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The differences between chef/owners and line chefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a chef/owner and a line chef. Additionally, a chef/owner has an average salary of $45,199, which is higher than the $26,651 average annual salary of a line chef.
The top three skills for a chef/owner include menu planning, kitchen equipment and cuisine. The most important skills for a line chef are kitchen equipment, sanitation standards, and food handling.
| Chef/Owner | Line Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $45,199 | $26,651 |
| Hourly rate | $21.73 | $12.81 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 64,183 | 144,227 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A Chef/Owner is the owner of a restaurant who also manages the restaurant's kitchen through coordinating the food preparation team, deciding what dishes to serve, and adjusting orders to meet guests' requests. They also prepare budgets, manage and implement new menus and operational ideas.
Line Chefs are in charge of cooking or preparing meat, vegetables, soup, and other ingredients according to area guidelines. Their responsibilities include managing and supervising kitchen staff, coordinating with fellow chefs, replenishing supply inventories, and setting-up cooking areas, ensuring adequate and high-quality ingredients. Among their other usual tasks involve cutting vegetables and meat, preparing sauces, and resolving issues should any arise. Moreover, they must maintain their designated area's cleanliness, all while enforcing and adhering to the health and sanitation standards.
Chef/owners and line chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chef/Owner | Line Chef | |
| Average salary | $45,199 | $26,651 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $76,000 | Between $18,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Chicopee, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | - | Syracuse University |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a chef/owner and a line chef in terms of educational background:
| Chef/Owner | Line Chef | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Boston University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between chef/owners' and line chefs' demographics:
| Chef/Owner | Line Chef | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.7% Female, 28.3% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 9.8% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 10.4% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |