Culinary Careers: Salary Expectations

The culinary arts and hospitality industries offer a number of career choices with varying salaries and the possibility for job advancement. However, before getting involved in training programs, some individuals are curious about certain benefits of training, such as the salary for a position that requires an Associate degree in culinary arts or a dietician entry-level salary.

The popularity of cooking shows and growth in the prepared foods sector has inspired many to look for jobs in the culinary arts industry. From high school graduates just starting out to adults who wish to change their career paths, many people can find culinary positions that will meet or exceed their salary expectations.

Factors in Determining Food and Hospitality Career Salaries

While several factors determine the range of salaries in any business, the food and hospitality has some that are specific:

Education is not always essential to some areas of the food industry. Those requirements are changing, however, as degrees and advanced programs are becoming more common. Individuals with degrees, diplomas and certificates will certainly have an edge as the competition for top positions rises. Similarly, having some type of degree is likely to help applicants get jobs with higher salaries.
Location can affect how much you earn. The size of a city creates more opportunities for employment in higher-end establishments.
Size of establishment will also affect salaries for culinary careers. For example, while a larger restaurant, resort, cruise ship or hotel chain may offer higher salaries, they will also have greater training and education expectations. Along with the possibility of higher salaries, larger, more established companies often provide better opportunities for promotion and relocation.
Training, especially in the food sector, is one of the most critical aspects of determining a salary range. Those who aspire to become chefs in any area of expertise can expect to spend months and years gaining the experience needed for advancement to higher salaried positions.
Type of business in either the food or hospitality industry is perhaps the greatest determinant of salary. High-end restaurants, resorts and hotel chains, for instance, will obviously pay their employees more than a fast-food chain or grocery deli.

Cities with Top Food Industry Salary Prospects

Larger cities provide greater opportunities for employment and generally offer higher salaries. In these areas, it will also be more critical to have greater experience and hold higher degrees. Specialty positions, including pastry chefs and personal chefs, are also in abundance in more metropolitan areas.

According to some reports, the following cities in order of high-to-low salary ranges include:

New York City, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Miami, FL
Washington, DC
Houston, TX.

Increasing Salary Prospects in Food and Hospitality

Hands-on training is an important part of landing a job in the culinary arts or hospitality industry. The hospitality field, in particular, is an area in which advanced education is important. Degrees in management, along with experience, will generally secure a higher salary range. Some jobs require a specific degree to handle day-to-day operations, including inventory management and employee oversight.

For culinary pursuits, mentoring from chefs along with a diploma from a culinary institute will command higher salaries. Bachelor's degree requirements are becoming more common in this area, which include management and inventory skills.

Nutritionist and dietitian careers also require one or more degrees along with certification. Most employers will expect at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field, such as dietetics. A graduate's degree and specialized training can raise salary expectations for both nutritionists and dieticians.

Popular Food-Related Careers and Median Salary Ranges

If you're wondering what the salary of a nutritionist, dietician or a catering director is, the answer can vary greatly. The following is a chart of salary listings for culinary and culinary-related careers. Keep in mind that these numbers are an average and will vary by region.

Job Type	Median Salary Range	Training	Job Requirements
Baker	$17,000-$25,000	hands-on training, apprenticeship, vocational degree	prepare baked goods, employee supervision
Catering Director	$55,000-$68,000	culinary school, hands-on training	menu planning, staff management
Chefs	$36,000-$42,000	culinary school, hands-on training	prepare specialty foods, menu planning
Cooks	$12,000-$25,000	culinary school, hands-on training	food prep, menu planning, supervisory
Cooks-Entry Level	$22,000-$27,000	culinary school	food prep
Dietician/ Nutritionist	$40,000-$60,000	dietetic or other specialty degree, certification	supervisory, meal service, nutrition planning, counseling
Dietician-Entry Level	$20,000-$40,000	dietetic or other specialty degree, certification	dietary recommendations, meal service, counseling
Executive Chef	$75,000-$90,000	culinary school, hands-on training, business training	menu planning, quality oversight, employee hiring, management
Food Services Director	$73,000-$87,000	culinary training, health/safety training, bachelor's degree, supervisory experience	menu planning, budgeting, cost evaluation, staff supervision
Pastry Chef	$45,000-$65,000	culinary school, specialty hands-on training, food safety skills	dessert preparation
Personal Chef	$40,000-$60,000	hands-on training, culinary degree desirable	menu planning, food prep, some household management
Restaurant Manager	$49,000-$57,000	culinary school, business degree	inventory control, administration, customer oversight
Sous-Chef	$30,000-$42,000	culinary school, hands-on training	kitchen oversight, food prep, purchasing

Career Growth and Salary Advancement

The fast-food business often sees a greater turnover as part-time employees leave. This creates openings for those who are just starting out in the food industry, along with those who are supplementing income. At mid-range and higher levels in the food and hospitality industry, openings also frequently arise. For example, while executive chefs move into management or acquire their own restaurants, sous chefs move into head chef positions, allowing others to also move up the chain to higher paid positions.

The same growth is evident in hotels and other large-scale establishments. Promotions and relocations always provide an opportunity to see a continued rise in salary expectations and job responsibilities.

Resources

Bls.gov (n.d.). Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the U.S. Department of Labor Web site.

Bls.gov (n.d.). Dieticians and Nutritionists. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the U.S. Department of Labor Web site.

Worldwidelearn.com (1999-2008). How to Create Your Cooking Career from Scratch. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the World Wide Learn Web site.

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