Overview

Every artist enjoys having their art appreciated by others; never could this be more true than in the culinary arts. There’s nothing a chef enjoys more than creating an edible masterpiece and having it immediately enjoyed by his/her guests. Moments like these are what make a career in the culinary arts so rewarding. There are many people who enjoy cooking, but if you are the kind of person who delights in turning mere food into a work of art, this might be just the career for you.

There are many different types of culinary career options open to you, from basic food service to fine dining. If you enjoy creating special sauces, for example, you might enjoy being a saute chef; or if you enjoy baking and confections, you might become a pastry chef. Perhaps you’ll want to learn all aspects of the culinary arts, and work your way up to executive chef; you might even have dreams of owning your own fine dining establishment. The sky is the limit with the culinary arts; it’s up to you where you want to go.

Average Salary: $56,367 Top Salary: $66,680 Entry Level Salary: $22,120 Average Hours: 53 Union: Service Employees International Union Certifications: American Culinary Federation Training Period: Varies Strong Markets: Metropolitan areas Job Growth Forecast: Good

Culinary Jobs

* Includes “Pastry Chef” and “Executive Pastry Chef”

Average Salary: $85,175 Top Salary: $90,333 Entry Level Salary: $24,000 Average Hours: 53 Union: Service Employees International Union Certifications: Not Required Training Period: 2-4 Years Strong Markets: Metropolitan areas Job Growth Forecast: Good

Sources: StarChefs.com 2008 Salary Survey; U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; and Payscale.com

Job:  Owner/Executive Chef: