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Picture yourself in a culinary career.
What do you see?
Are you photographing exquisitely prepared food for a best-selling cookbook? Or elegantly describing the flavors of a delicious restaurant meal in your own blog or magazine column? You could even be planning weddings or providing nutritional guidance to private clients. You know what all of these careers have in common? They take place outside of the kitchen.
If you love cooking and have always dreamed of becoming the head chef at a restaurant, then by all means, follow the path to a career in the kitchen. But if you enjoy the idea of working with food (or just adjacent to it) but aren’t necessarily sold on working in a kitchen, there are many exciting opportunities for you to explore.
In this guide, we’re going to dive into diverse culinary careers—outside of the kitchen— to help you discover unique pathways within the food industry.
Beyond the Kitchen: Trends and Reasons to Explore New Culinary Careers
Non-kitchen culinary careers offer the chance to blend your love of food with other interests and skills. For instance, if you have a knack for writing or photography or you love to travel, you can integrate these passions with your culinary expertise in roles like food blogger, photographer, or culinary travel guide.
Additionally, a non-kitchen culinary career may provide you with a more flexible schedule. On average, chefs can work 50-70 hours/week. While some people thrive on those fast-paced, long hours of a professional kitchen, it’s not the life for everyone, and that’s okay. Maybe you have a family and want to attend school plays or basketball games. Or perhaps you want a career that allows you to travel rather than being confined to a single location. A non-kitchen culinary career may be able to offer you a better work-life balance.
Trends in Non-Kitchen Culinary Careers
- Health and Wellness Focus: Growing demand for nutritious food drives roles like nutritionists and health-focused recipe developers.
- Plant-Based and Sustainable Foods: Interest in plant-based diets and sustainability boosts careers in food science, recipe development, and food writing.
- Digital Transformation: The digital age creates opportunities for food bloggers, social media influencers, and digital content creators with skills in photography, videography, and marketing.
- Culinary Tourism: Rising culinary tourism increases demand for travel guides, tour operators, and event planners offering unique food experiences.
A growing interest in plant-based meals is creating new career opportunities across the culinary industry.
15 Exciting Opportunities in Culinary Careers Outside the Kitchen
The culinary world is full of opportunities that can allow you to combine your love for food with other interests and skills. Below, we’ll explore a variety of exciting culinary careers outside the kitchen. Each role offers unique challenges and rewards, showcasing the diverse possibilities available to those with a passion for food.
Media/Entertainment Careers
1. Food Stylist
Food Stylists prepare food with the goal of creating visually stunning food presentations for photography and videography. The prepared dishes are then used in cookbooks, advertisements, and media.
As a food stylist, not only do you need to know how to prepare a dish, but also how to make it look as visually enticing as possible. You may be responsible for everything from sourcing the right ingredients to keeping the dish looking appealing for extended periods. This requires you to take safety precautions in mind along with knowing tips and tricks of the trade to help, like placing cotton balls dipped in hot water in a dish to make it look like it’s steaming long after it has cooled.
Food styling is a unique career that blends a passion for cooking with artistic visual creativity. If you love working with food, but enjoy the challenge of getting it to look “just right” instead of replicating delicious dishes repeatedly for diners, this may be an avenue for you.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $62,500
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Artistic talent and creativity
- Knowledge of food and presentation techniques
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Networking skills to build industry connections
Career Path: Entry-level positions may include assisting established food stylists or working in related fields such as food photography or culinary arts.
2. Food Writer/Blogger/Influencer
Food bloggers share culinary knowledge and passion through articles, reviews, and recipes on websites, magazines, or personal blogs. Strong writing skills and culinary expertise can help you create engaging content to grow your audience.
As a food influencer, you’ll want to stay on top of culinary trends to grab the attention of your audience. You may share recipes, cooking tips, or highlight dishes at local restaurants. Some food influencers combine a love for travel and a passion for food to share food from around the world with their following.
Constant content creation and digital marketing techniques will help you reach new people and build your following. You can write for your own website or social media account or find outside sources and publications to work with.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $62,275
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Strong writing and communication skills
- In-depth culinary knowledge
- Ability to engage and grow an audience
- SEO and digital marketing skills (for bloggers)
Career Path: Start with freelance writing, posting consistently on a social media platform, or creating your own blog to build a portfolio. Over time, this can lead to opportunities with larger publications or collaborations with brands.
Food bloggers can share their expertise and passion for food with people all over the world.
3. Food Photographer
If you enjoy photography and have a passion for food, food photography may be right for you. As a food photographer, you would capture beautiful and appetizing images of food for use in publications, advertising, and social media.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $62,338
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Photography skills
- Understanding of lighting and composition
- Attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate with others
Career Path: Start with a background in photography and build a portfolio. Gain experience through freelance projects or assisting established photographers. Progress to working with high-profile clients and publications.
*Information may not reflect every student’s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors, such as geographical region or previous experience.
4. Restaurant Critic
Restaurant critics review and critique dining establishments, sharing their culinary insights and experiences in print or online publications. As a restaurant critic, you would evaluate everything from food quality and service to ambiance and overall dining experience. Then you would provide your readers with honest and informed opinions.
You may be interested in this career if you have a passion for food, enjoy writing, and possess the critical thinking skills to evaluate dining experiences fairly and constructively.
Average Income via SalaryExpert: $88,410
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Strong writing and communication skills
- In-depth culinary knowledge
- Critical thinking and attention to detail
- Ability to provide fair and constructive feedback
Career Path: Gain experience by writing reviews for smaller publications or personal blogs. Progress to writing for major newspapers, magazines, or websites.
Health and Wellness Careers
5. Nutritionist/Dietitian
As a nutritionist or dietitian, you would be responsible for advising individuals or organizations on proper nutrition and creating dietary plans to promote health and wellness. You could work for a hospital, school, or private practice, focusing on improving dietary habits and overall health.
This may be a good job for you if you have a passion for nutrition, health, and wellness, and you enjoy working with others to help them achieve their nutritional goals.
Average Income via Bureau of Labor Statistics: $69,680
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Degree in nutrition or dietetics
- Strong understanding of nutritional science
- Interpersonal and counseling skills
- Ability to create personalized nutrition plans
Career Path: Obtain a degree in nutrition or dietetics, become certified, and begin gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions. Eventually, you could advance to senior roles or specialize in areas such as sports nutrition or pediatric nutrition.
Nutritionists advise clients on proper nutrition and create dietary plans to promote health and wellness.
6. Food Scientist/Technologist
Food scientists and technologists conduct research on food properties and develop new food products, focusing on safety, quality, and nutritional value. As a food scientist, you would play a crucial role in ensuring that food products meet health standards and consumer expectations.
You may want to look into this type of a career if you have a passion for science, enjoy research and development, and understand food safety and quality.
Average Income via Bureau of Labor Statistics: $76,400
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Degree in food science, chemistry, or a related field
- Analytical and research skills
- Knowledge of food safety and regulations
- Attention to detail
Career Path: Obtain a degree in food science or a related field. Gain experience through internships or entry-level positions in research and development. Advance to senior scientist or management roles.
Management and Operations Careers
7. Food and Beverage Manager
Food and Beverage Managers oversee the food and beverage operations in hotels, resorts, restaurants, and cruise lines. They help ensure high-quality service and profitability.
As a Food and Beverage Manager, you may be responsible for managing staff, planning menus, coordinating with suppliers, and maintaining financial control to ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently. This may be a good job for you if you enjoy managing people, are good at organizing, and strive to deliver outstanding customer service.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $57,040
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Leadership and management skills
- Financial acumen
- Strong organizational skills
- Excellent communication and customer service
Career Path: You may start off in a role such as assistant manager and progress to a senior management position. With experience and education, there is potential to become a director or oversee multiple locations.
Management roles in the culinary industry can allow you to combine interests in business, management, and food.
8. Food and Beverage Buyer
Food and Beverage Buyers source and purchase ingredients and supplies for restaurants, hotels, and food companies, managing vendor relationships and inventory. As a buyer, you would ensure that establishments have high-quality products while still meeting budgets.
You may enjoy a career like this if you understand market trends, have strong negotiation skills, and enjoy managing budgets and inventory.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $57,040
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Negotiation and procurement skills
- Knowledge of food products and market trends
- Strong organizational skills
- Ability to manage budgets and inventory
Career Path: Start with roles in purchasing or inventory management. Gain experience and move into buyer positions for larger establishments. Progress to senior buyer or procurement manager roles.
9. Restaurant Manager
Restaurant managers manage the daily operations of a restaurant. As a manager, you would be tasked with ensuring efficient service, customer satisfaction, and financial success. You would oversee staff, maintain inventory, and handle customer relations to ensure the restaurant runs smoothly.
You may enjoy managing a restaurant if you have strong leadership skills and a passion for creating positive dining experiences for guests.
Average Income via Bureau of Labor Statistics: $60,990
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Leadership and management skills
- Customer service expertise
- Financial and operational knowledge
- Strong organizational abilities
Career Path: Begin with entry-level positions in restaurant service or supervision. Progress to assistant manager and then to restaurant manager roles. Potential to advance to regional manager or executive positions.
Event and Travel Careers
10. Event Planner
Event planners and caterers organize and execute events with a focus on food and beverage services, from corporate events to weddings and private parties. You would be responsible for ensuring every detail is meticulously planned and executed to create memorable experiences for your clients.
This is an avenue worth exploring if you have a passion for organizing events, enjoy detailed planning, and want to create memorable experiences for others through food and beverage.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $63,335
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Strong organizational and planning skills
- Creativity and attention to detail
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Ability to manage budgets and negotiate with vendors
Career Path: Gain experience in event planning or catering through internships or entry-level positions or study Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management. Build a portfolio of successful events. Establish your own business or work for a larger event planning or catering company.
*Information may not reflect every student’s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors, such as geographical region or previous experience.
11. Culinary Travel Guide
As a culinary travel guide, you would lead food-focused tours that highlight local cuisine and culinary traditions. Tours provide a unique and immersive experience for tourists. You would be responsible for providing insights into regional foods and cooking methods to help create memorable culinary adventures.
If you love exploring new cuisines, have a deep knowledge of culinary traditions, and enjoy sharing your passion for food with others while leading engaging tours, this may be an exciting career opportunity.
Average Income via Salary.com: $51,755
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Knowledge of local cuisine and culinary history
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Organizational and planning abilities
- Multilingual skills (optional but beneficial)
Career Path: Start with roles in tourism or hospitality. Gain experience and build knowledge of local culinary scenes. Develop and lead your own culinary tours or work for a travel company.
Craft and Production Careers
12. Brewer/Winemaker
Brewers and winemakers create craft beers, wines, and other beverages. You would be responsible for overseeing the entire production process from ingredient selection to fermentation and bottling. Your goal would be to ensure the quality and consistency of the final product through careful attention to detail and expertise in the craft.
This may be a good job for you if you are passionate about crafting unique beverages and enjoy the blend of scientific precision and creative artistry
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $41,534 Brewer / $65,188 Winemaker
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Knowledge of brewing or winemaking processes
- Attention to detail and quality control
- Scientific and technical skills
- Creativity and innovation
Career Path: Start with roles such as assistant brewer or cellar worker. Gain experience and develop skills to become a head brewer or winemaker. Potential to start your own brewery or winery.
Brewers and winemakers bring their expertise to the production of craft beverages, overseeing each step from ingredient selection to bottling.
13. Artisan Food Producer
As an artisan food producer, you would specialize in a food product such as cheeses, chocolates, or baked goods. Your job would be focusing on quality, tradition, and creating or maintaining unique flavors. You would likely be using traditional methods to create specific, high-quality products.
This may be a good job for you if you have a passion for creating unique, high-quality food products and enjoy the challenge of building a brand and business around your culinary creations.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $30,785
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Culinary skills and creativity
- Knowledge of traditional production methods
- Business and marketing skills
- Attention to detail
Career Path: Start with culinary training or apprenticeship. Develop a unique product and build a brand. Grow your business through local markets, online sales, and retail partnerships.
Artisan food producers can combine a passion for food with a unique twist to get outside of a traditional kitchen.
Culinary Innovation and Consulting Careers
14. Recipe Developer
Recipe developers innovate and test new recipes for cookbooks, food companies, and culinary websites, focusing on taste, presentation, and market trends. You would use your culinary creativity and expertise to create dishes that appeal to a wide audience.
This may be a good job for you if you have a passion for creating new dishes, understand flavor profiles, food trends, and enjoy experimenting to develop appealing recipes.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $79,780
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Culinary creativity and expertise
- Knowledge of food trends and consumer preferences
- Attention to detail
- Ability to test and refine recipes
Career Path: Start with culinary training and experience in kitchen roles. Develop recipes for personal projects or freelance work. Work for food companies, publishers, or as a freelance recipe developer.
You can put your creativity and passion for food to work as a recipe developer, creating new and exciting dishes.
15. Culinary Consultant
Culinary consultants use their expertise to help other businesses grow. As a culinary consultant, you would provide expert advice to restaurants, food brands, and culinary businesses on menu development, kitchen efficiency, and overall operations. You would leverage your extensive culinary experience to help improve business practices and achieve operational excellence.
Average Income via ZipRecruiter: $96,785
Key Skills and Qualifications:
- Extensive culinary experience
- Business and management skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Strong communication skills
Career Path: Gain experience in various culinary roles. Develop expertise in specific areas such as menu design or kitchen operations. Establish yourself as a consultant and build a client base.
Don’t Let These Challenges Hold Back Your Culinary Career
As with all careers, you may face challenges as you work toward your dream culinary career. Here are some of the common challenges you may experience and possible solutions to help you overcome them.
Breaking into the Industry
Getting started in the industry can feel overwhelming, especially in niche careers like food styling or becoming a culinary travel guide. When you don’t have established connections or testimonials, it can be difficult to land your first project.
You can gain valuable experience and start making connections through internships and volunteer work. If you want to be a culinary travel guide, consider volunteering to lead a local food tour to help build your experience. In addition, you can attend local or online networking events to begin connecting with other industry professionals.
Gaining Credibility and Trust
Credibility and trustworthiness can be essential to the success of culinary professionals like food critics, culinary consultants, and food bloggers. Why would anyone trust a restaurant critic who hasn’t worked in a restaurant or a food blogger without professional training?
You can begin to build credibility by taking on freelance projects to begin building your portfolio. For example, if you want to be a food photographer, you can start shooting for smaller, local restaurants before trying to work with a larger client.
Working on smaller projects can help you build your portfolio, gather testimonials, and gain credibility.
Collecting testimonials from clients and colleagues can also help add to your credibility. In the online-era, social proof is crucial. You want potential clients to see the positive experience that others have had with you in the past. As a food critic, you could highlight positive feedback you’ve received from readers or highlight any recognitions that you receive from publications.
You can also build credibility by pursuing relevant certifications and attending trainings. It’s important to keep up with the latest industry trends and build an expertise. As a nutritionist, you can gain credibility by obtaining advanced certifications in specialized areas like sports nutrition.
Staying Updated with Trends
The culinary industry is constantly changing and evolving with new trends and techniques. It’s important to stay up-to-date when working as a recipe developer, food blogger, or artisan producer if you want to remain relevant.
You can keep up with industry trends by reading industry publications and influential culinary blogs. You can also attend workshops, webinars, and culinary courses. As a recipe developer, you may choose to take a course on molecular gastronomy to learn cutting-edge techniques for your recipes.
Listening to others in your industry and potential clients is also a great way to keep up with what the industry wants. Stay active on social media, looking for indications of what people are looking for and then look for ways to provide it for them.
Following current trends in the industry can help you identify new opportunities in the ever-evolving culinary industry.
Financial Stability
Finances can be a challenge when you’re moving into a new career, especially in freelance or entrepreneurial roles like artisan food producer. Income can be inconsistent as you work to build a steady business.
Before setting out on a new career path, take time to create a budget that can support your financial needs throughout your journey. For example, as a culinary travel guide, you may need to plan carefully to cover your expenses during the off-season. You’ll also want to prioritize creating a savings cushion that you can tap into if needed while you move into your new career.*
Diversifying your income streams can also help you bridge the gap in your finances. If you’re a food photographer, you can sell stock photos online to create another source of income outside of your photography services.
As with all financial matters, each person’s situation is unique. Make sure to do your due diligence and even consider contacting a financial advisor.*
Work-Life Balance
Finding a healthy work-life balance is important regardless of what culinary career you want to pursue. You may have a job demanding long hours such as in restaurant management or as an entrepreneur building a brewery, you may find that every business task falls on your shoulders requiring you to burn the candle at both ends. Discovering how to create balance in your life is essential.
Practice setting boundaries around your work and personal time. As a restaurant manager, avoid checking your work email once you’re home and with family. Take regular breaks and time off to recharge mentally and physically.
Learn to prioritize tasks effectively and delegate what you don’t need to do yourself. For example, as a food and beverage manager, you can use project management tools to stay organized and track the tasks that you have delegated.
How to Get Started in a Culinary Career
Are you beginning to dream of what the perfect culinary-related career looks like for you? If so, there are many ways you can get started on the path to your dream career.
Culinary Education and Training
Culinary education can give you a headstart on the path to your dream career in the culinary industry. Attending a reputable culinary school to get a diploma or degree in a program like Food Entrepreneurship can provide you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel. You can gain hands-on experience, make valuable industry connections, and continue exploring the wide array of culinary careers.
Network in the Culinary and Related Industries
Networking can open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and insights. Attend industry events and food festivals, join professional organizations, and engage with culinary communities online. Building a strong network can connect you with mentors, potential employers, and peers who can support your career growth. Don’t be afraid to step outside of the culinary space as you connect with others. You never know what doors may open for you.
Find a Culinary Mentor
Find experienced professionals who can offer guidance, share their expertise, and help you navigate your career path. Having a mentor can provide valuable advice and insights that can accelerate your career progression. It can also help to have a peer mentor as you work toward your culinary career goals.
Build Your Experience
Internships, volunteer work, and entry-level positions provide hands-on learning opportunities and expose you to different aspects of the industry. These experiences help you build your resume, develop practical skills, and better understand the various roles within the culinary field. For example, volunteering at a local event can provide real-world experience that sets the foundation for your culinary career.
Unlocking Your Culinary Potential
The culinary world can offer you an array of exciting careers beyond the kitchen, from food styling and writing to nutrition and consulting. By staying informed about industry trends, addressing common challenges, and investing in a solid culinary education, you can unlock your potential and pursue a fulfilling career path.
Explore online and on-campus programs at Escoffier and discover the knowledge and experience you may need to thrive in these dynamic roles. Contact us to learn more about the options that interest you. Your culinary adventure awaits!
