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The differences between chefs and line cooks, prep cook can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a chef, becoming a line cook, prep cook takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a chef has an average salary of $46,824, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep cook.
The top three skills for a chef include customer service, food handling and culinary. The most important skills for a line cook, prep cook are kitchen equipment, food handling, and culinary.
| Chef | Line Cook, Prep Cook | |
| Yearly salary | $46,824 | $32,982 |
| Hourly rate | $22.51 | $15.86 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 65,737 | 164,756 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A chef is the master of the kitchen--someone who is creative and innovative with food. Chefs are the pride and reputation of each restaurant or dining establishments. They make sure every meal served is fresh and oversees the kitchen operation. They also create recipes, study menus, and prepare significant-high-quality dishes that represent the restaurant. They say academic requirements aren't needed, but anyone who has a passion for food and cooking can be a chef.
A line cook/prep cook is responsible for assisting with food preparations, ensuring that all ingredients are readily available and stored safely. Line cook/prep cook tasks also include reviewing and updating menus to keep the customers' patronization. Their duties also include researching the current food industry trends, managing customers' inquiries, resolving serving complaints, monitoring food supplies and inventories, and complying with sanitary regulations. A line cook/prep cook must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to perform various tasks under strict time demands and a fast-paced environment.
Chefs and line cooks, prep cook have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chef | Line Cook, Prep Cook | |
| Average salary | $46,824 | $32,982 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $68,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Bridgewater Associates | WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Retail |
There are a few differences between a chef and a line cook, prep cook in terms of educational background:
| Chef | Line Cook, Prep Cook | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Drexel University | - |
Here are the differences between chefs' and line cooks, prep cook' demographics:
| Chef | Line Cook, Prep Cook | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 11.4% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |