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Associate food scientist vs cook/server

The differences between associate food scientists and cook/servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate food scientist has an average salary of $43,865, which is higher than the $29,716 average annual salary of a cook/server.

The top three skills for an associate food scientist include quality food, food products and customer service. The most important skills for a cook/server are customer service, customer orders, and safety standards.

Associate food scientist vs cook/server overview

Associate Food ScientistCook/Server
Yearly salary$43,865$29,716
Hourly rate$21.09$14.29
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs160,215257,582
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 52%
Average age2323
Years of experience--

What does an associate food scientist do?

An associate food scientist is primarily responsible for developing new recipes for a company, ensuring quality and marketability. They are also responsible for improving existing recipes, performing support tasks for a head scientist, conducting market research and analysis, monitoring the progress of projects, and maintaining all recipes' data and records, including nutrition value and ingredients. Furthermore, there are instances when an associate food scientist must manage the packaging and storing processes of food, ensuring consumers' health and safety.

What does a cook/server do?

Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests. They prepare ingredients, cook them according to the recipe, and serve them to guests. They are responsible for ensuring that the food is prepared and served to guests within the promised time. They are in charge of managing the pantry, ensuring that the stock is fresh, and checking whether the stock is low. They are expected to have culinary skills, precision, and time management skills.

Associate food scientist vs cook/server salary

Associate food scientists and cook/servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Associate Food ScientistCook/Server
Average salary$43,865$29,716
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $54,000Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBellingham, WA
Highest paying stateNew HampshireAlaska
Best paying companyEmory UniversityThe Harley School
Best paying industryHealth CareRetail

Differences between associate food scientist and cook/server education

There are a few differences between an associate food scientist and a cook/server in terms of educational background:

Associate Food ScientistCook/Server
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%High School Diploma, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Associate food scientist vs cook/server demographics

Here are the differences between associate food scientists' and cook/servers' demographics:

Associate Food ScientistCook/Server
Average age2323
Gender ratioMale, 48.7% Female, 51.3%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between associate food scientist and cook/server duties and responsibilities

Associate food scientist example responsibilities.

  • Maintain cleanliness in food preparation and dining areas in accordance with establish standards.
  • Carry out groceries, check customers out, bag groceries, stock shelves, close
  • Collect the necessary raw material stock from the culinary personnel and prepare the ordered dish.
  • Utilize and operate cutting utensils such as knives, slicers and weighing equipment following menu portion guidelines.
  • Train team members on advance culinary techniques and how to produce in quantity while still maintaining exemplary food quality.
  • Clean and operate a variety of equipment including grills, fryers, fridge and freezers, ovens, and beverage machines.
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Cook/server example responsibilities.

  • Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
  • Assist customers, bag groceries, replenish carts, and clean store.
  • Pay close attention to detail while multitasking between communicating over the intercom, utilizing the POS, and order placing.
  • Make smoothies, coffee, customer service, cashier, fill bakery cooler, inventory, stock, and clean!
  • Operate the filtration system used for the fryers to keep all sanitation guidelines up to standards as per the health department.
  • Operate, and maintain clean and safe cooking equipment like pressure cooker deep fryers, plate grills, and deep fryers.
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Associate food scientist vs cook/server skills

Common associate food scientist skills
  • Quality Food, 36%
  • Food Products, 32%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Quality Customer Service, 5%
  • Groceries, 5%
  • Quality Standards, 3%
Common cook/server skills
  • Customer Service, 41%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 4%
  • POS, 4%

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