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Chefs and Head Cooks Career

For the Chefs and Head Cooks, the average hourly wage is $30.12 and the average annual wage is $62,640. Understand required skills and ability for the career and find right career colleges for it.
Chefs and Head Cooks career

Chefs and Head Cooks

The main tasks and work activities of Chefs and Head Cooks are to check quality of foods or supplies, order materials, supplies, or equipment, coordinate activities of food service staff, inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards. In general, for the Chefs and Head Cooks, monitoring, speaking, coordination, management of Personnel Resources and other 17 skills are required.
ProgramsOccupationsSchoolsDetailed Description

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Chefs and Head Cooks

Most Chefs and Head Cooks occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. 11.11% of Chefs and Head Cooks have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 22.22% of Chefs and Head Cooks have Post-Secondary Certificate. You can check detailed job description, required skiils, activities, and more detailed description at Chefs and Head Cooks tasks, skills, and ability page.
The following graph shows the percentage of earned degrees held by Chefs and Head Cooks occupational group.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
11.11%
Post-Secondary Certificate
22.22%
Some College Courses
7.41%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
44.44%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
14.82%

Vocational Programs for Chefs and Head Cooks Career

5 vocational programs are closely related to the Chefs and Head Cooks occupation - Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Baker, Pastry Chef, and 3 more programs. You can check the schools offering the programs with tuition, length of study, and earning information.
A program that focuses on the general study of the cooking and related culinary arts, and that may prepare individuals for a variety of jobs within the food service industry. Includes instruction in food preparation, cooking techniques, equipment operation and maintenance, sanitation and safety, communication skills, applicable regulations, and principles of food service management
Average Program Tuition & Fees: $11,770
Average Program Length: 313 Contact Hours
Average Completion Time: 10.11 Months
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A program that prepares individuals to serve as professional bakers and pastry specialists in restaurants or other commercial baking establishments. Includes instruction in bread and pastry making, bread and pastry handling and storage, cake and pastry decorating, baking industry operations, product packaging and marketing operations, and counter display and service
Average Program Tuition & Fees: $24,241
Average Program Length: 326 Contact Hours
Average Completion Time: 13.09 Months
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A program that prepares individuals to provide professional chef and related cooking services in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. Includes instruction in recipe and menu planning, preparing and cooking of foods, supervising and training kitchen assistants, the management of food supplies and kitchen resources, aesthetics of food presentation, and familiarity or mastery of a wide variety of cuisines and culinary techniques
Average Program Tuition & Fees: $18,726
Average Program Length: 790 Contact Hours
Average Completion Time: 12.05 Months
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A program that prepares individuals to plan, supervise, and manage food and beverage preparation and service operations, restaurant facilities, and catering services. Includes instruction in food/beverage industry operations, cost control, purchasing and storage, business administration, logistics, personnel management, culinary arts, restaurant and menu planning, executive chef functions, event planning and management, health and safety, insurance, and applicable law and regulations
Average Program Tuition & Fees: $8,587
Average Program Length: 316 Contact Hours
Average Completion Time: 7.50 Months
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A program that focuses on the blending of food science and the culinary arts and that prepares individuals to work as research chefs and related research and development positions in the food industry. Includes instruction in culinary arts, food chemistry, food safety and quality, food processing, nutrition, and business management
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Schools for Chefs and Head Cooks Occupation

The following schools offer the vocational programs and courses for preparing Chefs and Head Cooks. The list includes some 4-year colleges that have certificate or associate programs for the career.
New Haven, CT
Gateway Community College
Public, 2-4 years, Offering 99 programs to 5,578 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $14,140
Waterbury, CT
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Public, 2-4 years, Offering 80 programs to 4,554 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $14,140
Manchester, CT
Manchester Community College
Public, 2-4 years, Offering 77 programs to 4,164 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $14,100
Norwalk, CT
Norwalk Community College
Public, 2-4 years, Offering 59 programs to 4,069 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $14,172
Miami, FL
AI Miami International University of Art and Design
Private, 4 years, Offering 24 programs to 909 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794
Atlanta, GA
The Art Institute of Atlanta
Private, 4 years, Offering 26 programs to 457 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794
Houston, TX
The Art Institute of Houston
Private, 4 years, Offering 22 programs to 317 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794
Dallas, TX
Miami International University of Art & Design-Art Institute Dallas
Private, 4 years, Offering 23 programs to 265 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794
San Antonio, TX
The Art Institute of San Antonio
Private, 4 years, Offering 21 programs to 180 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794
Virginia Beach, VA
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach
Private, 4 years, Offering 13 programs to 88 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794
Bastrop, TX
The Art Institute of Austin
Private, 4 years, Offering 23 programs to 78 enrolled students and its average tuition & fees is $20,794