Culinary Programs

Turn your love of food into a career

Culinary Program
Culinary Arts
Find culinary inspiration and helpful career information on topics such as cooking with chocolate, French and Greek cuisine, the life of a Chef, and what to expect in culinary school.
Baking and Pastry
Does your sweet tooth lead you straight to your oven? Read how to avoid the pitfalls of cheese cake, bake creative cookies, use fresh fruits in baking, and more.
Catering and Restaurant Management
If you've ever prepared a Thanksgiving dinner, you know that cooking for a group takes planning and skill. Learn more about the art of catering and restaurant management, including specialized catering such as chocolates or high tea and how to prepare for a restaurant career.
Culinary Schools in the United States
With culinary schools in all 50 states and additional culinary education available online, you don't need to relocate unless you want to. Each state has its own special mixture of culture, cuisine, and locally grown agriculture that inspires the chefs and students who work and live there. If you're passionate about Maine lobster dishes, California cuisine, or any dish or state in between, you'll find a culinary school that is where you are or where you'd like to be.
Search Your School

Home | Culinary | Culinary Schools in the United States | Southern Cooking Schools Draws North Carolina Students

Southern Cooking Schools Draws North Carolina Students


Culinary school graduates in North Carolina look to larger cities like Charlotte and Raleigh for the best career opportunities, though resort areas on the coast may provide additional career options. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that approximately 343,000 workers comprise NC's food preparation and serving-related industry, which includes chefs, restaurant managers, caterers, and other positions.

North Carolina Culinary Staff Earning Potential

North Carolina is poised to attract new residents, with a reasonable cost of living (about 2 percent higher than the national average,) but relatively high salaries in many industries. According to Salary.com, executive chefs in Charlotte earn between $46,361 and $103,650 annually. Catering directors earn between $35,319 and $56,511.

No cooking school or chef training program can guarantee a particular career or salary, and culinary school graduates should expect to work their way from entry-level positions as they gain experience. Most line cooks in Charlotte earn between $17,021 and $28,624 per year, while kitchen supervisors in casino settings earn about $26,769 to $49,838 annually. Depending on restaurant location and training, experience, and expertise, salaries can vary widely.

Cooking School Students Draw on a Rich Culinary History in North Carolina

The Tarheel State's culinary significance extends beyond the metropolitan areas. The state was the first home of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Pepsi-Cola, and Texas Pete hot sauce, and leads the country in production of turkey and sweet potatoes. North Carolina's integral part in American cuisine inspires many of the state's cooking school students, who often aspire to pay homage to their state's southern roots with their own interpretive flair.