional Pastry Program
- Certificate Pastry Program
The Professional Chef program includes 740 hours of culinary arts and education over 37 weeks.
The program also includes hands-on laboratories that give students the opportunity to work with instructors in a 12 to 1 student to instructor ratio.
Contact Information
- Address: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
- Phone: 617.354.2020
- Website: https://cambridgeculinary.com
#2New England Culinary Arts Training
About the School
New England Culinary Arts Training offers culinary training to adults facing barriers to employment.
The program offers a 14-week training program that emphasizes culinary skills, life skills, and career readiness.
Students graduate with culinary competencies, self-confidence, and are employment-savvy.
The culinary job training curriculum is available at three locations: the Boston Training Center, Suffolk County House of Corrections, and the East Boston YMCA.
The first half of the program is spent primarily in the classroom and cold lab observing chef demos, learning food science, studying for and taking the ServSafe exams, and practicing knife cuts.
The second seven weeks are spent in the kitchen, where students implement their training through hands-on lessons, cooking, and serving lunch each day.
Students complete at least one off-site culinary stage to practice their skills in a real-world setting and to test out different work environments before selecting their permanent jobs.
Contact Information
- Address: 23 Bradston Street, Boston, MA 02118
- Phone: (617) 442-3600
- Website: https://www.ne-cat.org
#3Holyoke Community College
Holyoke Community College offers associate degrees and certificate programs like accounting, music, culinary arts, education, and sustainability studies.
Courses Offered
The Culinary Arts program available at Holyoke Community College gives students the opportunity to learn from top chefs in a beautiful state-of-the-art facility.
The college features four full-service kitchens, a bakery, a hotel lab, and a student-run dining room.
The following culinary arts degree and certificate options are available:
- Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts
- Culinary Arts Certificate
The certificate can be completed part-time and includes 24 credits.
Students take classes such as:
- Culinary Fundamentals
- Professional Standards for the Food Service Industry
- Sanitation and Safety
- Baking and Pastry Arts
- Stocks, Soups, and Sauces
- Introduction to Food Service Operations
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040
- Phone: 413.538.7000
- Website: https://www.hcc.edu
#4Middlesex Community College
About the School
Middlesex Community College offers an Associate Degree or certificate in Culinary Arts to prepare for a career in many specialized areas of the food and beverage industry.
Students learn and practice in the school’s state-of-the-art Culinary Lab.
Courses Offered
The program includes the following courses:
- Culinary I
- Food and Beverage Management
- Culinary II
- Food/Beverage Cost and Revenue Management
- Food Science and Sanitation
- Cafe Management
- Baking I
- Baking II
- And more
Students need 62 credits for an Associate Degree.
The Culinary Arts Certificate program includes 27 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 591 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730
- Phone: 800-818-3434
- Website: https://www.middlesex.edu
#5Boston University Metropolitan College
About the School
Boston University Metropolitan College offers a Culinary Arts program with classes taught by professional chefs, restaurateurs, food industry professionals, and wine experts.
The hands-on culinary program covers essential cooking techniques, world-class resources, and networking opportunities.
The following programs are available at the college:
- Professional Culinary Arts Program
- Culinary Arts 1 Online
- Culinary Arts 2 Online
- Cook Like a Pro: Mastering Culinary Essentials Class
The Professional Culinary Arts Program can be completed in 14 weeks.
Tuition and fees sum up to $15,900.
Students gain experience in the following culinary areas:
- Stocks, soups, and sauces
- Egg dishes
- Seafood, poultry, and meats
- Herbs and salads
- Fuits
- Wine
- Ethnic and regional cuisines
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1010 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, United States
- Phone: 617-353-6000
- Website: https://www.bu.edu/met
#6Bristol Community College
About the School
Bristol Community College offers a Culinary Arts program designed to ignite students’ culinary passion and transform it into a lifelong calling.
The college offers a diverse range of courses designed to enhance students’ learning journey and equip them for a rewarding career in the foodservice industry.
Courses Offered
The courses include:
- Fundamental Culinary Skills & Techniques
- Classical Cuisine
- Restaurant à la Carte Cooking
- Dining Room Management
- Modern Cooking Techniques
After completing the courses, students are able to:
- Develop a complete menu for a multi-course meal
- Prepare food to an acceptable industry standard
- Operate professional food service equipment
- Write standard recipes for food service operations
- Apply cost control principles
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 11 Field Road, Attleboro, MA 02703
- Phone: 774.357.2811
- Website: https://bristolcc.edu
#7Quinsigamond Community College
About the School
Quinsigamond Community College offers a Culinary Arts Certificate program designed to provide a career step for graduates of QCC’s workforce culinary basics program.
The program allows graduates to enter directly into a culinary career or to continue toward an associate degree in Foodservice Management.
In-state tuition is $227 per credit.
Students need a high school diploma or GED/HiSET.
Students learn how to perform in a commercial kitchen.
Graduates are able to use core knowledge of flavor profiles, staple ingredients, and basic food chemistry.
They are also able to identify, store, and prepare food inventory, bake classic and contemporary breads and pastries.
The two-semester program includes 27 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606
- Phone: 508.853.2300
- Website: https://www.qcc.edu
#8Boston Kroc Center
About the School
Boston Kroc Center offers a Culinary Arts Training Program for those who want to become professional chefs, bakers, or food service managers.
The comprehensive, hands-on training equips students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in the fast-paced food industry.
The Culinary Arts Training program available at the Salvation Army is a nationally recognized 10-week course and provides students from the Dorchester/Roxbury community with a solid foundation in culinary techniques.
Courses Offered
Students learn:
- Professional culinary techniques and kitchen management
- Food safety and sanitation standards
- Many planning, costing, and food service operations
- Baking and pastry arts
- And more
Students learn from experienced chefs and industry professionals.
They gain real-world kitchen experience in a professional setting.
Contact Information
- Address: 650 Dudley Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts 02125
- Phone: 617-318-6900
- Website: https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org
#9Massasoit Community College
About the School
Massasoit Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science degree that prepares students to enter the diverse and exciting field of food service.
Students need 240 hours of paid or unpaid experience in a food-service establishment.
Courses Offered
The program learning outcomes include:
- Developing entry-level skills that enable students to secure gainful employment in the food service industry
- Developing stamina, dexterity, food preparation and presentation, food safety, and other qualities needed to become successful in the art of being a chef
- Acquire new skills in food design and preparation
- Familiarity with purchasing, inventory, and cost controls
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Massasoit Boulevard, Brockton, MA, 02302
- Phone: 508-588-9100
- Website: https://massasoit.edu
#10Northern Essex Community College
About the School
Northern Essex Community College offers a Culinary and Hospitality program that gives students the opportunity to start their career in the Merrimack Valley or travel the globe working for restaurant, hotels, casinos, spas, cruise lines, and more.
Courses Offered
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- Associate Degrees:
- Culinary Arts
- Hospitality Management
- Certificate Programs:
- Baking and Pastry
- Culinary Arts
The Culinary Arts Certificate program is located on two floors that feature classrooms, laboratories, and state-of-the-art instructional kitchens.
The building is also home to a restaurant, where students receive hands-on training and guidance through supervised internships.
Students can earn 29 credits full-time or part-time.
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Elliott Street, Haverhill, MA 01830
- Phone: 978-556-3000
- Website: https://necc.edu
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Massachusetts
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$48K
|
|
|
$75K
|
|
|
$111K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Massachusetts
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 150 | $70,480 | $33.89 | $92,150 | $47,340 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 260 | $75,160 | $36.13 | $104,560 | $49,360 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,020 | $77,100 | $37.07 | $112,630 | $47,730 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 130 | $65,050 | $31.27 | $99,500 | $42,590 |
| Springfield, MA | 280 | $67,550 | $32.48 | $99,340 | $44,020 |
| Worcester, MA | 440 | $69,880 | $33.60 | $94,420 | $47,400 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best culinary and baking schools in Massachusetts, it’s time to choose the program that best suits you.
This is an important step, so take your time and make sure you choose a school that fits your budget and learning style.
