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Culinary arts instructor vs program instructor

The differences between culinary arts instructors and program instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a culinary arts instructor and a program instructor. Additionally, a culinary arts instructor has an average salary of $45,296, which is higher than the $42,380 average annual salary of a program instructor.

The top three skills for a culinary arts instructor include culinary, customer service and kids. The most important skills for a program instructor are patients, K-12, and math.

Culinary arts instructor vs program instructor overview

Culinary Arts InstructorProgram Instructor
Yearly salary$45,296$42,380
Hourly rate$21.78$20.38
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs27,28392,369
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4646
Years of experience44

What does a culinary arts instructor do?

A Culinary Arts Instructor holds classes or seminars designed to help others hone their skills as chefs at all levels. They also develop innovative programs and initiatives.

What does a program instructor do?

A program instructor is responsible for facilitating indoor and outdoor programs with various goals and objectives catering to different participants. Program instructors must have excellent communication skills, especially on gaining the participants' attention and engaging them to join the activities prepared for the day. They also maintain a safe and creative learning environment for everyone, observing each participant's behavior and interests, developing group cooperation, and fostering personal development. A program instructor reiterates safety procedures and regulations during the program for everyone's strict compliance and immediately addresses conflicts soon as they arise.

Culinary arts instructor vs program instructor salary

Culinary arts instructors and program instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Culinary Arts InstructorProgram Instructor
Average salary$45,296$42,380
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $60,000Between $29,000 And $60,000
Highest paying CityOakland, CAUrban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying stateMassachusettsHawaii
Best paying companyMoraine Park Technical CollegeLos Alamos National Laboratory
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between culinary arts instructor and program instructor education

There are a few differences between a culinary arts instructor and a program instructor in terms of educational background:

Culinary Arts InstructorProgram Instructor
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsPsychology
Most common collegeBoston UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Culinary arts instructor vs program instructor demographics

Here are the differences between culinary arts instructors' and program instructors' demographics:

Culinary Arts InstructorProgram Instructor
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 60.7% Female, 39.3%Male, 39.7% Female, 60.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between culinary arts instructor and program instructor duties and responsibilities

Culinary arts instructor example responsibilities.

  • Manage student-run restaurant serving faculty, complying w/ local health codes & HACCP plan!
  • Provide instruction for individuals wanting to attain certification in ServSafe food handling.
  • Instruct students in basic sanitation and HACCP principals.
  • Create the syllabus, purchase food, and teach classroom and kitchen base lessons.
  • Clean and sanitize written areas, equipment, utensils, dishes, or silverware.
  • Coach students through different methods in cooking and in arrangement of healthy tasty dishes.
  • Show more

Program instructor example responsibilities.

  • Facilitate, manage and implement each classroom student's IEP
  • Lead DCMA personnel consolidation plan to increase synergies and communication amongst the teams.
  • Manage groups of kids on a daily basis in the field to ensure safety while participating in activities.
  • Assist in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation where applicable.
  • Perform general maintenance work including HVAC, electrical, refrigeration and plumbing.
  • Assist high school students with math, computers science and computer programming (Java).
  • Show more

Culinary arts instructor vs program instructor skills

Common culinary arts instructor skills
  • Culinary, 40%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Kids, 14%
  • ServSafe, 4%
  • Classroom Management, 4%
  • Food Service, 4%
Common program instructor skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • K-12, 15%
  • Math, 11%
  • Mathematics, 9%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 8%
  • CPR, 4%

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