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The differences between cooking chefs and cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a cooking chef, becoming a cook takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a cooking chef has an average salary of $34,973, which is higher than the $31,803 average annual salary of a cook.
The top three skills for a cooking chef include food service, food handling and kitchen equipment. The most important skills for a cook are food handling, food service, and cleanliness.
| Cooking Chef | Cook | |
| Yearly salary | $34,973 | $31,803 |
| Hourly rate | $16.81 | $15.29 |
| Growth rate | 15% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 136,558 | 184,818 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A cooking chef oversees all people performing kitchen duties under their mandate. These professionals oversee timeliness, sanitary issues, ingredient preparation, meal preparation, and final presentations. Besides engaging in menu planning and creating recipes, a cooking chef also performs several administrative tasks from one day to another. They place supply orders, track inventory, calculate payroll, calculate costs, and handle complaints from the employee or customer. Moreover, a cooking chef trains the kitchen staff to ensure they perform their duties correctly.
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.
Cooking chefs and cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cooking Chef | Cook | |
| Average salary | $34,973 | $31,803 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $49,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Teaneck, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Memphis Country Club | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a cooking chef and a cook in terms of educational background:
| Cooking Chef | Cook | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 31% | High School Diploma, 45% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | Drexel University | - |
Here are the differences between cooking chefs' and cooks' demographics:
| Cooking Chef | Cook | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.3% Female, 23.7% | Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 12.0% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |