Virginia Culinary Arts Education

The state of Virginia is the border between North and South, famous for combining southern comfort food with old North charm and some of the best seafood on the Atlantic. From the coastal cities of Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond and Virginia Beach to the Appalachian towns like Roanoke, Virginia serves up some of the most traditional food on the East Coast, each area as individual as the environment from which its served.

From Country ham and grits to Atlantic salmon and oysters to soul food, the cuisine of Virginia is as diverse as its people and communities. For those who are either living in Virginia or planning on moving to this great state, a degree or diploma from a Virginia culinary school is an excellent way to get a foot in the door of your dream career. Whether you are interested in a career as a chef, caterer, restaurant manager or any number of different fields within the culinary industry, check out our list of great campus or online culinary programs across in Virginia and choose the one that best fits with your specific culinary career goals.

Possibly find degree programs, schools and jobs in major cities in Virginia: Alexandria, Arlington, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Roanoke, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Washington DC.

Virginia Culinary Employment Outlook

According to CookingSchools.com, an online culinary industry monitor, the Virginia culinary sector projects that chefs and head cooks will see nearly a 20 percent increase in job openings through the year 2012. This is excellent news for anyone interested in starting their culinary degree or diploma in the next year, as most programs from Virginia’s best culinary schools take between 8 and 24 months to complete. Upon graduating, students have achieved the skills, knowledge and experience to excel in the industry’s best jobs.

Virginia Culinary Wages & Working Conditions

Virginia chef salaries, as well as those for caterers, restaurant managers, hospitality managers, food & beverage directors and other kitchen workers are good when compared to both the region’s average culinary salaries, as well as the state’s average annual household income. Moreover, Virginia’s proximity to many of Washington DC’s best hotels and fine dining establishments allows the state’s chefs, restaurant managers, caterers and other culinary professionals to take advantage of the great opportunities available in our nation’s capital.

A list of average salaries for Virginia Culinary Arts is available below:

Position

Annual Salary (2010)

Executive Chef

$72,000

Pastry Chef / Baker

$47,000

Caterer

$59,000

Restaurant Manager

$63,000

Food & Beverage Director

$61,000

 

Nutritionist Programs:

The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes system of schools offers a range of master's, bachelor's, and associate's degree programs, as well as diploma and certificate programs specializing in the creative and applied arts. We also offer a variety of online, evening, and weekend learning options, so there's an education solution to fit your schedule. And our professional-grade technology can give you the practical skills to match your ideas—helping you transform your creative energy into a fulfilling career.

Culinary Institute of Virginia

Love to cook? Turn your passion into a career at the Culinary Instituteof Virginia. Earn your Associate of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Science in less than 2 years.

Stratford Career Institute

Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods.

Kaplan University

Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.

Ashworth College

Get the hands-on training and skills it takes to succeed with Ashworth College, a respected, worldwide leader in distance education. Study at the times and places most convenient for you.

Programs offered:

Argosy University

Argosy University offers doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degree programs to students through its five colleges: Psychology andBehavioral Sciences, Education, Business, Health Sciences, and Undergraduate Studies, as well as certificate programs in many areas.

Penn Foster Schools

Penn Foster offers affordable, self-paced career-focused distance education programs in fields like business, criminal justice, health services, technology, engineering, paralegal studies and more.