Culinary careers are a subset of the hospitality industry; however, they are some of the most in-demand and readily available opportunities. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that culinary jobs will grow by 15% over the next decade, which is faster than most other careers.
While some jobs do not require any further education after high school, some roles demand a
certificate from a trade or vocational school or an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Fortunately, there are many culinary scholarships to help students pay for further education and training.
What is Culinary Arts?
In any restaurant, the preparation and presentation of food is a group effort. Those on the outside of the kitchen are just as vital to those inside. That’s why the term “culinary arts” encompasses preparing, cooking, presenting, and serving food.
Culinary arts can also extend outside of the above. It includes
food science and nutrition, which is the study of the quality, seasonality, and styling of different ingredients.
Culinary Careers
There are a variety of culinary careers available to students. While a few career options are obvious under the culinary arts umbrella, a few are rather surprising and creative:
Cook or Chef
Prep cooks, line cooks, sous chefs, and executive chefs all fall under this category. A chef typically curates the menu at a restaurant, while prep and line cooks actually make the food. Median pay for this line of work,
according to BLS, was $50,160 in 2021 (the year for which there is the most recent data).
Catering Cooks and Chefs
Catering cooks and chefs are responsible for creating menus and food for large-scale events, like corporate conferences, weddings, and fundraisers. Within these roles, chefs and cooks have to create quality food on a large scale. Their salary is similar to a cook or chef at a restaurant.
Private or Personal Chef
A personal chef does not work at a restaurant or hotel. Rather, they work for a single client or family. Their day consists of curating menus and creating meals for their client on a daily basis.
They may live with the client or work long hours to accommodate the client’s schedule. The average salary for a private chef is $81,357, as reported by
Salary.com.
Restaurant Owner or Manager
Becoming a restaurant owner or manager enables those within the food industry to flex their entrepreneurial muscles or work in more customer-facing roles.
Salary.com states that the average salary for a restaurant manager is $55,672.
Culinary arts careers aren’t just limited to the above categories. Here are a few other roles to consider:
• Recipe Developer
• Cookbook Author
• Food Writer or Blogger
• Food Photographer
• Food Stylist
Scholarships for Culinary School
If you’re interested in a culinary arts career, consider one – or a few – of the below scholarships to help you pay for school:
Deadline: 3/10/23
Award Amount: $1,000
The Davidson and Jones Hotel Corporation Scholarship is available to rising college juniors and seniors. You must be enrolled in a four-year culinary, hospitality, or related program in North Carolina to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 3/15/23
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in a restaurant, food service, or hospitality field.
Deadline: 3/31/23
Award Amount: Up to $2,000
The Kirk Kirkland Memorial Scholarship is available to students majoring in a hospitality, culinary, or food service management field of study. You must reside and attend school in Alabama and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 3/31/23
Award Amount: $10,000
The JBF National Scholars Scholarship is available to students planning to enroll or currently enrolled in a program of study for culinary arts, wine, food history, nutrition, dietetics, continuing education, food writing, food studies, or a related field. Selection is based on a 300-word essay detailing your career goals and two letters of recommendation from your instructor or employer.
Deadline: 4/1/23
Award Amount: Varies
The Charles H. Selman Memorial Scholarship is available to students who are pursuing a career in the Alaska hospitality industry. You must be an Alaska resident or in the process of becoming a resident to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 4/1/23
Award Amount: Varies
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation Scholarship is available to students who are residents of Wisconsin. To be considered for this award, you must be studying a field related to restaurant and hospitality, including culinary, baking, hospitality, food science, and family and consumer science education. Additionally, you must be enrolled in at least six credit hours.
Deadline: 4/3/23
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
The MRA Educational Foundation/NRA Educational Co-Branded Scholarship is available to students who are accepted to, or currently enrolled in, an accredited restaurant or foodservice - related program. You must be a resident of Massachusetts and have a minimum 2.65 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 4/30/23
Award Amount: Varies
The HospitalityMaine Scholarship is available to students are pursuing a career in the lodging or foodservice field. You must reside or attend school in Maine to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 5/1/23
Award Amount: Varies
The CRF Scholarship is available to students majoring in a foodservice - related field. You must be a resident of California and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 5/8/23
Award Amount: Varies
The Illinois Restaurant Association Scholarship is available to students residing in Illinois. You must be majoring in a culinary arts, restaurant management, or a related program to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 5/15/23
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
The Charlie Trotter Pursuit of Excellence Scholarship is available to culinary arts and baking/pastry students. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 6/15/23
Award Amount: $5,000
The WebstaurantStore Foodservice and Hospitality Scholarship is available to students who are majoring in culinary arts, hospitality management, or a closely related field. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: 6/15/23
Award Amount: $500
The GoFoodservice Scholarship is available to high school seniors and students currently enrolled in a culinary arts or hospitality management program.
Deadline: 6/30/23
Award Amount: $1,000
The BBQ Galore Culinary Scholarship is open to upcoming high school graduates and current college students. You must be enrolled at an accredited US college or university pursuing a culinary degree, have a 3.0 GPA or higher and be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card or passport.
In order to be considered for this award, you must submit an essay, film, short story, design, drawing, artwork, or any form of art that you choose that is centered around the topic provided by the sponsor.
Deadline: 10/1/23
Award Amount: Two awards up to $500
The Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame Scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in an accredited culinary or hospitality management program. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be involved in your community to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: Varies
The art + biz Scholarship is available to BIPOC high school seniors residing in Western Pennsylvania. You must be planning to study digital art, graphic design, fine arts, music, musical performance, drama / theatre, culinary arts, dance, cinematography and film, interactive media design, drawing, integrative arts, visual arts, photography, or a similar field to be eligible for this award.
Deadline: Varies
Award Amount: Varies
The Food Dreams Scholarship and Mentorship Program is open to students who are pursuing a career in the culinary industry. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this award. Recipients of this award must commit to a period of studying followed by participation in a Food Dreams Job Program at one of 40 Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant properties for at least one year.
