Cook apprentice vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between cook apprentices and line cooks, prep cook can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a cook apprentice and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a cook apprentice has an average salary of $34,707, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep cook.

The top three skills for a cook apprentice include culinary, kitchen equipment and sauces. The most important skills for a line cook, prep cook are kitchen equipment, food handling, and culinary.

Cook apprentice vs line cook, prep cook overview

	Cook Apprentice	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$34,707	$32,982
Hourly rate	$16.69	$15.86
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	137,414	164,756
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Cook apprentice vs line cook, prep cook salary

Cook apprentices and line cooks, prep cook have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cook Apprentice	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary	$34,707	$32,982
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $42,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between cook apprentice and line cook, prep cook education

There are a few differences between a cook apprentice and a line cook, prep cook in terms of educational background:

	Cook Apprentice	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 39%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Cook apprentice vs line cook, prep cook demographics

Here are the differences between cook apprentices' and line cooks, prep cook' demographics:

	Cook Apprentice	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7%	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.5% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%	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	6%	6%

Differences between cook apprentice and line cook, prep cook duties and responsibilities

Cook apprentice example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, saut? ing and grilling.
Operate standard cooking equipment, including grills, ovens and broilers.
Gain cooking methods, including roasting, deep fat frying, broiling, and saut ing.
Cook foods by frying, saut? ing, steaming and grilling.
Acquire cooking skills, saut, grill, salad, breakfast, soups and desserts.

Line cook, prep cook example responsibilities.

Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Prepare cold foods, operate ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves, and fryers.
Expedite orders while maintaining food being cook in ovens, griddles, stoves and fryers.
Observe and test foods to determine quality and safety by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and fryers.
Set up and break down for any catering parties or buffets.
Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, steaming, grilling.

Cook apprentice vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common cook apprentice skills

Culinary, 41%
Kitchen Equipment, 29%
Sauces, 11%
Roasting, 5%
La Carte, 4%
Food Quality, 3%

Common line cook, prep cook skills

Kitchen Equipment, 25%
Food Handling, 11%
Culinary, 10%
Customer Service, 10%
Salad Station, 6%
Line Cooks, 6%

Cook Apprentice vs. similar jobs

Cook Apprentice related careers

Cook Apprentice related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Cook Apprentice
Cook Apprentice vs Line Cook, Prep Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs