Located on the East Coast, South Carolina has over 4.7 million residents. In addition, South Carolina has a huge tourist scene that brings thousands of people to the state every tourist season. South Carolina has several large cities, including Columbia, Charleston, and Mount Pleasant. Some of the best restaurants in South Carolina are Juniper, the Humble Crumb, and Paesano’s Italian Restaurant.
The cost of living in South Carolina is 5% below the national average, making it one of the most affordable states on the East Coast. Whether you choose to work in one of South Carolina’s big restaurants or start your own catering business, you’re sure to enjoy life in this coastal state.
If you want to study the culinary arts in South Carolina, there are eight schools that you can look into. Many of these schools are located along the coast, which is great for you if you want to spend time on the coast. Tuition costs range from $2,352 to $17,496, and the average cost of tuition is $6,832. The variety of scholarships in South Carolina has led to an average scholarship award of $1,691.
Most schools in South Carolina offer certificate programs or Associate’s degree programs. A certificate requires one year or less of full-time study, and it generally does not require any general education courses. An Associate’s degree requires two years of full-time study, and you usually have to take a variety of general education courses.
In the first few weeks of culinary school, you can plan on learning basic kitchen skills that every line chef must know. While you may spend only a few weeks on these skills, you must practice and perfect them throughout your entire program.
There are many important chef skills you need to gain by the end of your program. One of the most important skills is food safety, since you must be able to serve food that is completely safe to eat. However, you will also learn the basics of menu design, plate creation, and food costs.
Ready to start your culinary career? There are many different places you can work. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 46% of chefs work for restaurants, you can explore lots of options. Some chefs work as caterers or private chefs; these fields tend to require longer hours. 13% of chefs are self-employed, primarily as private chefs or restaurant owners (BLS, 2012).
In South Carolina, some of the primary culinary employers are Ovations Food Services, CHEF360 Catering, and Norwegian Cruise Line. While most restaurants and catering companies are in large cities, there are opportunities in smaller areas.
You may wonder what requirements you have to meet to start working as a chef. There are no licensing or certification requirements set forth by South Carolina or the nation. As a result, you can begin working as soon as you have your degree.
Some chefs find it difficult to find work without any experience. In this case, American Culinary Federation certification can help you.
Salaries for chefs vary widely depending on where you work and how much experience you have. Executive chefs tend to have the most responsibility and experience, so they are usually the highest paid people in the kitchen. Line chefs are usually the lowest paid, and sous chefs fall somewhere in the middle.
In South Carolina, the average salary for a cook is $18,900 per year (O*Net, 2012). Chefs earn an average salary of $31,000 per year (O*Net, 2012).
Generally speaking, the demand for chefs and cooks is growing faster in South Carolina than in the rest of the country. While the demand for chefs is not expected to change much this decade, job openings for cooks are expected to grow by 16% in the same time period (O*Net, 2010).