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Culinary, Hospitality and Fitness
Put your heart into your career
Discover a career where you can put your talents for health and compassion to great use. Students across our culinary, hospitality and wellness programs go on to have successful careers where they have a positive impact. Explore career opportunities and specific culinary, hospitality and fitness programs below.
Your dream job never feels like work
Baking and Decorative Arts
Take your love of baking to a new level and make a career of it! You will learn cake decorating, chocolate making, pastry creation and much more. This program is an early step toward the coveted Master Baker qualification.
Earnings: Average wage reported by graduates within six months: nearly $14/hr.
Employers include: Dick’s Fresh Market, Madison Sourdough Co, Pick ‘n’ Save
Culinary Arts
Good food prepared well is the focus of our culinary students. Hone your craft in our professional grade kitchen while you learn the art of fine cooking and the ins and outs of running a restaurant.
Earnings: Average wage reported by graduates within six months: $15.04/hr.
Employers include: Heritage Tavern, Sur La Table, Merchant, The Free House Pub
Hospitality Management
One out of every 10 workers in Wisconsin works in the hospitality and tourism industry. The greatest expected growth is in management.
Your onsite, hands-on training coupled with your people skills make you a great match for this field.
Earnings: Average wage reported by graduates within six months: $24.04/hr.
Employers include: Four Seasons Spa, North Central Group, 49th State Brewing Company, Great Wolf Lodge
Fitness and Recreation Management
Make a career out of play. Recreation and fitness programs relieve stress for people of all ages. As our culture embraces the need to stay fit and active, the recreation field continues to grow.
Jobs include recreation programmer, activity director, personal trainer, parks and golf course assistant and many more!
Earnings: Average monthly wage reported by graduates within six months: $16.35/hr.
Employment: City of Madison Parks Division, Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR), Verona Area Soccer Club Premier Fields, Whitewater Aquatic Center
Cosmetology
Learn the art of cosmetology in an actual salon, where you will train under the guidance of licensed stylists. Gain skills in barbering, nails and aesthetics.
When you graduate, you will be ready to apply for your cosmetology license.
Earnings: Average wage reported by graduates within six months: $15.04/hr.
Employers include: Ulta Beauty, The Spa, Sundara Inn & Spa, Honeycomb Salon, Atwood Barber
Therapeutic Massage
Massage is more than a luxury. It is a way to ease stress, which leads to better health. You will learn several techniques and business practices to prepare you to work as a massage therapist on your own or for an organization.
Earnings: Average wage reported by graduates within six months: $19.25/hr.
Employers include: Sundara Inn & Spa, The Haven Spa, Bergamot Massage, Sunflower Spa
Jobs on the rise
The leisure and hospitality industry saw
record job growth from
2018 to 2019—this is a great time to enter the field!
(US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Which path works for you?
Choose a Madison College program that fits your interests and goals
Programs Available:
- Artisanal Modern Meat Butchery
- Baking & Decorative Arts
- Cosmetology
- Cosmetology Apprentice
- Culinary Arts
- Culinary Production Specialist
- Fitness and Recreation Management
- Fitness and Wellness Specialist
- Hospitality Assistant
- Hospitality Certificate for the Business Professional
- Hospitality Management
- Hospitality Specialist
Need a jump start?
A Madison College advisor will get you going.