Culinary School Graduates in Demand
Chefs are in high demand and chef job openings are increasing nationwide. Consequently, the number of culinary schools is also climbing. Culinary graduates have a large variety of options to consider before making the leap into cooking for a living including food truck entrepreneur, restaurant owner or chef, caterer, school or hospital food service director.
In 2005 there were about 2700 degree granting culinary programs in the United States and this number has doubled in less than 12 years! Many chefs point to the recession as a reason for this trend; with fewer people able to afford restaurants out it became more appealing for those with an affinity for cooking to pursue their dreams by attending culinary school instead of waiting tables or bartending while they saved up money. The recession also enabled chefs to explore new career options as many opened their own restaurants, prepared food trucks or started catering, often with women and minorities in leadership positions.
Those who graduate culinary school tend to earn more than those who don't, often by about 20%. There are several factors that affect the salary received by a chef. While most degree programs have set requirements for credentials such as state licensing as well as experience required for employment after graduation, the chef's experience plays a huge role in what they can receive. Students may choose to work part time for the program's business or full time after graduation depending on their major and the location of their school. The skills needed in the kitchen vary from school to school as do the courses offered.
The average career ending salary for chefs ranges from $45,000 to around $65,000. While students have a wide range of options available to them, it is important to investigate all potential career paths before making a decision concerning their future career. The following list of jobs may help with this decision:
Chef Job Description - This employer wants a chef that is skilled in the culinary arts and food preparation. Chefs are responsible for managing food production and quality as well as taking care of the restaurant's ingredients. They may also be responsible for creating menus and purchasing equipment used in preparing food.
A chef is responsible for ensuring that the food in a restaurant meets the highest standards. They also need to manage their kitchen staff and ensure that they are performing well under high pressure situations. Other responsibilities include meeting with food suppliers, developing menus, keeping cost of food down and maintaining a clean kitchen. Chefs are required to have good communication skills as they will be managing a large team of employees.
Chef Salary - The average income for chefs was $51,010 annually in 2016 with top earners making over $93,640 per year. The median pay for chefs was $45,200 annually and the lowest 10% earned less than $21,970 yearly.
Culinary School Grads Continue to Be Rewarded - Culinary school graduates make more money than students who have a degree in other fields. Students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in technical and applied sciences, for example, earned $114,000 on average after graduation. Chefs came in second at $88,000 annually.
Chef Salary - Should I Go to Chef School? Yes, if you want a great career with excellent pay! But which culinary school is best for you? It all depends upon your goals and your dreams.
Chef Salary - Entry-Level Chef Salaries - If you are a new chef looking to get started, you should start with entry-level positions. These positions usually pay around $35,000 yearly. This is the lowest paid position in restaurants and is often reserved for students learning a job working under an experienced chef.
Chef Salary - How Much Money Can I Make as a Chef? It all depends on how much you are willing to work for your salary. The average salary of new cooks who don't have any years of experience is around $32,000 yearly. New chefs with one to five years of experience can expect to make approximately $42,000 yearly on average with top earners making over $82,000 yearly. Chefs with ten years of experience and up can expect to make $84,000 on average yearly.
Chef Salary - What Is Chef School? - There are numerous reasons why a person would choose to attend culinary school. Educational programs that lead to a career as a chef take between 1 and 2 years to complete.
Chef Salary - What Do Chefs Make? The average salary for chefs was $52,250 annually in 2016 with top earners making over $90,000 per year. The median pay for chefs was $103,560 and the lowest 10% earned less than $21,970 yearly.
Chef Job Description - The chef is the head of a kitchen and is responsible for overseeing the preparation of food products, managing kitchen staff and maintaining the high standards required in restaurants.
Chef Salary - Entry-Level Chef Salaries - If you are a new chef looking to get started, you should start with entry-level positions. These positions usually pay around $35,000 yearly. This is the lowest paid position in restaurants and is often reserved for students learning a job working under an experienced chef.
Chef Salary - How Much Money Can I Make as a Chef? It all depends on how much you are willing to work for your salary. The average salary of new cooks who don't have any years of experience is around $32,000 yearly. New chefs with one to five years of experience can expect to make approximately $42,000 yearly on average with top earners making over $82,000 yearly. Chefs with ten years of experience and up can expect to make $84,000 on average yearly.
Chef Salary - What Is Chef School? - There are numerous reasons why a person would choose to attend culinary school. Educational programs that lead to a career as a chef take between 1 and 2 years to complete.
Chef Job Description - The chef is the head of a kitchen and is responsible for overseeing the preparation of food products, managing kitchen staff and maintaining the high standards required in restaurants.
Chef Salary - Entry-Level Chef Salaries - If you are a new chef looking to get started, you should start with entry-level positions. These positions usually pay around $35,000 yearly. This is the lowest paid position in restaurants and is often reserved for students learning a job working under an experienced chef.
Chef Salary - How Much Money Can I Make as a Chef? It all depends on how much you are willing to work for your salary. The average salary of new cooks who don't have any years of experience is around $32,000 yearly. New chefs with one to five years of experience can expect to make approximately $42,000 yearly on average with top earners making over $82,000 yearly. Chefs with ten years of experience and up can expect to make $84,000 on average yearly.
Chef Salary - What Is Chef School? - There are numerous reasons why a person would choose to attend culinary school. Educational programs that lead to a career as a chef take between 1 and 2 years to complete.
Conclusion-
So, if you're thinking about a career as a chef and would like to know how much money you can make, start small. A good rule of thumb is to start at the bottom and work slowly towards the top. Once you've mastered the skills required for an entry-level position and have gained experience, then consider yourself ready for a promotion with a salary increase.
Chef Salary - Entry-Level Chef Salaries - If you are a new chef looking to get started, you should start with entry-level positions. These positions usually pay around $35,000 yearly. This is the lowest paid position in restaurants and is often reserved for students learning a job working under an experienced chef.