Cook/dishwasher vs kitchen worker

The differences between cook/dishwashers and kitchen workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cook/dishwasher has an average salary of $31,703, which is higher than the $28,720 average annual salary of a kitchen worker.

The top three skills for a cook/dishwasher include wash dishes, customer service and dishwashers. The most important skills for a kitchen worker are cleanliness, food handling, and kitchen equipment.

Cook/dishwasher vs kitchen worker overview

	Cook/Dishwasher	Kitchen Worker
Yearly salary	$31,703	$28,720
Hourly rate	$15.24	$13.81
Growth rate	16%	2%
Number of jobs	133,000	86,773
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	36	37
Years of experience	-	-

Cook/dishwasher vs kitchen worker salary

Cook/dishwashers and kitchen workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cook/Dishwasher	Kitchen Worker
Average salary	$31,703	$28,720
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $40,000	Between $22,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	Tacoma, WA	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	Washington
Best paying company	New Seasons Market	Kemps
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Education

Differences between cook/dishwasher and kitchen worker education

There are a few differences between a cook/dishwasher and a kitchen worker in terms of educational background:

	Cook/Dishwasher	Kitchen Worker
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 58%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cook/dishwasher vs kitchen worker demographics

Here are the differences between cook/dishwashers' and kitchen workers' demographics:

	Cook/Dishwasher	Kitchen Worker
Average age	36	37
Gender ratio	Male, 81.7% Female, 18.3%	Male, 61.0% Female, 39.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 5.9% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	5%	6%

Differences between cook/dishwasher and kitchen worker duties and responsibilities

Cook/dishwasher example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Cook and prepare sandwiches and entrees throughout the shift, working with slicers, grills, and fryers.
Enter orders into pos system.
Organize groceries as to ensure use before expiration.
Host: open/close shifts, greet and seat tables, run seating board.
Serve food to customers, run the cash register and also buse tables and wash dishes.

Kitchen worker example responsibilities.

Ensure cleanliness of surroundings and sterilization/sanitation of kitchen prep area and food trays.
Clean floors, dishes, stoves and pots.
Prepare for opening the next morning by cleaning and shutting down fryers and broiler.
Work well with other employees-Maintain cleanliness of areas assigned-perform a variety of services-follow property policies and procedures-oversee own responsibilities
Remove wash dishware, flatware, and glassware from dishwasher and stack them according to size and likeness for future use.
Sanitize heavy equipment including dishwasher, mixer and slicer.

Cook/dishwasher vs kitchen worker skills

Common cook/dishwasher skills

Wash Dishes, 44%
Customer Service, 12%
Dishwashers, 7%
Prep Food, 6%
Safety Standards, 4%
Kitchen Equipment, 3%

Common kitchen worker skills

Cleanliness, 17%
Food Handling, 13%
Kitchen Equipment, 12%
Food Service, 10%
Customer Service, 8%
Patients, 8%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Cook/Dishwasher
Cook/Dishwasher vs Kitchen Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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