North Dakota's Economic Profile Draws Culinary Students

North Dakota has the 20th lowest cost of living in the country, at about 10 percent less than the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in North Dakota was $37,160, as of May, 2007. At the same time, the top 10 percent of those employed as North Dakota chefs earned $64,550.

Trained Chefs Look to North Dakota's Large Cities

Cooking school graduates in ND may find the best career opportunities in larger cities such as Fargo and Bismarck. Salary.com reports that executive chefs working in North Dakota may earn anywhere from $42,092 to $94,107 annually. Kitchen supervisors earn between $24,304 and $45,249, and catering directors earn between $26,647 and $80,712 per year.

No culinary arts program can guarantee a particular career or salary, and most trained chefs and caterers should expect to work up through the ranks of a restaurant before reaching a managerial position. However, in the highly competitive culinary world, formal cooking school training is often regarded well by hiring managers.

North Dakota Casinos Provide Work Opportunities

North Dakota's casinos offer dining opportunities to patrons, and career options in cooking, catering, and hotel and restaurant management. Prairie Nights Casino offers fine dining and a 96-room lodge near Mandan, ND. Near Fargo, Dakota Magic Casino boasts a hotel, buffet, and steakhouse in addition to its 700 slot machines. For culinary and hotel workers willing to make the commute, casinos in North Dakota may offer an attractive career.

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