Exactly 23,410 of California's 251,520 culinary professionals work in Costa Mesa. Between 2006 and 2010, in Costa Mesa, there has been a 5% decline in the number of culinary professionals. As the employment for culinary professionals in Costa Mesa has decreased, overall employment in Costa Mesa has also decreased.

• Grey: California
• Dark Yellow: Costa Mesa

• Light Blue: Culinary in Costa Mesa
• Dark Yellow: All Professions in Costa Mesa

In Costa Mesa, salaries for culinary professionals have increased. Costa Mesa culinary professionals made $28,688 per year, on average, in 2010. The average salary for culinary professionals in Costa Mesa was $24,892 per year, four years earlier in 2006. The growth in the salary of culinary professionals in Costa Mesa is faster than the salary trend for all careers in the city.

Costa Mesa culinary professionals earn a median yearly salary of $26,790. The difference in pay between the culinary professionals in the lowest pay bracket and those in the highest pay bracket is approximately 111%. Those in the lowest 10% of the pay bracket earn less than $19,262 per year, while those in the highest 10% of the pay bracket earn more than $40,552 per year.

On average culinary professional salaries in Costa Mesa are lower than salaries earned by their professional counterparts in related professions.

There is only one accredited culinary school in the city. Many of Costa Mesa's culinary professionals are graduates of this school.

Costa Mesa's culinary schools offer 5 culinary degree and certificate programs.

In 2010 approximately 63 students completed culinary courses.