The culinary world is exciting, motivating and enriching for skilled, confident professionals. At the same time, it can be a demanding, fast-paced industry, one where plenty of hard work and a willingness to seize new opportunities are often necessary. Students at online culinary schools can develop the skills necessary to start on a professional path, leveraging the network created by their school as well as their own abilities to work their way up the ladder in the industry. And that's true no matter where they learn from or choose to begin their careers.
This solid foundation, and the connections that come with it, are crucial. But it's also important to consider what comes next. A look at the job outlooks for chefs and culinary professionals can help you make important decisions about the future of your career, both in the years right after you graduate as well as the long term.
Chefs have a lot to be happy about when it comes to projected job growth in the industry.What's the job outlook for chefs in the coming decade?
When it comes to overall industry growth, there's some good news for chefs. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, which closely tracks employment trends and indicators, projected an 11% growth rate in the number of head chefs and similarly senior roles through 2028. As one of the most desirable positions for culinary school graduates, the notable increase in the number of head chef positions is a major positive. That's especially true when the average rate of growth for all jobs, at just 5% is taken into account.
Of course, few chefs can or should start their careers as the top person in the kitchen. The more broad cook position, which includes line cooks and many related jobs, also has strong projected growth. The BLS estimate indicates a similar growth rate of 11% will be realized through 2028. For recent culinary school graduates and those making plans about attending such programs, a widespread increase in the number of job openings can be a major motivator. New chefs can gain valuable experience and move into more senior positions.
Even the role of food preparation worker, among the lowest rungs in the professional kitchen, has a favorable job outlook through the next 10 years. The BLS anticipates the same 11% growth figure across that time period. Because some chefs – especially those who want to start working as soon as possible in high-level, competitive kitchens – may have to temporarily take on this position to start climbing the career ladder, this is also reassuring news.
How the right education can help chefs take advantage of a strong job market
Background and experience are key factors for chefs as they look for rewarding job opportunities. With the well-rounded education offered by the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, you can develop the professional, business and management skills needed to fill a variety of roles within modern professional kitchens, as well as grow over time in the professional world.
Our 15-month diploma program in Culinary Arts and Operations allows you to learn in the kitchens that are most convenient to you while receiving personalized chef feedback for each dish and project completed. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to engage with fellow students in live classroom discussions. These valuable connections are supported by our alumni network, which connects you to job opportunities no matter where you're located – an especially important consideration for online students.
To learn more about how Escoffier can support your career ambitions through our online culinary school, get in touch with us today.
