Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between cooks and chefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a cook, becoming a chef takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a chef has an average salary of $46,824, which is higher than the $31,803 average annual salary of a cook.
The top three skills for a cook include food handling, food service and cleanliness. The most important skills for a chef are customer service, food handling, and culinary.
| Cook | Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $31,803 | $46,824 |
| Hourly rate | $15.29 | $22.51 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 184,818 | 65,737 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. They must be knowledgeable about the different recipes and ingredients needed. They are also responsible for managing the inventory and ensuring that the pantry is well-stocked. They prepare meals from scratch, cutting ingredients, measuring them, and following recipes. Cooks should be creative, especially when ingredients are lacking, and they must find alternatives that will not compromise the food taste. They should be precise, imaginative, and patient. Cooks should also have good time management skills and decision-making skills.
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.
Cooks and chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cook | Chef | |
| Average salary | $31,803 | $46,824 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $31,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Bridgewater Associates |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a cook and a chef in terms of educational background:
| Cook | Chef | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 45% | Associate Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | Drexel University |
Here are the differences between cooks' and chefs' demographics:
| Cook | Chef | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8% | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |