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.


Featured Schools

The Art Institutes

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Develop your portfolio at The Art Institutes, and get a competitive advantage.

Campus Locations:
  • Virginia Beach
  • Atlanta
  • Charlotte
  • Durham
Programs:
  • Culinary Arts (D)
  • Culinary Arts (AA)
Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America

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Bring Your Fire to the Plate. Le Cordon Bleu. Learn the Way.

Campus Locations:
  • Las Vegas
  • Orlando
  • Saint Paul
  • Hollywood
  • Scottsdale
  • Chicago
  • Portland
Programs:
  • Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland - 12 Month Certificate in Culinary Arts
  • Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas - Certificate in Culinary Arts
Johnson & Wales University

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Earn your degree in Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts or Culinary Nutrition.

Campus Locations:
  • Charlotte
  • Miami
  • Denver
Programs:
  • Culinary Arts
  • Culinary Nutrition
Culinary Institute of Virginia

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Turn your passion for food into a career at the Culinary Institute of Virginia.

Campus Locations:
  • Norfolk
Programs:
  • Culinary Arts
  • Food Service Management
Stratford Career Institute

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Earn Your Diploma from Home!

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Cooking and Catering
  • Hotel and Restaurant Management
Penn Foster Schools

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Advance your career with our affordable, self-paced, career-focused distance education programs.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Caterer
  • Hotel/Restaurant Management
Ashworth College

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Earn your degree or diploma on your schedule and succeed at Ashworth College.

Campus Locations:
  • Online
Programs:
  • Hotel/Restaurant Management