Culinary Careers
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Everyone needs to eat, and social factors, including two-income households and increased leisure time, are influencing people to dine out more. Culinary careers for cooks, chefs, and other food preparation workers are plentiful, but many are part-time positions. As always, accredited culinary training and industry-respected certification are keys to culinary careers with higher pay.
Education and Apprenticeship
Education and training requirements for culinary careers vary by job and type of restaurant. Food preparation workers, short-order cooks, and fast-food cooks need only on-the-job training to do their jobs. However, those who plan to build a career in the culinary arts can start by taking advantage of career and vocational school programs. Executive chefs and head cooks in fine restaurants have years of training that may include two- or four-year college degree programs. Apprenticeships and internships are important components of these programs. The American Culinary Federation accredits training programs in a wide variety of cooking techniques and sponsors apprenticeship programs.
Typical food service careers and median hourly wages include:
- Chefs and Head Cooks: $14.75
- Private Household Cooks: $9.42
- Restaurant Cooks: $9.39
- Institution and Cafeteria Cooks: $9.10
- Short-order Cooks: $8.11
- Food Preparation Workers: $8.03
- Fast-food Cooks: $7.07
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Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Median hourly wage based on 2004 data.
