Cook vs line cook/dishwasher

The differences between cooks and line cook/dishwashers 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 and a line cook/dishwasher. Additionally, a line cook/dishwasher has an average salary of $34,435, 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 line cook/dishwasher are food handling, cleanliness, and dishwashers.

Cook vs line cook/dishwasher overview

	Cook	Line Cook/Dishwasher
Yearly salary	$31,803	$34,435
Hourly rate	$15.29	$16.56
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	184,818	133,370
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 54%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

What does a cook do?

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.

What does a line cook/dishwasher do?

A line cook/dishwasher is primarily in charge of prepping food and maintaining their work station's cleanliness while adhering to health standards and protocols. Among their duties include washing and chopping vegetables, cutting meat according to requirements, preparing sauces, and cooking according to an executive chef's directives. They also participate in cleaning and sterilizing kitchen tools and equipment, monitoring the inventory of ingredients, unloading stock deliveries, and taking care of leftovers. Additionally, as a line cook/dishwasher, it is essential to maintain an open communication line with fellow kitchen staff for an efficient workflow.

Cook vs line cook/dishwasher salary

Cooks and line cook/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cook	Line Cook/Dishwasher
Average salary	$31,803	$34,435
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $40,000	Between $26,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	-
Highest paying state	Hawaii	-
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	-
Best paying industry	Government	-

Differences between cook and line cook/dishwasher education

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

	Cook	Line Cook/Dishwasher
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 45%	High School Diploma, 54%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Cook vs line cook/dishwasher demographics

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

	Cook	Line Cook/Dishwasher
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8%	Male, 84.2% Female, 15.8%
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, 8.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between cook and line cook/dishwasher duties and responsibilities

Cook example responsibilities.

Achieve completion to cook, prep and dish meticulous meals to an immense amount of customers with proficient dexterity quality.
Organize production and set up broiler station for lunch shift, manage grill with 30-40 steaks at varying temps and cuts.
Lead cook line and instruct cooks and other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, and presentation of dishes.
Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
Operate large volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep fryers, and griddles.

Line cook/dishwasher example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Maintain superb conditions of all grills, fryers, prep areas, and work spaces in the kitchen.
Have to follow certain steps for battering prior to cooking, and use a timer for the fryers for fry.
Leverage teamwork to fully utilize kitchen staff to generate remarkable food and service to ensure customer satisfaction.
Operate dishwasher to fully sanitize incoming dishes and silverware.
Prepare food items with special attention to individual orders concerning allergies and temperatures.

Cook vs line cook/dishwasher skills

Common cook skills

Food Handling, 14%
Food Service, 10%
Cleanliness, 10%
Kitchen Equipment, 9%
Basic Math, 7%
Culinary, 6%

Common line cook/dishwasher skills

Food Handling, 35%
Cleanliness, 32%
Dishwashers, 25%
Kitchen Equipment, 3%
Culinary, 2%
Line Cooks, 1%

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Cook vs Line Cook/Dishwasher

Updated January 8, 2025

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