In this industry and according to the United States Department of Labor, the middle of the road wage for chefs and head cooks was over $38,000 in 2008. The average wages of serving supervisors in food preparation varied from $22,500 to a little over 37,000. Some of the highest paid chefs made over $66,000 annually. There is quite a bit of variance in wages depending on restaurant location and employee experience and skill. 

Start Towards Your Culinary Arts Certification or Degree

There are many different options for receiving training in the field of Culinary Arts. Many colleges and schools offer training and certifications that take differing amounts of time to complete. For example, some schools offer a diploma or certification program that generally takes several weeks to complete. These programs are generally geared towards someone who wants to enter the industry at the entry level and will give you basic training in things like restaurant management, cooking, baking, pastry arts, more.

If you want something more in-depth, some colleges and universities, offer associate degree programs in the field of culinary arts.  This is generally a 2 year degree that gives students more advanced skills in topics like international cuisine, presentation, advanced cooking, and nutrition. It's also a sought after degree if you're trying to get a better position in the hospitality industry at a higher end restaurants or private club.

Finally, some colleges actually offer 4 year, bachelor’s degree programs in the field of culinary arts.  These degree programs tend to emphasize different parts of the industry like management or a specific type of cooking and are very specialized. A 4 year degree offers graduates a great stepping stone into better paying jobs in the industry.