I recently read the 2006 Star Chef Salary report and ran across some disturbing information. The survey itself is a discussion of salaries for workers in the culinary industry, but the thing that struck me came at the end of the report and it was related to the culinary school. One of the conclusions of the investigation was as follows.
“Reductively, the numbers say this: Executive chefs make higher salaries when they: A) complete the stage, B) work in a restaurant outside the US and C) get a non-culinary degree. They make less money when they go. culinary school than chefs who did not go to culinary school.” (StarChefs.com)
Do you get that last part? Those who did not attend culinary school were, on average, more successful than those who did. That’s a scary thought for the hundreds of thousands of students who write each year.
As a culinary school professional, I’ve often questioned whether culinary education is worth the ever-rising price tag. The honest answer is that I think it just depends on the reason for attending culinary school and the results. they are waiting to see when they complete their step.
Reasons:
Don’t: If your goal is to attend culinary school, learn how to “cook”; hoping to cook in family or friends, throw parties or cozy up, you should look at another option. Simply learning to cook or touch food is not a worthy reason to spend $40,000+ on education. There are many other opportunities that will provide you with lessons without the cost that culinary school entails. Try local community college or area cooking stores for a list.
GO FOR IT: If your plan is to attend culinary school to learn the basics of classic Food Network, your show, fame and fortune, you can. I want to think again. While it is admirable to have such goals in the long term, only the high prices of education and culinary attendance. The school does not promise these results. Witness the Star Chef Salary Survey, there are so many other steps and components to creating a successful culinary career that just attending school won’t get you far. In fact, choosing to attend culinary school alone, without additional international studies or a stage at a highly regarded location, can actually hurt rather than help. In any field and in any educational setting, you cannot believe that throwing your money at a University or institution will provide you with anything other than additional knowledge. Even a student at the top of their class starts at the bottom of the ladder when they hit the “real world.”
GO FOR IT: If you’re looking for a degree in a culinary design career, an opportunity to learn and develop your skills, and a chance to network with those in your desired industry, you’re in the right place. The results of a culinary education are subtle and usually present themselves later in life when they are trying to set up a promotion or position against another chef. An education earned at a culinary school will often put you one step above the rest and demonstrate your dedication and commitment. If you understand and want to accept it, you will have your attention in the best way, spend money on culinary school. It can be seen as an investment in the future.
The culinary industry is one in which education is the only factor that weighs more than work and experience in a promotion decision. And don’t get me wrong, I think culinary school is a great opportunity to learn and perfect skills and techniques; start with classical foundations and create a foundation from which to grow. However, it all depends on the student’s real plans for observing the culinary school and the expected results when they graduate. Weigh the options carefully, think about the pros and cons and you won’t regret your decision.
