One of the smaller and less-populated states in New England, Vermont has just over 626,000 residents. Many people live in Vermont’s biggest cities, which include Burlington, South Burlington, and Rutland. This is also where some of the best restaurants in Vermont, including Farmhouse Tap and Grill, American Flatbread, and Trattoria Delia, are located. Although Vermont is not a coastal state, chefs have access to fresh seafood through Maine and New Hampshire.
The cost of living in Vermont is approximately 17% higher than the national average. In turn, the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the median household income is higher than the national average.
Vermont is home to one culinary school, the New England Culinary Institute. Tuition for this school varies depending on what program you attend and how much financial aid you get. However, the average scholarship award is $6,034.
At the New England Culinary Institute, you can choose between several programs. In culinary arts, they offer a Bachelor’s degree, an Associate’s degree, and a certificate. They also have an Associate’s degree in pastry arts as well as a certificate in pastry arts. The certificate programs last about one year, and the Associate’s degree programs last two years. You can expect to complete your Bachelor’s degree in four years if you attend school full-time.
In the beginning part of your program, you’ll learn the kitchen basics that are the core of any restaurant kitchen. Techniques at this level include knife skills, meat filleting, and fish cleaning. These skills will be practiced and perfected over the course of your program. Your instructors will also teach you how to create dishes, run a kitchen, and time food so everything comes out at the same time.
One of the benefits of attending New England Culinary Institute is the wide variety of practical experience you get. Associate’s degree students complete two six-month residencies and two internships of 700 hours each.
As a new graduate, you have many employment options to explore. As you look for jobs, you may notice that most of them are in restaurants. This is because the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 46% of chefs are currently working in restaurants. However, hotels, catering companies, and private chef contractors also hire chefs on a regular basis.
In Vermont, some of the largest culinary employers are City Market, Ascutney Mountain Resort, and Sodexo. If you would rather be self-employed, you can look into working as a private chef, starting a catering company, or owning a restaurant.
Vermont, like most other states in the country, does not have any licensure or certification requirements for cooks and chefs. However, many employers require you to complete a short food safety and hygiene course.
The American Culinary Federation offers optional certification in a variety of areas. This can help you demonstrate your abilities to prospective employers.
Culinary salaries are impacted by myriad influences, the greatest of which are experience and seniority. While you may start out as a line chef, you can increase your earning potential by moving through the ranks of sous chef and executive chef.
In Vermont, the average cook’s salary is $26,800 per year (O*Net, 2012). Chefs earn an average salary of $37,600 per year (O*Net, 2012).
Overall, the hospitality field is growing and changing. This is expected to continue as new restaurants open. O*Net predicts little to no change in employment opportunities for chefs between 2010 and 2020. However, cooks can expect a 9% increase in job openings in the same time frame (O*Net, 2010).