Culinary Arts at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Culinary Arts program sits squarely in the middle of South Carolina's culinary schools—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—but graduates start their careers earning about $2,000 less than the national median for this degree. That first-year salary of $24,466 is particularly challenging given the $19,500 in typical debt, creating a debt burden that equals 80% of first-year earnings. For comparison, nearby Greenville Technical College's culinary graduates earn about $1,800 more right out of school.

The growth trajectory offers some optimism: earnings jump 29% by year four to reach $31,614, which is solid improvement for a culinary career. However, parents should recognize that even with this growth, your child would be managing student loan payments on entry-level hospitality wages for several years. The relatively low debt compared to national averages (19th percentile) helps, but it's still substantial for these salary levels.

This program makes the most sense for students who can minimize borrowing through scholarships, family support, or working while in school. If your child needs to take on the full $19,500 in loans, they should have a clear plan for where those culinary skills will take them—whether that's hotel management, their own catering business, or a path toward head chef positions that pay significantly more than line cook wages.