Are you a foodie with ambitions of working in the food industry? If you know your dough ball from your doughnut then this list of roles is perfect for you!
We’ve found 15 of the best jobs for foodies from working in a restaurant to writing about restaurants. You might even be surprised by some of the foodie jobs on this list!
Chef
Average salary: £28,345
It goes without saying that chefs are mega foodies. They’re responsible for preparing, making, and serving food in restaurants, cafes, and even in the privacy of people’s homes.
To become a chef, some people opt to do a two or four-year culinary or hospitality degree or college qualifications while others go down the apprenticeship route which allows them to earn as they learn.
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Head chef
Average salary: £32,674
Even though we’ve covered cheffing above, it’s worth highlighting becoming a head chef. Once you’re at the top of your game you could become a head chef, leading a team of chefs and kitchen staff.
You’ll need to be organised, able to motivate and support your team, and able to keep your cool in a high-pressure environment.
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Journalist
Average salary: £38,126
This is an ideal career for foodies who love to write. You could be writing food reviews, developing recipes, or even reviewing some of the country’s top restaurants.
This is a highly competitive field but if successful you could have your column, write a book, or even get to talk about food on TV.
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Caterer
Average salary: £29,187
Although the route to catering is similar to cheffing, your day-to-day work will look quite different. Rather than working in one place and serving one menu, you’ll normally work in different venues catering events like parties and weddings.
You’ll also be creating bespoke menus for the different events you cater, meaning there will be a lot of variety.
In terms of food trends, a lot of caterers are creating grazing boards and displays. Something for Instagram!
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Publican
Average salary: £25,534
Love Al Murray’s Pub Landlord? You’ll be expected to be a lot more polite to your customers!
As a publican, you’ll be responsible for the overall running of the pub. From liaising with the brewery to arrange drinks orders, to supporting the chef with menu development.
As a lot of publicans have historically lived in pubs, a lot of these roles come with the live-in bonus of somewhere to live!
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Food technology
Average salary: £36,936
Food technologists work on the development of recipes and the manufacturing processes of food and drinks. You’re responsible for making sure something is safe, made efficiently, and tastes great.
Depending on where you work you could be modifying products to make them vegan or fat-free, auditing suppliers, or conducting experiments to create food.
Most food technologists have a food-related degree, but you can also enter this profession with a degree in a related subject such as science.
Photographer
Average salary: £31,489
Don’t you just love it when the food on Instagram or in a magazine looks good enough to eat? Food photography is a skill in itself.
Sadly, not all the food you photograph will be edible. A lot of food photographers use paints, varnishes, and even shaving foam to create decadent and delicious images. Hopefully, though, there will still be food on set that you can enjoy!
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Sommelier
Average salary: £32,788
Know your Chenin Blanc from your Champagne? Sommeliers are wine experts and will often be based in restaurants where they can recommend food and wine pairings.
You’ll normally complete a sommelier certification, especially if you’d like to become one of the 25 active master sommeliers in the UK. However, you can work your way up from waiting tables, by applying some self-study and showing wine expertise.
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Front of house manager
Average salary: £30,366
The front of house manager is the face of the restaurant. They greet all the guests, get them to their table, and manage the waiters and bar staff.
You won’t be working with the food directly, but you’ll be expected to know everything that’s on the menu and answer questions about allergies and dietary requirements.
Normally, having a strong background in customer service and hospitality is enough to help you land this role.
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Baker
Average salary: £35,546
Know your brioche from your sourdough? Then working as a baker is for you! You could be working for a bakery supplying supermarkets or working in an artisanal shop.
Whichever path you decide, you will need to be an early bird. Most baking takes place overnight so that the bread is freshly made by the time most people start to wake up.
You won’t need any qualifications with most bakers learning on the job either as an apprentice or trainee.
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Barista
Average salary: £23,325
Need coffee to function? Then what’s better than working as a barista? You could find yourself working in a coffee chain or going somewhere more independent.
You’ll need to know your way around a coffee machine and your drip coffee from your cold brew but otherwise, this role doesn’t require any specific qualifications or experience.
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Food manufacturing
Average salary: £37,662
Most of the food we eat is processed in some way in a factory setting. Whether that’s olive oil that needs to be pressed and bottled or a ready meal that needs to be made from start to finish.
There are loads of roles within food manufacturing. You could work in quality control, ensuring that the food that leaves the production line is up to standard, or in engineering producing and maintaining machinery, or simply working on the production line.
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Graphic designer
Average salary: £34,929
Whether it’s designing a box of cereal, creating a brand’s new logo, or working on a food website, there are plenty of opportunities for foodie designers.
You’ll usually have a degree in graphic design or product design and be expected to work your way up from a junior graphic design role. The opportunities in food-related companies though are varied and plentiful!
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Nutritionist
Average salary: £35,840
Nutritionists help people to eat a healthy and balanced diet and might design meal plans or recipes for their clients. You could work with health care professionals like nurses or dieticians or work with clients as a freelancer.
Most nutritionists will have a degree or a master’s and you’ll be expected to join the Association of Nutrition (AfN) to prove your credentials. If healthy eating and meal planning are up your street, then this could be an ideal role!
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Food packaging
As well as designing fun and creative packaging, food packaging roles also include the creation of new packaging technologies. This is a particularly exciting role if you’re interested in sustainability and reducing packaging.
There’s a variety of roles from working on the production line to engineering, to design and procurement so plenty of options for foodies who love the planet too!
Read more: 10 remote and beautiful jobs for those who want to get lost