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.
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.
Award Amount: $2,500 The ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in select cities. You must be majoring in business, hospitality, culinary arts, communications, information technology, or graphic design and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Award Amount: $5,000 The Robert Irvine Culinary Impact Scholarship is available to high school seniors, current college students, and adult continuing learners who plan to enroll in a culinary arts program at an accredited two - or four - year institution. You must be a member, or dependent of a member, of Service Credit Union to be eligible for this award.
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 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 StylistScholarships 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:ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program
Deadline: 3/25/24Award Amount: $2,500 The ASM Global Stars Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors and undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in select cities. You must be majoring in business, hospitality, culinary arts, communications, information technology, or graphic design and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Robert Irvine Culinary Impact Scholarship
Deadline: 3/31/24Award Amount: $5,000 The Robert Irvine Culinary Impact Scholarship is available to high school seniors, current college students, and adult continuing learners who plan to enroll in a culinary arts program at an accredited two - or four - year institution. You must be a member, or dependent of a member, of Service Credit Union to be eligible for this award.