Culinary Arts
Career Outlook:
Earning Potential:
Median: $50,160/year
Job Growth:
15% (Much Faster than Average)
Credentials:
- ServSafe-Foodhandler
- ServSafe-Manager
- OSHA - 10-Hour Training
Topics:
- Kitchen safety and sanitation
- Basic culinary techniques and knife skills
- Cooking methods
- Food science and nutrition
- Recipe development and menu planning
- Introduction to international cuisines
- Baking and pastry arts
- Meat and poultry preparation
- Seafood preparation
- Catering and event planning
- And more!
Program Overview
The Collins Career Technical Center's Culinary Arts program offers high school students the opportunity to develop their food preparation, baking, nutrition, and hospitality skills. The program emphasizes the importance of safety, sanitation, and professionalism in the culinary industry. Students learn through hands-on experience in a fully equipped commercial kitchen, where they create various dishes, desserts, and baked goods. They also have the opportunity to participate in competitions and gain real-world experience through internships and job shadowing. The Culinary Arts program graduates are prepared for careers in restaurants, catering companies, hotels, and other food service establishments.
What Do Chefs Do?
Chefs and head cooks typically do the following:
- Check the freshness of food and ingredients
- Supervise and coordinate activities of cooks and other food preparation workers
- Develop recipes and determine how to present dishes
- Plan menus and ensure the quality of meals
- Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas for cleanliness and functionality
- Hire, train, and supervise cooks and other food preparation workers
- Order and maintain an inventory of food and supplies
- Monitor sanitation practices and follow kitchen safety standards
Careers in this Field
Immediate Careers:
- Line Cook
- Prep Cook
- Baker
- Catering Assistant
- Pastry Chef Assistant
- Food Service Worker
- Banquet Server
- Kitchen Manager
- Butcher or Meat Cutter
- Restaurant Server
Careers with an associate's degree:
- Sous Chef
- Restaurant Manager
- Catering Manager
- Pastry Chef
- Food and Beverage Manager
- Event Planner or Coordinator
- Recipe Developer or Test Kitchen Manager
- Culinary Arts Instructor
- Wine or Beverage Manager
- Food Critic or Reviewer
Careers with a bachelor's degree or beyond:
- Executive Chef
- Food Writer or Author
- Restaurant Owner or Franchisee
- Food Stylist or Photographer
- Research and Development Chef
- Culinary Arts Program Director
- Food Scientist or Technologist
- Food Safety Inspector or Auditor
- Hospitality Management Consultant
- Nutritionist or Dietitian
These are just a few examples of the many career paths that a student who graduated from a high school career tech culinary arts program could pursue with different levels of education and training. The culinary industry offers a wide range of opportunities for those who are passionate about cooking, baking, and food service.