What can you do with a Culinary Arts degree?

First, some facts. Of the Culinary Arts graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 81 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 74%, Culinary Arts graduates have a higher likelihood (+7%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 74%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 8% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Culinary Arts graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Culinary Arts graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from The Culinary Institute of America with a Bachelors in Culinary Arts. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Banquet Chef
Conquering Cuisine
Feb 2021 - Jan 2022
As a Banquet Chef, the individual directly applies culinary skills and knowledge obtained from a Bachelor's in Culinary Arts, making this position highly relevant.

Fish/Veg Cook - 1862 by Martin Hamann
The Union League of Philadelphia
Feb 2021 - Jan 2022
The role of Fish/Veg Cook at The Union League of Philadelphia requires specific culinary skills and techniques learned during the Bachelor's degree, indicating a strong relevance.

Senior Saucier
Duquesne Club
Jan 2022 - Present
As a Senior Saucier at Duquesne Club, the job involves advanced culinary skills and knowledge directly acquired through the Bachelor's in Culinary Arts, demonstrating complete relevance.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Culinary Arts degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


The majority of people who have graduated with degrees in Culinary Arts tend to gravitate towards jobs that are closely related to cooking, kitchen management, and culinary development. A large portion of the listed graduates has found their way into roles such as line cooks, sous chefs, and chefs de partie, which directly engage with the culinary techniques and skills learned during their education. These positions are perfect for leveraging the practical skills acquired in culinary schools, allowing graduates to work hands-on in kitchen environments and offering them opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.

However, it’s also clear that a significant number of graduates have ventured into roles that are less directly related to the culinary skills they learned. For instance, positions in sales, management, and other non-culinary sectors were occupied by some graduates who might not utilize their culinary training day-to-day. Jobs like "Food Service Coordinator" or "Kitchen Manager" may involve culinary elements, but they mainly focus on organizational or operational aspects rather than cooking or food preparation. This indicates that while many culinary graduates find relevant roles, a portion of the workforce ends up in jobs where their culinary knowledge is underutilized, suggesting less-than-ideal alignment with their educational backgrounds.

Overall, while the most common types of jobs for culinary graduates are indeed relevant to their studies in Culinary Arts, a noticeable number also take paths that involve limited application of their acquired skills. This blend poses an interesting reflection on the culinary job market, where practical cooking skills are in high demand, yet the potential for graduates to diverge into unrelated sectors exists as well. For those considering a culinary career, focusing on directly related roles might not only provide better utilization of their skills but also allow for greater job satisfaction and professional growth.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Culinary Arts graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Culinary Arts graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When we look at the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Culinary Arts, we can see a bit of a mixed bag. For many, their first jobs right after graduation tend to be entry-level positions in the kitchen world, like line cooks or pantry chefs. These initial roles often revolve around hands-on culinary experience, which is crucial for building the skill set needed in this competitive field. For instance, graduates from Metropolitan Community College and Nicholls State University both started as pantry chefs and worked their way through the ranks within a couple of years, which seems pretty typical. It's like they checked off the basics before moving on to more complex roles.

Fast forward five to ten years later, and you see some graduates stepping into more responsible roles like sous chefs or even executive chefs, which shows that with experience and dedication, they can climb the culinary ladder. For example, several graduates from institutions like Johnson & Wales University and the Culinary Institute of America ended up in reputable executive chef positions or even opened their own businesses, which indicates that they found pathways to success in the culinary world. However, there are still a good number of graduates who seem to have veered off the culinary track entirely, opting for roles in sales, management in unrelated fields, or even different sectors altogether after starting in kitchens. This suggests that while many find their niche in culinary arts, others might be looking for a change or feeling that the culinary rush isn’t for them long-term.

In summary, while plenty of Culinary Arts grads actually find solid and relevant roles in their field, leading to promising careers, there's also a notable chunk who might find themselves in jobs unrelated to what they studied. It highlights the realities of the job market and how passion for cooking doesn't always translate into long-term culinary careers. So for any high school students considering this path, know that while there's potential for a fulfilling career in culinary arts, the journey can take unexpected turns!

How hard is a Culinary Arts degree?

A Bachelor degree in Culinary Arts can be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to difficulty. On one hand, if you have a passion for cooking and enjoy being hands-on in the kitchen, you might find it more fun than hard. You'll learn a ton about food prep, techniques, and even some business skills, which can be challenging but super rewarding. However, be prepared for long hours of cooking, intense projects, and maybe a few kitchen disasters along the way! Compared to some other degrees, it can be on the easier side if you really love food and are willing to put in the effort, but don't underestimate the intensity of the program, especially when it comes to mastering your craft. So, it's definitely not a walk in the park, but if you’re into it, you might just thrive!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Culinary Arts.

Do Culinary Arts graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at these Culinary Arts graduates, it's a mixed bag regarding how much money they might be making. Some, like the graduates from Johnson & Wales University and The Culinary Institute of America, have moved up to higher positions like Executive Chef or Chef de Cuisine, which usually means better pay. Others, especially those who have stayed in lower roles like line cooks or just switched jobs frequently, might not be raking in as much. For those starting out, it often takes time to climb the culinary ladder, but those with significant advancements seem to be on a solid financial path.

Overall, it seems the ones who have taken on more managerial roles and executive positions are likely doing well in terms of salary. However, many early-career positions don’t pay as well and can feel pretty stagnant if you’re just getting by as a line cook or sous chef for years. So if you’re thinking about a career in culinary arts, keep your eye on long-term growth and always be open to learning new skills to boost your chances of landing those better-paying gigs later on!

What buzzwords do Culinary Arts graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Culinary Arts. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Culinary Arts?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Culinary Arts (ordered by the average relevance score of their Culinary Arts graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count