How to Become a Chocolatier

Chocolatiers are culinary experts who are experienced working with chocolate and making it into candy or other delectable goods for chocolate lovers across the globe.

Chocolatiers are commonly confused with Chocolate makers who also work hands on with chocolate, but who are experienced in taking its raw material, including the cocoa bean, to roast, grind and melt chocolate into a palatable form.

This step is integral before it reaches Chocolatiers, who are responsible for preparing it into the many forms we see in the marketplace.

Individuals who want to become a Chocolatier will not only need creativity to create recipes for consumers, they must also have a full grasp of chocolate on a technical level because it can be very temperamental when it is being prepared for consumption.

Education Requirements to Become a Chocolatier

Creating a variety of chocolate candies may seem like much fun, but in reality, a lot of work and skills are needed in order to perfect a recipe.

Individual must have a culinary background in order to become a Chocolatier.

During their culinary education, individuals will learn the technical aspects of cooking and baking with chocolate in addition to testing and learning basic recipes to make such things as mousse and truffles.

Some technical skills individuals will learn in order to become a Chocolatier include:

• What temperature to heat chocolate
• Molding
• Tempering
• Confections
• Candy production
• Recipe design
• Tempering
• Dipping
• Decorating
• Molding

Individuals will also learn the science behind chocolate including the chemistry needed to understand flavors and textures as well as confectionary recipes that use ganache, fondant and sugar syrup.

Individuals who want to become a Chocolatier will need to focus their time with many years of culinary education and experience in order to master this delicate food.

In addition to learning the technical aspects of chocolate, Chocolatiers will also need to grasp the creative and aesthetic side of creating recipes.

During their culinary careers, individuals will also learn how to create designs and decorations geared to appease the eyes and mouths of their consumers.

Chocolatiers will also need to practice aesthetics in order to create designs for a variety of holidays including Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Birthdays and many other special occasions.

Chocolatier Job Description

Chocolatiers are culinary experts who are experienced in taking the edible chocolate already created by chocolate makers, and creating it into a palatable consumer good that can take many forms.

A Chocolatier will begin their task of creating chocolate flavored edibles by selecting the recipe and the perfect type of chocolate.

Some basic forms of chocolate candies and edibles include the following list.

• Truffles
• Mousse
• Fudge
• Chocolate Bark
• Bar Chocolate
• Chocolate dipped fruit

In addition, Chocolatiers will make fillings for a variety of chocolate candies including: pralines, caramel or truffle.

As far as creating chocolate recipes to please the eye, Chocolatiers will need to be able to take direction from a variety of client suggestions in order to also focus on the aesthetic piece of chocolate making.

Chocolatiers will do so by creating designs for holidays and special occasions such as Christmas, birthdays and Halloween.

Chocolatier Salary and Career Path

In 2010, the average annual salary for Chocolatiers was approximately $24,000.

Exact wages will depend on several factors including level of experience, whether an individual is an employee or owns a culinary business, location and many other factors.

The job outlook for this profession is expected to increase by 12 percent through the year 2010 which is considered an average growth.

Because Chocolatiers work in an industry that is easily influenced by the state of the economy, exact growth of jobs will heavily depend on this factor.

Chocolatiers are professionals who use their culinary talent and skills as well as their technical knowledge of this food to create a variety of desserts and candies.

Although this career seems as if it is all fun and games, a lot of hard work and knowledge is needed in order to succeed in this career track.

Without a Chocolatiers creative mind and their skillful use of hands, many chocolate lovers would not know the wonderful world of truffles, mousse and many other forms that chocolate comes in.

The below information is based on the 2024 BLS national averages.

• Annually
• Monthly
• Hourly

* Salary information based on the May 2024 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Chefs and Head Cooks, OCC Code 35-1011, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chocolatier?

A chocolatier is someone who crafts chocolate products.

Chocolatiers check the production process by controlling temperature and equipment to make sure that the right amount of chocolate is properly prepared and sent to customers.

With the right training, you can create chocolate products that are both delicious and aesthetically pleasing.

For this reason, those who work in the chocolate-making field must have both artistic and technological skills.

If you want to run your own chocolate company you also need business skills.

Chocolatiers need communication and technical skills but also originality, creativity, and a steady hand.

Attention to detail and patience are other important skills in this profession.

If you want to become a chocolatier you should be ready to work on your feet most of the day, managing many orders and quantities of chocolate products.

How much does a chocolatier make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food batch makers earned a median annual salary of $29,720 in May of 2018.

The median hourly wage in this field is $14.29.

Although it is not too well remunerated, most chocolatiers join the profession out of passion.

Your salary will depend on your skills and experience but also on the place where you work.

How much does it cost to become a chocolatier?

Postsecondary education is not necessary but a cooking school program can help you learn the skills needed to start a career as a chocolatier.

An associate’s program in bakery and pastry arts will teach you how to make desserts, pastries, bread, and confections.

The total costs for obtaining your associate’s degree at a cooking school range between $10,000-$40,000 a year, depending on the school.

A bachelor’s degree program costs from $35,000 to more than $100,000 per year.

Many programs also assist students in obtaining internships, which give them real-world experience in the field.

After finishing your college education you may pursue specialized training at a chocolate school.

What is the demand for chocolatiers?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the level of employment for food batch makers is 160,160.

Many people passionate about making chocolate and sweets want to turn their hobby into a profession.

In order to get the best chances of finding employment in the field, you should pursue postsecondary education at a top school and gain work experience through internships.

How long does it take to become a chocolatier?

Although there are no educational requirements for becoming a chocolatier, you can learn the skills needed to start a career in this field through postsecondary education.

A two-year associate’s program in bakery and pastry arts or a four-year bachelor’s degree program will teach you how to make desserts, pastries, bread, and confections.

Many programs will also assist you in obtaining internships that give you real-world experience in the field.

After graduation, you may also pursue specialized education at a chocolate school for another six months.

After completing your education you are ready for entry-level employment in the field.

Getting a job as a chocolatier assistant will give you the chance to further perfect your skills in chocolate crafting.