Cook/dietary aide vs line cook

The differences between cook/dietary aides and line cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a cook/dietary aide, becoming a line cook takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a line cook has an average salary of $32,894, which is higher than the $27,490 average annual salary of a cook/dietary aide.

The top three skills for a cook/dietary aide include meal service, food handling and patients. The most important skills for a line cook are culinary, sanitation standards, and food handling.

Cook/dietary aide vs line cook overview

	Cook/Dietary Aide	Line Cook
Yearly salary	$27,490	$32,894
Hourly rate	$13.22	$15.81
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	163,273	168,993
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	4

What does a cook/dietary aide do?

A cook/dietary aide is an individual who works along with the dietary managers, cooks, and dieticians. Dietary aides prepare meals, beverages, and snacks. They set up tables or dining areas with proper order and cleanliness. They serve meals and make sure that the hygiene and safety protocols for food are followed all the time. The skills significant for this job include attention to detail, strong communication skills, excellent customer service, and knowledge in food preparation and its safety protocols.

What does a line cook do?

Line cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. The term line cook brings to mind an assembly line. This is apt because line cooks are usually assigned to a specific station to work on a specific part of a meal or a preparation process. They are part of a bigger group of cooks in the restaurant. This is done so that meal preparation is more efficient. Line cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients, ensuring that the pantry is well-stocked, and doing their assigned activity in the line. They are expected to be good team players, have experience as a cook, and be able to follow recipes and provide alternatives when necessary.

Cook/dietary aide vs line cook salary

Cook/dietary aides and line cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cook/Dietary Aide	Line Cook
Average salary	$27,490	$32,894
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $34,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Utah	Hawaii
Best paying company	Ann Storck Center	Gate City Bank
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between cook/dietary aide and line cook education

There are a few differences between a cook/dietary aide and a line cook in terms of educational background:

	Cook/Dietary Aide	Line Cook
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Cook/dietary aide vs line cook demographics

Here are the differences between cook/dietary aides' and line cooks' demographics:

	Cook/Dietary Aide	Line Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1%	Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between cook/dietary aide and line cook duties and responsibilities

Cook/dietary aide example responsibilities.

Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Maintain kitchen cleanliness and quality standards base on federal guidelines for license long-term care facilities.
Assist residents with menus, questions, complaints and concerns, with compassion.
Cook with close attention to dietary concerns, including allergies, diabetes, and kosher diets.
Inventory and restocking, cleaning, communicating with healthcare professionals about dietary needs (such as allergies )
Clean and operate ovens, grills, vats, boilers, tilt skillets, meat slicers, mixers and stovetops.

Line cook example responsibilities.

Used strong organizational skills to manage steamers efficiently for both eat-in and take-out services.
Supervise cooks and manage the preparation, portioning, garnishing, and storage of all food items, cutting meat size.
Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Used equipment such as meat slicers, salamanders and steamers.
Develop food preparation skills and knowledge of tools involve; such as proper use of knives and automate slicers.

Cook/dietary aide vs line cook skills

Common cook/dietary aide skills

Meal Service, 17%
Food Handling, 15%
Patients, 14%
Kitchen Equipment, 9%
Food Service, 9%
Diet Orders, 7%

Common line cook skills

Culinary, 12%
Sanitation Standards, 11%
Food Handling, 11%
Team Work, 9%
Kitchen Equipment, 8%
Cleanliness, 8%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Cook/Dietary Aide
Cook/Dietary Aide vs Line Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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