Culinary Schools – Baking & Pastry Schools
Hospitality & Restaurant Management Schools in Pennsylvania
Interested in attending culinary arts school? How about going to college for hospitality management? If you're trying to find a top culinary, baking/pastry, or hospitality management school in Pennsylvania, check out the selected campuses below for more information.
Considered the "snack food capital of the world," Pennsylvania is home to a culinary tradition much deeper than you might imagine. From classic dishes such as pierogies, cheesesteak sandwiches, stromboli, hoagies, and soft pretzels, the culinary influence of Pennsylvania has spread across the United States.
In addition to the lively culinary scene, the tourism industry in the state is alive and well, meaning that hospitality management students will attend school in a lucrative environment. Cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are hot spots for culinary and hospitality industry opportunities.
Read, Read and Read Some More
One of the best suggestions I have for anyone thinking of going to culinary school or just getting into the restaurant industry is to read everything you can get your hands on. Learn from professional chefs who have worked in the industry and those who have taught in culinary schools.There are many great books available to get you started in your culinary education and I suggest you read as much as possible before making that big decision to make sure this is the right move for you. Below is just a sample of books you might be interested in checking out.
For a much more comprehensive list of books for aspiring culinary, baking and restaurant management students, I suggest checking out my post on books for future culinary students and chefs.
MY TOP PENNSYLVANIA CULINARY SCHOOL PICKS
The Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts
The Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts is a division of YTI Career Institute-Lancaster and offers an Associate in Specialized Business degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management as well as a diploma program in pastry arts. Their chefs will train you in well-equipped teaching kitchens and a theater-style demonstration kitchen. You will also learn professional development skills and restaurant management and you'll practice your skills in an instructional dining room at the culinary school.
Lancaster Campus - 3050 Hempland Road – Lancaster, PA
Pittsburgh Technical College
The Pittsburgh Technical College offers programs in culinary arts, baking & pastry as well as hotel & restaurant management and travel and tourism management. Their goal is not just to help you understand and prepare for an exciting career within the industry but to challenge you to imagine the landscape of its fertile fields far into the future.
Oakdale Campus - 1111 McKee Road, Oakdale, PA 15071
The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College
Founded in 1974 as The Restaurant School, Walnut Hill College is one of Philadelphia’s first colleges to focus on excellence in hospitality education. They prepare our students for the real world by combining classroom teaching with hands-on training in our award-winning restaurants, which are open to the public.
Philadelphia Campus - 4207 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
TOP PENNSYLVANIA COOKING CLASSES FOR HOME COOKS
The Kitchen Workshop
A hands-on cooking school offering in-depth classes on specific culinary subjects as well as classes in which entire meals will be prepared and eaten. Amateurs and seasoned cooks alike will learn technique and the fundamentals of cooking in order to cook with confidence. They offer a wide range of classes including healthy and low-fat cooking, baking, entertaining, and basic cooking techniques.
Paoli Location - 21 Plank Avenue, Suite 204 Paoli, PA, 19301
Culinary, Baking & Hospitality Career Outlook in Pennsylvania
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for jobs in the restaurant, food service and hospitality industries is good with projected growth rates. The table below demonstrates some important information you may want to consider when deciding if going to culinary school and then working in Pennsylvania is right for you.
| Occupation | Total Employment in Pennsylvania (2014) | Average Salary in Pennsylvania (2014) | Annual Hourly Wage |
| Bakers | 9,490 | $25,620 | $12.32 |
| Bartenders | 31,220 | $20,140 | 9.68 |
| Butchers & Meat Cutters | 6,670 | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| Chefs & Head Cooks | 4,740 | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | 8,680 | $18,420 | $8.86 |
| Cooks, Short Order | 7,440 | $21,190 | 10.19 |
| Food Service Managers | 5,700 | $58,190 | $27.98 |
| Hosts and Hostesses | 14,660 | $20,600 | $9.90 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014
Culinary & Hospitality Industry in Pennsylvania Statistics
- SalarybyState.org - the average culinary salary for job posting in Pennsylvania are 13% lower than the average nationwide in March of 2013.
- BLS* - In May of 2014, there were 4,740 Chefs & Head Cooks in the state of Pennsylvania
- BLS *- the average salary for these Chefs & Head Cooks was $43,620
- BLS* - Average Hourly Wage for Chefs & Head Cooks is $20.97
The Restaurant Industry in Pennsylvania
The restaurant industry in Pennsylvania is a huge part of their economy and generate jobs for thousands of Pennsylvania residents plus important tax revenues to the state. For every dollar spent in Pennsylvania restaurants, an additional $1.14 is generated in the state's economy.
According to restaurant.org:
- There were 25,163 eating and drinking places in Pennsylvania in 2014
- $18.8 billion in restaurant sales projected 2015
- Restaurants will account for 557,100 (9%) jobs in Pennsylvania in 2015
- By 2025 the projections are 579,600 jobs, a 4% job growth
Sources
- National Restaurant Association - http://www.restaurant.org
- Bureau of Labor Statistics - http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes351011.htm
- SalarybyState.org
- Restaurant.org
