Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between food preps and prep cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a prep cook has an average salary of $32,292, 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 prep cook are food handling, culinary, and sanitation standards.
| Food Prep | Prep Cook | |
| Yearly salary | $25,840 | $32,292 |
| Hourly rate | $12.42 | $15.53 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 168,743 | 168,265 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Average age | 23 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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.
Prep cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients. They are usually part of an assembly line-like structure in the kitchen. They are often the first station in this assembly line. Prep cooks are in charge of thawing, skinning, cutting, mincing, slicing, and chopping ingredients so that the line cooks can just get these ingredients for their own stations. Prep cooks may also start doing some of the initial activities in the cooking process, such as preparing water for boiling, laying out ingredients, and ensuring that the stoves are clear.
Food preps and prep cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Food Prep | Prep Cook | |
| Average salary | $25,840 | $32,292 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $35,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | Grand Ledge High School | Kemps |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a food prep and a prep cook in terms of educational background:
| Food Prep | Prep Cook | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between food preps' and prep cooks' demographics:
| Food Prep | Prep Cook | |
| Average age | 23 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9% | Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |