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Food prep vs food service/cashier

The differences between food preps and food service/cashiers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a food service/cashier has an average salary of $28,481, which is higher than the $25,840 average annual salary of a food prep.

The top three skills for a food prep include food service, food handling and taking care. The most important skills for a food service/cashier are food service, POS, and cleanliness.

Food prep vs food service/cashier overview

Food PrepFood Service/Cashier
Yearly salary$25,840$28,481
Hourly rate$12.42$13.69
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs168,743247,779
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 48%
Average age2323
Years of experience--

What does a food prep do?

The primary duty of a food prep is to accomplish various food handling and preparation tasks according to the direction of supervisors, chefs, or cooks. One can work in different establishments or industry where there is food involved. Among the responsibilities will mostly revolve around doing light to moderate chores such as cleaning the kitchen and sanitizing utensils, preparing the required ingredients and ensure its quality and quantity, be in charge of food storage, and assist by performing basic cooking tasks.

What does a food service/cashier do?

Foodservice/cashiers are often employed at food restaurants and played various roles. Their duties include recording orders from customers and making sure their payments are collected. They are responsible for managing financial transactions and creating financial reports at the end of the day, making sure that order receipts correlate to the amount of money collected. They could also function as service members, welcoming customers and taking their orders politely, packaging them, and ensures that they are delivered promptly, taking in and resolving customer's queries and complaints. They can also be tasked to stock supplies and may help in cooking if the needs arise.

Food prep vs food service/cashier salary

Food preps and food service/cashiers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Food PrepFood Service/Cashier
Average salary$25,840$28,481
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $35,000Between $22,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAMontclair, NJ
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew Hampshire
Best paying companyGrand Ledge High SchoolAspen School District
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between food prep and food service/cashier education

There are a few differences between a food prep and a food service/cashier in terms of educational background:

Food PrepFood Service/Cashier
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 48%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Food prep vs food service/cashier demographics

Here are the differences between food preps' and food service/cashiers' demographics:

Food PrepFood Service/Cashier
Average age2323
Gender ratioMale, 51.1% Female, 48.9%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between food prep and food service/cashier duties and responsibilities

Food prep example responsibilities.

  • Provide quality customer service while providing assistance in food preparation and maintaining store cleanliness.
  • Operate blenders, stoves, and steamers.
  • Fast pace and quick learning worker also good math skills.
  • Clean dishes, meat and cheese slicers, refrigerators and coolers.
  • Detail cleaning include, broilers, fryers, walk in refrigerator/freezer, dining and restrooms.
  • Operate flat top grill, salamander grill, deep fryer, mixer and tortilla steamers.
  • Show more

Food service/cashier example responsibilities.

  • Cashier, serve food, manage calls, drawer counting, heavy lifting, heavy use of POS system and filing.
  • Greet guests, take food and drink orders, prepare and assemble food items, maintain the cash drawer and POS system
  • Time management while delivering patients orders and providing exceptional customer service in a fast pace environment.
  • Order and receive supplies for culinary needs of the fleet.
  • Maintain food safety and quality by applying HACCP principles throughout service.
  • Load and unload commercial dishwashers.
  • Show more

Food prep vs food service/cashier skills

Common food prep skills
  • Food Service, 17%
  • Food Handling, 13%
  • Taking Care, 12%
  • Cleanliness, 9%
  • Good Communication, 6%
  • Math, 5%
Common food service/cashier skills
  • Food Service, 17%
  • POS, 13%
  • Cleanliness, 9%
  • Basic Math, 8%
  • Math, 7%
  • Customer Complaints, 7%

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