How much would I make being a digital artist?

How much does a culinary artist make?

• Hey, I'm a junior in highschool looking for a major. I have a spanish and italian backround so you could just imagine how much effort is put into making meals in my family! Lately I've been looking into the culinary arts or culinary technology in good technical schools near me but my dad has been trying to pursuade me into taking up ulatrasound technology and radiography. This is how conversations about this go in my house. Me: "So Dad, I've been doing some research about this..." Dad: "Nope doens't pay enough. I told you that ultrasound is a good option." Me: "But Dad, I've also been thinking about something like this.." Dad: "Well whatever you want to do, but I'm telling you that you should seriously think about radiography." I know I should probably listen to him and I really want to make him happy but I also want to make ME happy and ultrasound and radiography don't exactly appeal to me. It looks like you do more working with teams when you're a cook and such and I do very much enjoy working with people and on teams especially. Does a career in the culinary arts pay well? Thanks ahead of time for any answers. XD

• Answer:

  Well I have worked in this field for over 45 years so I guess you could call me "experienced." A good pastry chef can make anywhere between $25,000 a year up to $80,000 a year depending on where he works. However the high paid jobs are far and few between. The reward is making something beautiful out of practically nothing. Just take some ingredients and combine like a chemist and create something wonderful. The down side, yes this is reality check time, is that good pastry chefs work about 60 to 80 hours a week. Mostly on the weekends. You give up all holidays because you are the one creating the food for everyone else to enjoy on the holidays. Most average pastry chefs make about $30,00 to $35,000 a year and work like a dog. As for a regular Chef working in a kitchen, the pay is slightly higher by about $10,000 more per year. However the hours are longer and except for a few lucky individuals, most are just glorified kitchen slaves to the head chef. Most of which are self centered, arrogant and think they walk on water and you should adore them and bask in their aura as they enter the room. This might pis* off a few chefs but I swear to you it is true. There are of course a few wonderful exceptions but to few to mention. A few really great professional head chefs can make 6 figure incomes but then again how many A List movie stars are there really? I hope this helps.