What can i do with a culinary arts degree?

I would like be a pastry chef. im guessing that i need to have a culinary arts degree. Can or would i make money in the field? Its not really about the money. i just want to have a rewarding career.

Public Comments

1. My sister has a culinary arts degree and was working at a restaurant in Manhattan. She was able to be the head pastry chef and designed the menu herself. She made good money. It all depends on where you live...if you plan to work in a big city with a demand for quality desserts and whatnot.
2. I would do some research on this. Also check with local community colleges if they offer degrees in this field (also see if you can hook up with a career counselor that might direct you in that field).
3. Hello, Well, the jobs are many and varied. You can work for restaurants or become a chef for an individual or family [usually the wealthy} or you could set up your own catering, food preparation service etc. But.....and it is a big but....much of this depends on where you get your degree. Yes. In the culinary world there is a 'pecking order; among institutions. Graduate from the best and you can have 'cream of the crop jobs'. Graduate from an undistinguished program and you will be working at the bottom of the ladder for most of your years. One of the best is the Culinary Institute in New York State - up on the Hudson in Hyde Park ...and of course there is the famous school in Paris. If you really love to cook., love foods, want to learn from the best...do not mind getting up at 4 or 5 AM to put the bread in the oven so it will be fresh for the day - then go for it. Take some times to search for Best Culinary Schools...oh, and when you graduate and are working for some celebrity, do remember this post and send me some pastry. (grin) You can explore the CIA site at www.ciachef.edu - you'll learn a lot from it.
4. Yea if you're a good pastry chef you can be making almost $250,000 a year. Or at least that's what my friend whose a pastry chef makes. Its really hard work and it takes natural talent.