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The differences between dietary assistants and dietary cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a dietary assistant has an average salary of $28,234, which is higher than the $27,365 average annual salary of a dietary cook.
The top three skills for a dietary assistant include patients, food service and meal trays. The most important skills for a dietary cook are patients, food handling, and food service.
| Dietary Assistant | Dietary Cook | |
| Yearly salary | $28,234 | $27,365 |
| Hourly rate | $13.57 | $13.16 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 12,812 | 191,406 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A dietary assistant is in charge of the food preparation of individuals in various settings. Dietary aides, dietary assistants cook food, check the compliance of proper procedure in safety and health measures, and maintain a clean environment in the kitchen. The assistants may work part-time or full-time, and during holidays, weekends, or evenings to accommodate customers. People in this position are expected to have experience in food preparation, strong teamwork, and customer-oriented approaches.
A dietary cook specializes in cooking and preparing healthy meals for clients or organizations. It is their duty to follow nutritional plans and guidelines, adhere to portion and quality standards, supervise kitchen staff, and participate in delivering food to rooms or offices. They also monitor the inventory of supplies, maintain the cleanliness of different areas, and keep dishes sanitized at all times. Moreover, a dietary cook must coordinate and maintain an open communication line with fellow kitchen workers to ensure a safe and efficient workflow.
Dietary assistants and dietary cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dietary Assistant | Dietary Cook | |
| Average salary | $28,234 | $27,365 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $21,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Omaha, NE |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Utah |
| Best paying company | Lifespan | SantaFe HealthCare |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a dietary assistant and a dietary cook in terms of educational background:
| Dietary Assistant | Dietary Cook | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dietary assistants' and dietary cooks' demographics:
| Dietary Assistant | Dietary Cook | |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.4% Female, 70.6% | Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.2% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |