Cheese Producer Career Profile
- Career Name - Cheese Producer
- Category - Health / Business / farming and Livestock Management
- Skills Required - Life skills 40% - Career skills 60%
- Basic School Subjects - Language, Business Studies, Biology
- Minimum Required Education - High School
- Species Worked With - Pets, Critters, Farm Animals, Wildlife
- Kind of Interaction with Animals - Direct
Do you want to work as a cheese producer?
READ: This page helps you to read about the career and the info you need to decide on whether this is indeed the career you want to follow.
RESEARCH: ​Learn about the skills required and minimum subjects to enter this career, as well as the places where you can study further after school.
PREPARE: If you want to plan and prepare for the career, then join the OZT Community! Members have access to tools, while chatting with other students and experts from around the world. Prepare to be amazed!
CAREER MENTOR
UPDATED:
1 April 2024
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What is a cheese producer?
A cheese producer is someone who manufactures cheese either on a small scale, like artisanal cheese makers, or on a larger industrial scale in factories. Cheese producers oversee the entire process of cheese production, from sourcing milk (often from cows, goats, or sheep) to processing and ageing the cheese.
They can use the milk from different animals, such as cows or goats, to produce different kinds of cheeses. Some of the cheeses can also be infused by adding special flavorings, herbs, spices or liquids.
A list of some of animals used to process their milk into cheese:
- Cow
- Goat
- Buffalo
- Deer
- Sheep
- Camel
- Yak
Alternative Names
Cheese producers may be known by various alternative names depending on their specific role or the region in which they operate. Some alternative names for cheese producers include:
- Cheese maker
- Cheese artisan
- Fromager (French term for cheese maker)
- Caseificio (Italian term for cheese producer)
- Cheesemonger (although this term typically refers to someone who sells cheese rather than produces it)
- Dairy processor (if they produce other dairy products in addition to cheese)
- Cheese craftsman
- Cheese affineur (someone who specialises in ageing and maturing cheese)
- Cheese master
- Cheese artisanal producer
Career Categories
The Cheese Producer career can be found in the following career categories:
- Health
- Business
- Farming & Livestock Management
Total production?
5.91million metric tons of cheese were produced in the United States in 2019
Top producer?
The European Union producess 10.28 million metric tons of cheese per year
What does a Cheese Producer do?
Groups of animals a Cheese Producer works with
What is the level of Interaction with the Animals?
- Directly - A person works directly with the animals with some form of physical contact at least once every few days
- Indirectly - The career doesn't require direct or physical contact at all.
What does a Cheese Producer focus on?
The primary focus of a cheese producer is to ensure that all the ingredients to make cheese are mixed together, and put through the different processes to ensure that the end product can be safe for human consumption.
What are the daily tasks of a Cheese Producer?
- Depending on whether the person produces the cheese by hand, or through machines, the tasks might start by milking the animals, or overseeing the functionality of the machines.
- Research and buy the right milk and ingredients
- Oversee the correct mixture of the different ingredients
- Oversee the cooking of the curd, until the right texture for molding into cheese
- Marketing and sale of cheese
- Administration and filing
The working Environment of a Cheese Producer
Where does a Cheese Producer work?
Environment –
A cheese producer might work mostly within a factory setup, ensuring that all the machines are working properly, or if the person makes the cheese by hand, direct from the animal, then a part of the work can be done outdoors.
Places of Employment –
Cheese producers may run their own businesses, or work for large dairy farms or companies.
What is the average annual salary of a Cheese Producer?
On average the income per year is around $30,000. This will differ from country to country. Self employed business owners might make even more.
What difficulties can a Cheese Producer face?
The most difficult part is overseeing the delicate processes, during which time many things can go wrong, resulting in huge financial losses. They may also have to work long hours and over weekends and holidays to finish work within tight deadlines.
​Future growth and Possibilities
The cheese production industry is growing steadily, with a growth of around 4%. Private producers of infused cheeses are growing a lot faster, as they carve niche markets for themselves.
Which Skills are required by a Cheese Producer?
The skills required for a career as a cheese producer can be divided into two very important groups. The first is the group containing life skills, which are the core skills that are necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. The second group is career skills, or the specific skills required to allow a person to enter and operate effectively within a specific career. Some or maybe even all of the life skills can assist in strengthening the career skills, and they might even be the same for specific careers.
Life Skills
- Self-awareness
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Decision making
- Problem Solving
- Effective communication
- Interpersonal relationship
Career Skills
- ​Good business knowledge
- Good cooking skills
- Basic customer service skills
- Good health and physical fitness
- Excellent computer literacy
Which Subjects must I have at School to prepare for this career?
Language will be compulsory for further studies, and will also help you to effectively communicate with suppliers and customers.
Business studies or similar economic or bookkeeping subjects will be important if you do want to start your own cheese business.
Although not compulsory, biology will always be a good subject to help you understand the animals you will work with.
The subjects you choose at school are important as they lay the foundation for further studies at college or university. While still at school, it’s also important to learn more about the animals you will work with, as well as gain some experience.
OZT has a list of various tertiary institutions where you can study further, after school. Each of these institutions also have their own Group page on OZT where you will find the exact subjects they require of you to have passed in school. Keep these requirements in mind, and discuss it with your school, guidance counselor and parents to ensure that you are prepared!
What will I need to Study to become a Cheese Producer?
Minimum Requirements
The minimum educational requirement is currently a High School certificate, for both starting a business, and working for a dairy/cheese processing company. Further studies towards a College Diploma or even Bachelor’s Degree is possible.
Study Focus
Major –
Subjects in cheese making, food processing, food preservation.
Short Courses –
Most cheese makers enter the career by completing short courses, which can include special courses designed for cheese making.
Study Duration
The duration of College and Bachelor’s Degrees can be up to 3 or 4 years. Short Courses are usually between a few weeks and a year.
FREE Career Path Plans
If this is your dream career that you want to pursue, then it’s important to plan the way forward.
Why is planning important?
​To ensure that you understand the requirements for your career, and that you are always prepared for the next step on the road towards your dream. A preparation path is like a road map to where you want to be.
Possible Paths:
Here’s a possible career preparation path for a high school student interested in becoming a cheese producer:
1. Attend career Guidance Sessions:
Participate in career guidance sessions at school or in the community to learn about various career options, including cheese production.
2. Research Possible Careers:
Research the cheese production industry to understand the different roles and career paths available, such as cheese maker, dairy processor, or cheese artisan.
3. Explore Educational Paths:
Explore educational paths that can lead to a career in cheese production, such as agricultural sciences, food science, or dairy technology.
4. Align High School Subjects:
Choose high school subjects that align with the chosen educational path, such as biology, chemistry, agricultural science, and business or entrepreneurship courses.
5. Obtain a High School Diploma or Equivalent:
Focus on academic studies and successfully complete high school to obtain a diploma or equivalent qualification.
6. Learn about Animals:
Gain knowledge about the animals typically involved in cheese production, such as cows, goats, or sheep, and their role in providing milk for cheese making.
7. Align Post-School Path:
Decide whether to enter a career/job directly after high school, pursue further education at a college or university, or start a business in cheese production.
8. Gain Experience:
Seek opportunities to gain experience through volunteering, internships, mentorship programmes, or part-time jobs at local farms or dairy facilities.
9. Pursue Extracurricular Activities:
Participate in extracurricular activities related to agriculture, culinary arts, or entrepreneurship to develop relevant skills and interests.
10. Join Professional Associations:
Join professional associations related to cheese production, such as the American Cheese Society or the Guild of Fine Food Retailers.
11. Gain Specialised Skills:
Acquire specialised skills in cheese making, food safety, quality control, and business management through formal education or hands-on training.
12. Network with Professionals:
Network with professionals in the cheese industry through industry events, conferences, workshops, and online forums to build connections and learn from experienced practitioners.
13. Enter the Job Market or Further Studies:
Enter the job market directly after gaining relevant experience and skills, pursue further studies at a tertiary institution to advance knowledge and credentials, or launch a cheese production business.
14. Stay Updated and Pursue Continuing Education:
Stay informed about the latest developments, trends, and technologies in cheese production through continuing education, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
Possible Combined Career Paths
It is possible to sometimes combine two or more related careers. This normally happens when you study and practice a specific main career, but the knowledge and experience gained also help you to have a paying hobby or secondary income career.
Possible Alternatives (there are a lot more):
Stepping Stone Career
Being a cheese producer can also be used as a stepping stone career. A stepping stone career is one which is used to help you get to another career, normally because the other career is too difficult to reach (sometimes due to things like high fees etc).
You can begin as an intern after basic short courses and expert guidance (maybe working under a mentor). The money made can then be used to pay for studies towards a promotion or another career, and the experience helps in gaining knowledge. One paying to help get to the other.
Some of the possible paths:
Training and apprenticeship
Even though it is important to study to get into some of the animal careers, most of the skills you will need as a cheese maker will be acquired through practice. This means that you will learn how to perform some of the daily tasks by actually doing it a few times and learning the steps.
In some cases entry level positions require training sessions even before you are allowed to actually perform your job duties. These sessions are offered by the place of employment, after you have successfully applied.
Apprenticeship is also possible where you need to learn skills from a more senior cheese producer or expert. In some cases, apprenticeship of a few years is compulsory to become a certified cheese producer.
Join the Cheese Producers Group in the OZT Community to learn more and even interact with the educational institutions that will help you secure your dream career!
Average level of education of all the people who enter the career
Licenses, Certificate, Registration and Professional Associations
Certain animal careers require some form of legal certification to prove that you can indeed do the work, and work with the necessary equipment.
Although not required by law, certifications may help workers establish their credentials and enhance their skills.
Learn more about requirements by joining the OZT Community.
Professional Associations
Where can I study further?
All of the above information will help you understand more about the Career, including the fact that there are different paths to take to reach it. But if you are almost done with High School (Grades 11 or 12), you also need to start thinking about further studies, and WHERE you will study.
See the List of Universities, Colleges and Online Training Academies who offer courses towards cheese production.
How do I start to prepare for this Career?
If you do decide on following this career, then OZT can assist you in figuring out a path to prepare, as well as help you to gain further knowledge about the career and the animals you will be working with. We do this by offering you FREE career development tools. There are almost a dozen free tools, but these are the three primary ones:
CAREER PATH PLAN
Use the career path plan above on this profile as an example to follow, or to work out your own path.
COST; Free
ACCESS: Open to visitors and MembersÂ
SHORT COURSES
Access easy-to-use short courses to make your career preparation easier! The basic information in each course is free, but the rewards can only be unlocked as an OZT member!
COST; Free
ACCESS: Open to visitors and MembersÂ
STUDY GUIDE
Get a supercharged study guide that fits into the career path plan! Now that's really upping your preparation game! Join us for free to gain access!
COST; Free
ACCESS: Members Only
But, if you are still uncertain about choosing this specific career, and even where to start, then have a look at our special series of WHAT NEXT courses (link below). They take you through all of the questions you might have on how to choose the right career, what to do while at and after school, and even how to start your own business.
Join our OZT community and Cheese Producer Group
Join us as a special member and learn more about becoming a cheese producer.
Members of the Platform have special access to:
- Info on the best places where you can study (colleges, universities and online)
- Expertly designed advice to prepare you for the career, and links to places where you can gain valuable experience. For some career experience is necessary, otherwise you wont get the job!
- Top notch info on each of the different species you will work with
- Make friends around the world and share knowledge
- Compete and win points, badges, games, prizes and certificates. Be the best of the best, while you learn and prepare!
If you have decided on being a cheese producer, please click on the JOIN GROUP button. Members will be directed to the Group, while non-members will be assisted to register first.
If this career is NOT the career for you, then you may return to the MAIN CAREERÂ menu, and search for something different.
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List of Career Mentors/Educators who have contributed to this Career info:
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A few pictures about the Career:
Some of the best websites to help you decide on the Career:
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- Sheldon Comics
