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Cook/server vs grill cook

The differences between cook/servers and grill cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a grill cook has an average salary of $31,895, which is higher than the $29,716 average annual salary of a cook/server.

The top three skills for a cook/server include customer service, customer orders and safety standards. The most important skills for a grill cook are sanitation standards, kitchen equipment, and safety standards.

Cook/server vs grill cook overview

Cook/ServerGrill Cook
Yearly salary$29,716$31,895
Hourly rate$14.29$15.33
Growth rate14%16%
Number of jobs257,582184,603
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 52%High School Diploma, 48%
Average age2338
Years of experience-4

What does a cook/server do?

Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests. They prepare ingredients, cook them according to the recipe, and serve them to guests. They are responsible for ensuring that the food is prepared and served to guests within the promised time. They are in charge of managing the pantry, ensuring that the stock is fresh, and checking whether the stock is low. They are expected to have culinary skills, precision, and time management skills.

What does a grill cook do?

A grill cook's primary role is to take charge of grilling food in restaurants or a similar establishment. Aside from grilling different kinds of food, they are also responsible for the plating, ensuring that it looks presentable and mouth-watering. Moreover, grill cooks have other duties such as preparing supplies and ingredients, maintaining the cleanliness of the work area, and training new members of the workforce. It is also essential to coordinate with other restaurant staff at all times as the operations can be fast-paced and will require accuracy and speed.

Cook/server vs grill cook salary

Cook/servers and grill cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cook/ServerGrill Cook
Average salary$29,716$31,895
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $37,000Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CityBellingham, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateAlaskaWashington
Best paying companyThe Harley SchoolSt. Petersburg Yacht Club
Best paying industryRetailHospitality

Differences between cook/server and grill cook education

There are a few differences between a cook/server and a grill cook in terms of educational background:

Cook/ServerGrill Cook
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 52%High School Diploma, 48%
Most common majorBusinessCulinary Arts
Most common college--

Cook/server vs grill cook demographics

Here are the differences between cook/servers' and grill cooks' demographics:

Cook/ServerGrill Cook
Average age2338
Gender ratioMale, 45.9% Female, 54.1%Male, 76.9% Female, 23.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between cook/server and grill cook duties and responsibilities

Cook/server example responsibilities.

  • Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
  • Assist customers, bag groceries, replenish carts, and clean store.
  • Pay close attention to detail while multitasking between communicating over the intercom, utilizing the POS, and order placing.
  • Make smoothies, coffee, customer service, cashier, fill bakery cooler, inventory, stock, and clean!
  • Operate the filtration system used for the fryers to keep all sanitation guidelines up to standards as per the health department.
  • Operate, and maintain clean and safe cooking equipment like pressure cooker deep fryers, plate grills, and deep fryers.
  • Show more

Grill cook example responsibilities.

  • Manage portions of grill food items and garnish them, regulate temperature of broilers, grills and roasters.
  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Utilize for relief management, new hire training, inventory control and profitable aspects of people and service.
  • Maintain station clean food preparation areas; operate large volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep fryers, or griddles.
  • High-Pace business catering to the consumer needs using hospitality and culinary expertise to provide proper customer satisfaction.
  • Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, saut? ing, steaming and grilling.
  • Show more

Cook/server vs grill cook skills

Common cook/server skills
  • Customer Service, 41%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 4%
  • POS, 4%
Common grill cook skills
  • Sanitation Standards, 16%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 14%
  • Safety Standards, 13%
  • Food Handling, 9%
  • Math, 7%
  • Dexterity, 5%

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