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The differences between dish washers and prep cook/dishwashers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a prep cook/dishwasher has an average salary of $31,687, which is higher than the $29,860 average annual salary of a dish washer.
The top three skills for a dish washer include food handling, work ethic and fine dining. The most important skills for a prep cook/dishwasher are wash dishes, food preparation equipment, and dishwashers.
| Dish Washer | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Yearly salary | $29,860 | $31,687 |
| Hourly rate | $14.36 | $15.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 37,127 | 126,351 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 36 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A dishwasher is responsible for keeping and maintaining a kitchen clean by properly washing, sorting, and stacking the kitchen wares, and setting up dish stations. Though the job requires only minimal work experience and a high school diploma, it is said to be a hard one since it involves strong problem-solving and good communication skills, exceptional time management skills, and the ability to work on extended hours. However, since a dishwasher seldom leaves the kitchen area and does not provide direct service to customers, he/she usually get tips directly if service staff share their tips with them.
A prep cook and dishwasher is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing kitchen items and utensils, and performing basic cooking tasks under the supervision of chefs or cooks. It is also their responsibility to prepare ingredients by washing, chopping, weighing, and ensuring that they are the correct quantity and quality. Furthermore, a prep cook and dishwasher may also have to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, clear tables, monitor inventory of ingredients in storage, coordinate with the kitchen staff, and meet all health standards and policies.
Dish washers and prep cook/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dish Washer | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Average salary | $29,860 | $31,687 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $37,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rich Products | Seattle Seahawks |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Retail |
There are a few differences between a dish washer and a prep cook/dishwasher in terms of educational background:
| Dish Washer | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 55% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dish washers' and prep cook/dishwashers' demographics:
| Dish Washer | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Average age | 36 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.0% Female, 19.0% | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 6% |