Salary Information for Chefs with a Culinary Arts Degree in Texas

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The first question typically asked when discussing a possible career, as a chef is how much the job pays. The salary of a culinary chef is dependent on many different factors, the least of which is certainly not which position you are applying for, and are qualified for, according to your resume. Consider some career positions associated with culinary arts and the salary of a culinary chef.

How Much Do Other Cooks Make?

All Culinary Schools states that different positions within the realm of culinary arts include positions like cooking assistant, line cook, sous chef, restaurant manager, food scientist and executive chef. There are also related fields such as pastry chef and baker. Of these professions, a line cook makes the least—about $22,372 averagely. This is about right for a chain restaurant, though a restaurant manager stands to make much more—up to $48,533 yearly. The highest earners are the executive chefs who can make upwards of $69,336 yearly, as well as food scientists, who can make $65,214.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the average salary for working chefs and head cooks is $46,600 a year, which is middle income class, but still a far cry from the $90,000+ success story everybody wants. Perhaps if you want to reach out beyond what the market suggests you’re worth, you must become a chef-owner, who maintains ownership over the profit and legal aspects of his or her business. It’s more responsibility, not only in physical effort and managing, but also in marketing. It could actually require delegation and bringing in managers, employees and consultants. The good news is that chef owners that succeed do make a lot more money on average—upwards of $79,000 per year, according to sources like Star Chefs magazine.

The Salary of a Culinary Chef

The salary of a culinary chef, however, is widely varying from market to market, not to mention state to state. For instance, CNN’s College Degrees That Don’t Pay article suggested that starting salaries for the profession were at $35,900 per year, which is not exactly luxurious. What we learn from this is that starting salaries are determined by multiple factors like experience with high-profile clients, education, and seasoned culinary arts training.

What you might ask yourself is you willing to change your working environment for a better opportunity? For example, fine dining restaurants with stringent rules do pay more for cooks that have special expertise. Hotels, resorts and private clients easily pay the most of any company. Naturally, cafeterias, chain restaurants and even cruise ships are known to pay very little in comparison.

You can also improve your chances by going back to school for culinary education, as well as work experience in the field. Lastly, geographic location is also a major factor, as much of the industry is dominated by big cities and big name restaurants that are tourist attractions as well as regular dining staples. Changing your region may have the most significant change in the salary of a culinary chef. Consider these details before making your next big career move.