Cooking Schools
Schools by State
for Restaurant Cooks:
AK AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NH NJ NM NV NY OH OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY
Career Highlights for
Restaurant Cooks
Training generally required for this career includes: Long-term on-the-job training.
| Jobs and Salary | |
|---|---|
| Median Salary (2008) | $21,990 |
| Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs | Very High |
| Jobs (2006) | 850,000 |
| Job Growth (2006-2016) | 11.5% |
| Jobs (2016 forecast) | 948,000 |
| Flexibility | |
|---|---|
| Working Part-Time | 30% |
| Self-Employed | 1% |
| Education of Current Workers | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor Degree or Higher | 5% |
| Some College | 19% |
| High School or Less | 77% |
Relevant Job Titles
(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)
- Back Line Cook
- Banquet Chef
- Banquet Cook
- Breakfast Cook
- Broiler Chef or Cook
- Chef
- Chef de Froid
- Cook
- Cook Apprentice
- Dinner Cook
- Executive Chef
- Food Service Worker
- Foreign Food Specialty Cook
- Fry Cook
- Garde Manger
- Grill Cook
- Ice Cream Chef
- Larder Cook
- Line Cook
- Lunch Cook
- Pastry Baker
- Prep Cook (Preparation Cook)
- Railroad Cook
- Roundsman
- Sandwich Artist
- Saucier
- Sous Chef
- Specialty Cook
- Specialty Foods Cook
- Station Cook
- Vegetable Cook
Information Sources
BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.
Copyright © 1996-2009. All Rights Reserved. BrainTrack® is a registered trademark of FutureMeld LLC.
Restaurant Cook Job Description
Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.
Whether they're cooking for 10, 100 or 1,000 hungry people, restaurant cooks are skilled at creating appealing meals, with perfect timing, using quality ingredients. They coordinate this complex process in restaurants that are sometimes part of hotels and resorts, large amusement parks, cruise ships and other places where people go to eat for entertainment.
The responsibilities of restaurant cooks include:
- creating menus and inventing or selecting healthy and nutritional recipes for meals
- selecting, mixing, measuring and cooking ingredients
- safely using and maintaining ovens, grills, pots, pans, cutlery, slicers, blenders, mixers and other kitchen equipment
- supervising other kitchen staff and enforcing safety and cleanliness standards
- researching new recipes, cooking techniques and available foodstuffs
- planning how many people will be served, the portion size of a dish or meal, and ordering food supplies accordingly
- presenting servings in aesthetically pleasing ways
Culinary Arts Degrees and Culinary Arts Schools
Most restaurant cooks have received some formal education in addition to experience. Vocational schools, community colleges and trade schools offer programs that may last from a few months to two years, awarding associates degrees or certificates of completion. Professional cooking schools, universities and culinary institutes offer longer programs for more advanced careers in restaurant cooking. Large restaurant chains and hotels commonly offer training and apprenticeship programs.
Employers often prefer to hire graduates of programs accredited through the American Culinary Federation (ACF).
Culinary Arts Classes
Courses for aspiring restaurant cooks typically include:
- menu planning, nutrition and portion control
- kitchen safety, food handling and use of equipment
- cooking methods such as grilling, baking and broiling
- sanitation and public health regulations
- techniques and methods for cutting vegetables, meats and fruits
- food storage standards for non-perishable and perishable food
- economical use of food; limiting waste by using leftover food
- purchasing, inventory tracking and food service management
- advanced cooking techniques
Substantial practical experience in a commercial kitchen through apprenticeship or internship is required by reputable programs.
Online Culinary Arts Classes and Programs
Online programs offering degrees in the culinary arts and restaurant management are plentiful. Be sure to evaluate whether any program offers apprenticeships in a commercial kitchen and job placement, and what the program's reputation is among potential employers. Programs that meet industry standards have been accredited through the ACF.
Any online program should also be accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
Restaurant Cook Requirements
Most employers hire restaurant cooks who have some formal education, preferably from an ACF-accredited school. Voluntary professional certification through the ACF provides advantage in this competitive industry.
How to Evaluate Culinary Arts Schools
When considering degree programs for culinary arts, include asking these questions:
- Reputation and accreditation - How does the school or program been accredited by the ACF? What is its reputation?
- Curricula and focus - Does the program focus on restaurant cooking? Is it geared toward preparing graduates for optional ACF professional certification?
- Class structure and amenities - Are classes or labs crowded or difficult to get into? Are lab kitchens equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and tools?
- Financial aid and expenses - What types of financial assistance such as scholarships, grants and student loans are available? Are there lab fees?
- Graduate success - Are apprenticeships or internships coordinated by the school? What is the program's track record for graduate placement?
Relevant Schools That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site
School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.
Listed below are some of the careers in the US with the most job openings and/or fastest growth, according to US government statistics and BrainTrack's own analysis. BrainTrack's profiles for these careers overview responsibilities, degrees, areas of study, career requirements, online study options, and how to evaluate relevant schools. Each profile also lists relevant US schools including those in each state.
Engineering and Technology
- Application Software Engineers
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Specialists
- Database Administrators
- Network Administrators
- Network Analysts
- Systems Analysts
- Systems Software Engineers
Healthcare
- Cardiovascular Technician Training
- Dental Assistant Schools
- Dental Hygienist Schools
- Dental Laboratory Technician Schools
- EMT and Paramedic Schools
- Home Health Aides
- LPN Nursing Classes and Programs
- Medical Assistant Schools
- Medical Lab Technician Schools
- Medical Lab Technologist Schools
- Medical Secretary Schools
- Nursing Aide Schools
- Pharmacy Aide Schools
- Pharmacy Technician Schools
- Physical Therapy Schools
- Radiation Therapists
- Radiologic Technicians
- Registered Nurse (RN) Programs
- Respiratory Therapist Schools
- Ultrasound Technician Schools
Education
- Elementary School Teaching Degree
- Middle School Teaching Degree
- Secondary School Teaching Degree
- Teacher Assistant Training
Community and Social Services
Business
Management
- Advertising Manager
- Engineering Manager
- General Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Management Analyst / Management Consultant
Office Support
- Administrative Assistants / Executive Secretaries
- Office Manager / Administrative Services Manager
- Secretaries
- Supervisors of Office Workers
Sales
Legal
- Correctional Officers and Jailers
- Lawyers
- Legal Secretaries
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Police Officers
Design
Arts And Entertainment
Culinary
Personal Care And Service
Mechanic
Massage and Physical Therapy