First cook vs cooking chef

The differences between first cooks and cooking chefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a first cook, becoming a cooking chef takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a cooking chef has an average salary of $34,973, which is higher than the $34,044 average annual salary of a first cook.

The top three skills for a first cook include cleanliness, patients and food handling. The most important skills for a cooking chef are food service, food handling, and kitchen equipment.

First cook vs cooking chef overview

	First Cook	Cooking Chef
Yearly salary	$34,044	$34,973
Hourly rate	$16.37	$16.81
Growth rate	16%	15%
Number of jobs	149,060	136,558
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 44%	Associate Degree, 31%
Average age	38	42
Years of experience	4	6

First cook vs cooking chef salary

First cooks and cooking chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.

	First Cook	Cooking Chef
Average salary	$34,044	$34,973
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $42,000	Between $24,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	-	Teaneck, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Memphis Country Club
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between first cook and cooking chef education

There are a few differences between a first cook and a cooking chef in terms of educational background:

	First Cook	Cooking Chef
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 44%	Associate Degree, 31%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	Drexel University

First cook vs cooking chef demographics

Here are the differences between first cooks' and cooking chefs' demographics:

	First Cook	Cooking Chef
Average age	38	42
Gender ratio	Male, 77.2% Female, 22.8%	Male, 76.3% Female, 23.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 9.3% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	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%
LGBT Percentage	6%	9%

Differences between first cook and cooking chef duties and responsibilities

First cook example responsibilities.

Maintain all charts and records according to ServSafe and Michigan USDA standards
Provide technical instruction and expert guidance on food preparation to earn culinary arts competitions.
Measure ingredients, using measuring cups and spoons.
Assist in loading and unloading of groceries to vessel.
Cater special menus for people with allergies and special diets.
Do inventory, order groceries, implement company policies and procedures.

Cooking chef example responsibilities.

Manage a kitchen of military personal and Japanese civilian chefs.
Assist culinary instructor in food preparation.
Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, saut? ing, steaming, grilling.
Travel to various locations throughout the city to perform culinary task.
Obtain in-depth experience working on grills, ranges, and steamers.
Experience with baking, broiling, frying, roasting and grilling.

First cook vs cooking chef skills

Common first cook skills

Cleanliness, 33%
Patients, 14%
Food Handling, 8%
Culinary, 7%
Kitchen Equipment, 6%
HACCP, 4%

Common cooking chef skills

Food Service, 23%
Food Handling, 19%
Kitchen Equipment, 16%
Culinary, 10%
Cleanliness, 9%
Dishwashers, 7%

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First Cook
First Cook vs Cooking Chef

Updated January 8, 2025

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