A number of exciting food and hospitality careers are available in the restaurant and travel industries. As one of the fastest growing industries in America, the culinary arts industry currently employs nearly 12 million people. If you are interested in a career in food and hospitality, then you will want to learn more about a few of the more popular career paths.
Becoming a chef is the most popular food career path for individuals interested in the culinary arts. A chef is responsible for planning and preparing meals for restaurants, as well as managing kitchen staff. Some of the different positions a chef can hold may be:
Experience in a quality kitchen is the minimum level of education required for becoming a chef, though a culinary degree from a 2- or 4-year culinary school is likely necessary to get your foot in the door. Keep in mind that training is important for most jobs in the food and hospitality industries.
The average wage for chefs in the United States is $19.25 per hour, though actual salaries can vary greatly. For example, top chefs commonly earn a salary of $60,000 or more.
Restaurant management, another popular position in the food and hospitality industry, includes all aspects required to properly run a restaurant. Some of the tasks that restaurant managers regularly perform include:
Higher education is not a requirement to becoming a restaurant manger, as over 40 percent of food service managers have a high school diploma or less.
However, a culinary arts degree with a specialization in restaurant management may be beneficial for upper-level positions. An internship of hospitality may also be helpful, as it indicates hands-on experience in the culinary arts industry. The average salary for restaurant managers is between $39,000 and $49,000.
A caterer is a food professional who prepares food and menus for special events, such as weddings, business conventions and other functions where food is served. Caterers most often work in hotels or are self-employed. To be a successful caterer, you need a solid foundation of food preparation experience, which often means a combination of restaurant experience and culinary schooling.
An understanding of quality business practices may also be beneficial to aspiring caterers. The average starting salary for caterers is about $22,800, with top caterers earning $53,000 or more.
Hotel management is one of the most popular hospitality jobs. Hotel managers oversee the daily operations of hotels and other lodging facilities. Most positions require an Associate's or Bachelor's degree with a specialization in hotel management.
As with most other culinary arts careers, training is important to the hospitality industry. In fact, hotel management requires specific education and training, which may come from an internship in the hospitality industry. Hospitality internship books are a great resource for learning more about these entry-level positions. The average annual salary for general hotel managers is $52,000.