Culinary is only really good for the tippy-top. The people starting out, or the mainliners? You get paid not very good money and have a lot of stress, plus the schmucks that get picked up off the street can get paid the same wage without having gone through culinary school. I've learned a hell of a lot when I was in, but it's definitely not where you want to go if you want to be above the poverty line. Catering/private cheffing though, that's where the good money is. A couple gigs a month, $500 paid in cash/under-the-table is an excellent supplement to your nine-to-five.