Work in the kitchen, open a restaurant, or have your own catering business with a degree in culinary arts. The craft of preparing, cooking, and presenting meals is a perfect career for someone who loves to work with food. There are many different types of culinary roles and industries to choose from, each with their own educational path and requirements. Read about them here in our culinary careers guide.
Careers In Culinary Arts
If you’re looking to launch a career in the food industry, then you will want to choose to enroll in a culinary arts degree program. Culinary arts programs help students learn how to cook and present food. Instructors will teach you about various ingredients, sanitation, and food planning and preparation. The programs will also prepare you for management and food service positions. You’ll most likely be required to complete an internship or apprenticeship to gain hands-on training.
Culinary schools offer bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificate options. While bachelor’s degrees are the most expensive option, they also provide you with additional experience and knowledge. Bachelor degree programs can generally cost around $11,000 per year, while associate degree programs can fall closer to a range of $3,500 yearly. Elite culinary schools can cost upwards of $100,000 for four years, whereas certificate programs can range between $1,000 to $12,000 in total.
Chef
Find out more about becoming a chef and the 12 different positions: Chef Career
The chef is the one heading up the kitchen, managing staff, and making big decisions for the restaurant like menu planning. Chefs are in charge of the back of the house, meaning all the employees who do not interact with the public in a restaurant. Days can be long, and your duties will differ depending on which kitchen or restaurant you’re in.
What Chefs Do All Day
The maintenance of a kitchen and those employed in it requires a firm hand of control and a knowledge of each dish and ingredient. A head chef—also called an executive chef in some kitchens—has such skills. It is your responsibility to supervise the staff and make the administrative decisions for a restaurant. It’s an intensive career, and you’ll typically work 12-hour days while you focus on the overall conception of each meal, as well as the powerful flavors a guest will savor.
Chefs’ work environments can range widely—from bed and breakfasts and cruise lines to hotels, restaurants, and country clubs. Because the establishments can be so different, days on the job will seem equally as different.
In general, though, you are involved in all aspects of the kitchen and required to perform a variety of tasks throughout the workday.
- Head chefs reside mainly in the back of house. You’ll use your imagination to create new and exciting dishes for patrons to enjoy. From spices and sugars to decorative designs on a plate, you make all of the executive decisions. You’ll also:
- Design the layout of each item on a plate.
- Keep the kitchen’s innovation flowing.
- Make sure every team member—sous chefs, cooks, saucier, rotisseries poissonnier, etc.—are executing their job properly and efficiently.
- Usually, executive chefs head a very large staff, say, at a resort with multiple restaurants plus room service and banquet halls. In this case, the role is more managerial than cooking-focused. In smaller arrangements, those with the title “executive chef” help any area of the kitchen that may have fallen behind during a dinner rush and with more advanced preparation dishes. To keeping a consistent and quality food production going, executive chefs must maintain the order of the kitchen, keeping up-to-date on all sanitary and safety regulations and guidelines. Executive chefs may also be in charge of handling customer complaints, as well as scheduling staff.
As you can see, with either top chef name, nearly any item of work within the kitchen is your responsibility to execute and complete in a timely and delectable fashion from:
- Developing menu concepts
- Determining menu item prices
- Staffing the kitchen
These tasks and more, like documenting kitchen supply costs, make the workday in the kitchen far from simple—but very exciting.
How to Become a Chef
Although formal training isn’t required, most employers prefer hiring chefs who have had culinary education. First, get your high school diploma or GED. Then, you have a few different secondary options:
- Culinary certificate/diploma programs through trade and vocational schools, the fastest route
- Associate degrees through a community college
- A bachelor’s degree program at a university or culinary institute. Culinary institutes are generally a bit more pricey than the alternatives.
Once you choose what type of certificate or degree you’re going to get, then you need to:
- Get field experience. You’ll need one to five years of kitchen work if you’re going to be considered for a head chef position.
- Get your certifications. These aren’t mandatory. However, they will give you that competitive edge in interviews. To be eligible for certification, you need to have a combo of education and experience. Then, you’ll complete written and hands-on portions of an exam.
- Renew your certifications. Most are good for three to five years.
Find a culinary arts program now.
Salary and Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that head chefs/chefs made an average salary of $62,640 in 2023, with the top 10 percent earning $93,900 or more. However, there are many factors to consider when determining what your salary may be. The type of restaurant you're working in, along with your location, and experience will weigh into your earnings.
The BLS also states that the demand for head chefs/chefs is expected to increase 5 percent by 2031. This is slightly faster than the national average for occupations. People are using their disposable income in restaurants more often, and new restaurants are popping up at astronomical rates. There is a strong need for chefs to create magnificent menus and feed the masses with delectable delights.
Restaurant Manager
Main article: Restaurant Manager
As the face behind the establishment, restaurant managers have to wear a bunch of different hats. You will need to make sure every aspect of the restaurant is running smoothly while simultaneously ensuring the patrons are pleased.
What They Do
Restaurant managers are in charge of virtually every facet of the restaurant's operations. You will:
- Manage the business functions
- Perform administrative tasks
- Order supplies
- Ensure food prep, portion sizes, and presentation are on point
- Oversee finances and bookkeeping
- Be the point of contact for patron complaints
- Onboard new employees and make sure performance and customer service are up to brand standards
- Work alongside chef to make sure things are running smoothly from the kitchen to the restaurant floor
- Be responsible for all aspects of the employees, from hiring to firing
Being a restaurant manager is a full-time position. You usually find employment with hotels, restaurants, catering, and even hospitals and offices.
Restaurant management can be a rewarding career for many, but it’s not for just anyone. There are certain qualities a restaurant manager needs to be successful:
- Restaurant managers are on their feet, running around all day. Physical strength and stamina are necessities to support this kind of job.
- Restaurant managers need to be excellent communicators with great customer service skills.
- Keep in mind that you'll be in customer service, so ideally, you should be an excellent problem-solver.
- You will need good leadership and organizational skills.
- Restaurant managers need to know how to manage people as they handle all the employees in the establishment.
How to Become a Restaurant Manager
Most restaurant managers have a high school diploma combined with many levels and years of restaurant experience. However, as the job market gets more competitive, hiring managers are looking for applicants with either an associate or a bachelor’s degree in restaurant and hospitality management.
Most commonly, career training happens through on-the-job experience. You may start out working in the kitchen or as part of the waitstaff. This way, you’ll learn in depth about the business, from every part of the staff’s perspective. Having this wide lens helps you understand everyone’s point of view once you’re in charge.
There are no certification requirements specific to the position of a restaurant manager, but some restaurants, as well as some states, may require their restaurant managers to receive the Food Protection Manager Certification from the American National Standards Institute, and the Food-service Management Professional designation, which is given by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
Find a restaurant management program.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average annual salary for food service managers in 2023 was $69,580. The BLS also states that the demand for food service managers is expected to show little to no significant increase or decline by 2032. As new restaurants pop up all over, along with the increase in customer demands however, qualified restaurant managers will still be needed.
Pastry Chef
"A pastry chef is someone who is schooled and skilled in the creation of pastries, desserts, bread, and other baked goods. Compared to bakers, pastry chefs produce on a smaller and per-order basis, rather than large volumes." Read the complete pastry chef career article.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average annual salary for pastry chefs in 2023 was $35,550 or more. The BLS also states that the demand for pastry chefs is expected to increase 5 percent by 2032.
Find a pastry chef program now.
Food Writer
Main Article: Food Writer
Food writers travel to various restaurants and indulge in a myriad of meals and review them. Food writers, also known as food critics, specialize in writing reviews and critical essays about certain restaurants and bars—specifically on the food, drinks, and all-around service—for magazines, newspapers, and other publications. Many people, when they want to check out a new restaurant but aren’t sure of the quality, will look to your blog or column for the answers.
What Food Writers Do
Most food critics work freelance. Each day is not the same, and some days may entail less work than others. You have the ability to make the day (and often, the night) your own. Traveling from one restaurant opening to the next, food writers have the opportunity to try a wide variety of dishes while taking notes to review later.
Whether it be the smell of the Bolognese, the bitter bite of the lemon zest, or the overall presentation of a dish, food writers understand the efforts and techniques needed to create a successful and appetizing meal. Once you have visited the desired destination and gathered enough information to write a review, the rest of the time spent will usually be in front of a computer screen, perfecting the article for publishing. Reviews tend to vary, from “memorable experience with fantastic food” to “awkward and questionable combinations.”
How to Become a Food Writer
Food writers typically start off working for free, reviewing a few new restaurants in their spare time, in order to build their portfolio and gain exposure in the food writing world. To really succeed in this increasingly competitive field (thanks to blogs and online magazines), there are some soft skills you need:
- Excellent communication skills, because in your reviews, you need to be able to have the ability to accurately describe the foods
- A good sense of smell, taste, and feel
- Clear critical thinking skills
- The ability to express yourself through writing
The steps you need to take to become a food writer (critic) are:
- Get your high school diploma or GED.
- Earn your bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, or communications.
- Minor in culinary arts so you can have a well-rounded knowledge of food, from composition to techniques.
- Work experience such as a writing internship, writing for a magazine, newspaper, blog, or other outlet is important to have.
- Experiment with foods by trying every single type you can.
- Start networking with others in the food industry.
- Join a professional organization: Association of Food Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists are good starting points.
Some food writers start their own publications, such as a food blog or by authoring books. The more exposure a food writer has, the more job opportunities clients will present them with; some are paid to travel countries to taste new foods and express the connection people of the world have through food.
Caterer
From corporate holiday parties to wedding receptions, catering plays a large role in event planning. The catering business has two important aspects to it: the coordinator, who oversees the staff, and the catering crew, who plans, prepares, and serves the food. Catering coordinators and staff keep the client’s specifications in mind and establish the tone of an event with mouthwatering dishes.
What They Do
Caterers work in a multitude of different venues for a variety of events, such as wedding receptions, charity events, brunch specials, holiday parties, and office functions. You’ll have a set of responsibilities at each event, from setup and serving to takedown. Expect to keep a flexible schedule and early/late work hours while you do your part to make events perfect. Rely on the other catering coordinators and staff—working together as a team is crucial for a catering job to be successful!
Caterers’ duties are:
- Making sure that every task is being completed properly and efficiently
- Assigning tasks to a team of cooks and servers that meet the specifications of the client
- Planning, preparing, and serving the food under the direction of the catering coordinator
- Organizing the bar service, cutting and serving cake, packaging leftovers, and communicating with the client as well as the guests
- Establishing the sanitation within the kitchen, helping label food products and coordinating staffing schedules
- Coordinating outside help at times, including decoration setup, lighting, and greeting guests once they arrive
How to Become a Caterer
You really don’t need any formal education if you want to be a caterer. However, there are some things you should do so that you have the right skills and credentials to work as one.
- You may want to consider getting an associate degree in either professional catering or culinary arts. By earning an associate degree, you will learn the culinary techniques required to perform the job, as well as gain business and event planning skills.
- The more experience you can get, the more job prospects will be presented. In school, hands-on experience will be provided in addition to classroom material, and you will come across internship opportunities.
- Get certified in food safety through your local department of health or through a community college.
- Apply for and get all the appropriate licensing your state requires for caterers.
- Network. You can reach out bartenders who specialize in weddings, introduce yourself to wedding and event planners, and build relationships with local event halls.
Find a culinary arts program now.
Dietitian
Dietitians are trained, registered experts in food and nutrition who educate people on what is and isn’t healthy for their particular lifestyle or health condition. Work in a school, nursing home, hospital, or even for yourself.
What They Do
Some dietitians work with individuals during one-on-one sessions, others tackle larger groups at one time. Daily tasks and job duties will differ, depending where you’re employed. The generalized responsibilities typically include:
- Asking questions and taking note of clients’ health needs
- Explaining changes to make to improve the health of meals
- Creating meal plans that work with what clients need to accomplish with food
- Checking up on clients and their progress
Additionally, you’re going to need to stay current on anything new in nutritional research, plus keep a log of your patient progress for future reference. If you’re self-employed, it is crucial for you to set aside time to prepare information and appointments for clients.
Dietitians can specialize in their work. Each job is similar, but you can still concentrate as one of three main types. You can also narrow your scope of work within a specialty and simply develop programs for clients or perhaps work only in more hands-on situations.
Types of Dietitians
- Clinical dietitians are professionals who work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and other similar places. Clinical dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy. You are responsible for creating nutritional plans for patients and residents to deal with certain health needs, such as kidney disease or diabetes. Typically, your patients need help creating a healthy lifestyle plan for themselves, so you counsel them on how to make healthy habits.
- Community dietitians are individuals who educate the public about food and nutrition. You’ll target your knowledge toward groups, like adolescents or the elderly, in hopes of inspiring them into changing their dietary habits. You’ll work in public health clinics, nonprofit agencies, and health maintenance organizations.
- Management dietitians are responsible for planning meal programs—the food schools serve for lunches, the meals prisoners eat, and the menu placed within a hospital for patients are all created by someone like you. You may oversee kitchen staff or other dietitians while on the job, but it is your sole purpose to create a functioning meal plan for specific organizations.
How to Become a Dietitian
Becoming a dietitian requires a passion for healthy living, an understanding of proper communication, and a formal education. Here’s what you’ll need to do in order to become a dietician:
- At a minimum, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and/or nutrition.
- During the four-year education program, you’ll have the option to complete what is known as a coordinated program or a didactic program. Each of these programs provides classroom work that covers areas such as chemistry, sociology, food and nutrition sciences, physiology and anatomy, pediatric nutrition, economics, and more.
- When entering a coordinated program in dietetics, a required internship will be included within the course. In the didactic program, the internship will be excluded and is the responsibility of the student upon graduation.
- After completion of a nutrition or dietetics degree, you can earn the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential. However, to qualify for the CNS exam, you must have a master’s degree or doctorate, as well as 1,000 hours of experience.
- For those who have only completed a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, pass the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) Examination instead.
Other credentials and examinations may be required in order to become a certified dietitian, depending on state.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average annual salary for dieticians in 2023 was $71,280, with the top 10 percent making $98,830. The BLS also states that the demand for dieticians is expected to increase 7 percent by 2032. The most profitable industries to work in are outpatient care centers, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities.
About Online Culinary Arts Degrees
There are many pros and cons that accompany attending school online. Online schools are ideal if you’re looking for a flexible schedule. Learn, study, and progress at your own speed. Not only is tuition for online programs often cheaper than traditional institutions, but also the total cost is reduced even further by not having to commute.
While some online institutes offer programs in culinary arts, it can be difficult to find a program that incorporates practical experience. Online culinary schools must take an alternative approach to the traditional “hands-on” experience. Some schools will offer live demonstrations using webcams; others will allow you to combine online work with a personal tutor. All schools will recommend or require you find an internship that will allow you to practice under the supervision of an experienced chef.
Students should look for programs that are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC). ACFEFAC assures that all programs are meeting a minimum of standards and competencies set for faculty, curriculum, and student services.
Read Online Culinary Programs: A Good Choice?
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