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CHEF

Overview: What is a chef?
A chef can be any type of cook; a cook in charge of a kitchen or restaurant, or a head cook. You may work independently or be hired by any of the restaurants in the country that require chef assistance. This could also include schools, hospitals, executive dining rooms and other establishments. Chefs have to work very long hours and a lot of weekend and late night hours, and are on their feet the whole time, lifting heavy pots, serving customers, etc.
Schooling: If you would like to be a Chef, you may attend any of the 550 cooking schools in the country, such as the most famous, Culinary Institute of America (CIA). This is  not necessary if  you have attended cooking school, but many people start out as unpaid Interns. If you join an Association, such as the National Restaurant Association, Education Foundation of the National Restaurant Association, or the Chefs de Cuisine Association of America, you can access to training, publications, etc.
Salary: The average starting salary is about $26,000. After about 5 years it's about $31,000. And after 10-15 years, it's about $60,000.
Job Opportunities: There is a larger demand for chefs in heavily populated areas, such as large cities, because there are more restaurants, but wherever there is a restaurant, there is a need for a chef. 

If you are interested in this career, you may want to: