Search on DegreeDriven.com

Culinary Arts Schools and Programs
Featured Schools

Information about Culinary Arts Programs

Chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods—from soups, snacks, and salads to entrees, side dishes, and desserts. They work in a variety of restaurants and other food services establishments. Chefs and cooks create recipes and prepare meals, while food preparation workers peel and cut vegetables, trim meat, prepare poultry, and perform other duties, such as keeping work areas clean and monitoring temperatures of ovens and stovetops.

Culinary Job Types

Chefs and Cooks
Food preparation workers
Executive chefs and head cooks
Chefs de cuisine and Sous chefs
Institution and cafeteria cooks
Restaurant cooks
Fast-food cooks
Private household cooks/ personal chefs

Education Needed for Culinary Jobs

On-the-job training is most common for fast-food cooks, short-order cooks, and food preparation workers. Chefs and others with more advanced cooking duties often attend a cooking school. Vocational training programs are available to many high school students, but advanced positions usually require training after high school. Experience and a strong desire to cook are the most common requirements for advancement.

A high school diploma is not required for beginning jobs, but it is recommended for those planning a career as a cook or chef. Most fast-food or short-order cooks and food preparation workers require little education or training to start because most skills are learned on the job. Training generally starts with basic sanitation and workplace safety and continues with instruction on food handling, preparation, and cooking procedures. Training in food handling, sanitation, and health and safety procedures are mandatory in most jurisdictions for all workers. Those who become proficient and who show an interest in learning complicated cooking techniques may advance to more demanding cooking positions or into supervisory positions.

Employment Outlook for Culinary Positions

Job opportunities for chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers are expected to be plentiful because of the continued growth and expansion of food services outlets, resulting in average employment growth, and because of the large numbers of workers who leave these occupations. However, those seeking the highest-paying positions will face competition in getting the job.

• Grocery or specialty food store jobs should grow faster than average
• Full-service restaurant chef positions are expected to increase as fast as the average
• Food preparation worker employment is expected to grow faster than the average
• Fast-food cook jobs are should be as fast as the average growth
• Institution and cafeteria chefs and cooks will grow as fast as the average
• Private household cook employment is projected to grow by as fast as the average

Earnings and Pay in Culinary Arts Jobs

Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest number of chefs and head cooks were:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm

Search on DegreeDriven.com:
Culinary Arts Schools and Programs
Featured Schools

All Program Types:
Accounting
Business
Cosmetology
Criminal Justice
Culinary Arts
Dental
Design & Arts
Education
Engineering
Healthcare
Hospitality
Information Technology
Liberal Arts
Massage Therapy
Medical
Nursing
Paralegal
Pharmacy
Psychology
Skilled Labor & Trades