5. Culinary arts
A culinary arts degree may seem like the perfect path to becoming a top chef. But the reality is much less appetizing. While being a chef can eventually pay well, the road there is extremely tough. Most culinary grads start out in low-wage jobs like line cooks, making barely above minimum wage.
Getting to that coveted head chef position takes years of dues-paying – long hours, grueling work, high stress. And competition is fierce, as many aspire to be the next big name. You really have to stand out.
Culinary jobs are also vulnerable to economic ups and downs. Unless cooking is your true lifelong passion and you have exceptional talent and drive, a culinary degree alone likely won’t sauté you into a high-paying career anytime soon.
