Western Cooking Class
Charity Cultural Services Center · San Francisco, CA
- Cost
- $8,000
- Length
- 14 weeks
- Working 6 months later
- 55%
Program names, program descriptions and occupation titles appear here in English, because that is the only language the federal and state records publish them in. Everything else on this page is translated.
What happened to people who took this
- People enrolled
- 43
- Finished the program
- 95%Based on 62 peopleTypical California program: 85% of 1,951 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Working 6 months later
- 55%Typical California program: 69% of 1,690 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
- Earnings in one quarter after
- $6,270A single quarter of earnings, roughly three months, not a yearly salary. Do not compare it directly with the yearly pay shown for the occupation.Typical California program: $10,900 of 1,339 reportingThat median pools every California program that reported this measure, whatever its length, credential, or field, and leaves out the ones that reported nothing. It is a reference point, not a rating of this program.
The jobs this trains for
This describes the jobs people do, not the classes this program teaches. It comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, which asks people already doing the work. The Department publishes it in English only, so the job names and the sentences below stay in English on this page.
Shrinking -10.3%
California projects this job will shrink over the next ten years. Fewer openings may mean a harder search.
Trains for more than one job. The outlook shown is the weakest of them.
Related work California expects more of
The U.S. Department of Labor lists these as related to the job above, and California projects growth in them rather than decline. Related is not the same as interchangeable: the training, the licences and the pay can all differ, and this program does not train for these. It is a place to start asking, not a recommendation.
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$47,565 · +9.9% · 20 programs here
- Cooks, Restaurant$46,017 · +18.5% · 14 programs here
- Bakers$44,104 · +8.8% · 11 programs here
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$43,351 · +9.9% · 4 programs here
- Food Preparation Workers$40,347 · +1% · 1 program here
Where California publishes a separate figure for San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties), it appears beneath the statewide one. Statewide stays the headline: people who train here do not necessarily work here.
Chefs and Head Cooks
Job ads may call this: Chef · Cook · Head Cook · Sous Chef
Some of what people in this job do. The Department rates how important each one is, and they appear in that order.
- Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
- Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
- Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
- Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
Show 4 more things this job involves
- Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Check the quantity and quality of received products.
- Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
- Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.
What this pays in San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) | $43,951 | $73,762 | $120,139 |
| Across California | $38,327 | $66,134 | $104,450 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $66,134per yearSan Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: $76,568
- Projected openings
- 43,670San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: 3,780
- Projected change
- +11%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- 5 years or more in a related job
- Training after you are hired
- None
Most people hired for this job have already spent 5 years or more in a related one. Finishing this program may not be enough on its own. Ask the provider who hires their graduates, and what those people did before.
These are the federal government's answers for the occupation, not rules this provider sets. California publishes the same two answers for every one of these jobs.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: High school diploma — 32% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 17% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 17%
- High school diploma
- 32%
- Started college, no degree
- 20%
- Two-year degree
- 16%
- Four-year degree
- 12%
- Master's degree
- 2%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.7%
This counts people already doing this job, across the whole United States. Every other figure on this page is California's, and the federal government publishes no state version of this one. It is what people happen to have, not a rule about who gets hired. A small row does not mean you would be turned away, and a large one is not a promise of a job.
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Kitchen Manager · Cafeteria Manager · Dietary Supervisor · Kitchen Supervisor
- Compile and balance cash receipts at the end of the day or shift.
- Forecast staff, equipment, and supply requirements, based on a master menu.
- Assess nutritional needs of patients, plan special menus, supervise the assembly of regular and special diet trays, and oversee the delivery of food trolleys to hospital patients.
- Perform personnel actions, such as hiring and firing staff, providing employee orientation and training, and conducting supervisory activities, such as creating work schedules or organizing employee time sheets.
Show 3 more things this job involves
- Record production, operational, and personnel data on specified forms.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
- Estimate ingredients and supplies required to prepare a recipe.
What this pays in San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) | $45,794 | $55,642 | $86,274 |
| Across California | $39,608 | $48,170 | $77,084 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $48,170per yearSan Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: $51,612
- Projected openings
- 209,550San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: 10,830
- Projected change
- +10.2%
- Usually needs
- High school diploma or equivalent
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- Under 5 years in a related job
- Training after you are hired
- None
Employers usually expect some time in a related job as well as the training. Ask the provider what their graduates did before they were hired.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: High school diploma — 36% of the people doing this work.
California says this job usually needs: High school diploma or equivalent. 11% of the people doing it went less far than that.
- No high school diploma
- 11%
- High school diploma
- 36%
- Started college, no degree
- 27%
- Two-year degree
- 10%
- Four-year degree
- 14%
- Master's degree
- 2%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.5%
Cooks, Fast Food
Pay, hiring, and what people studied
Job ads may call this: Cook · Fryer · Fry Cook · Line Cook
- Order and take delivery of supplies.
- Cook the exact number of items ordered by each customer, working on several different orders simultaneously.
- Prepare specialty foods, such as pizzas, fish and chips, sandwiches, or tacos, following specific methods that usually require short preparation time.
- Operate large-volume cooking equipment, such as grills, deep-fat fryers, or griddles.
Show 3 more things this job involves
- Wash, cut, and prepare foods designated for cooking.
- Prepare and serve beverages, such as coffee or fountain drinks.
- Read food order slips or receive verbal instructions as to food required by patron, and prepare and cook food according to instructions.
What this pays in San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties)
Each bar runs from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth. The darker middle is where half the people are, and the line is the median.
| Area | The lowest-paid tenth earn under | Half earn under | The highest-paid tenth earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) | $39,324 | $47,659 | $57,842 |
| Across California | $36,656 | $43,115 | $49,985 |
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2026 figures for San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD (San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) beside the same figures for the whole state. A region can sit well below or above the statewide spread, and the statewide number is the one most often quoted — so where they differ, the local row is the one that describes the work near this program.
- Typical pay in California
- $43,115per yearSan Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: $43,170
- Projected openings
- 159,630San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City MD: 5,530
- Projected change
- -10.3%
- Usually needs
- No formal educational credential
Getting in
- Experience needed first
- None
- Training after you are hired
- Under a month
No earlier job experience is expected, and new hires are not put through a long training period. For work like this, a program is usually the way in.
What people in this job actually studied
Most common: High school diploma — 42% of the people doing this work.
- No high school diploma
- 27%
- High school diploma
- 42%
- Started college, no degree
- 18%
- Two-year degree
- 6%
- Four-year degree
- 6%
- Master's degree
- 0.9%
- Doctorate or professional degree
- 0.3%
Program details
This program provides in-person instruction only.
The Western Cooking Class (WCC) is a 14-week intensive training program focusing on the general study of cooking and related culinary arts to prepare individuals for a variety of jobs with the food service industry. Coursework is centered upon current food and beverage industry standards of food preparation, cooking and plating techniques, equipment operations and maintenance, sanitation and safety, communication skills, applicable regulations, and principles of food service management.
Someone else may be able to pay for this
This program was on California's Eligible Training Provider List when the state last reported it to the U.S. Department of Labor (2026-08-04). Programs on that list can be paid for through an Individual Training Account. Listings are renewed periodically and can lapse, so a program listed when the state last reported may not be listed today. Ask before you rely on it.
The place to ask is an America's Job Center of California
Goodwill Centralized Job CenterComprehensive center
Phone: 415-575-4570
750 Post StreetGoodwill of the San Francisco BaySan Francisco, CA 94109about 0.3 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am-4:00pm
Has a veterans' representative
Chinatown Centralized Job CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 415-677-7500
601 Jackson StreetGround FloorSan Francisco, CA 94133about 0.5 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
EDD Workforce Service - San Francisco Civic CenterAffiliate site
Phone: 415-749-7503
801 Turk StreetEDD BuildingSan Francisco, CA 94102-3117about 0.9 miles away
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Has a veterans' representative
Distances are straight-line, so the drive is longer. Call before you travel: opening hours here are as the federal directory published them, and the state notes its own staff are not present at every location.
Find a center anywhere in California, and check what is on the list today:
CareerOneStop — American Job Center Finder (U.S. DOL) · California EDD — Office Locator · California EDD — Eligible Training Provider List
How this gets paid for, and what to ask →
Whether a person can have a program paid for is decided by their local workforce development board and the America's Job Center staff who interview them — not by this site, and not by the training provider. California has 45 local workforce development areas and each sets its own policies, so the answer can differ between two people in neighboring counties. Nothing here is a promise of funding or a determination of eligibility.
The rules cited here, and the state and federal sites linked to, are published in English.
How this site gets its figures, and what they do not tell you →