Fry cook vs cook/dietary aide

The differences between fry cooks and cook/dietary aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a fry cook, becoming a cook/dietary aide takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a fry cook has an average salary of $30,622, which is higher than the $27,490 average annual salary of a cook/dietary aide.

The top three skills for a fry cook include kitchen equipment, customer service and safety standards. The most important skills for a cook/dietary aide are meal service, food handling, and patients.

Fry cook vs cook/dietary aide overview

	Fry Cook	Cook/Dietary Aide
Yearly salary	$30,622	$27,490
Hourly rate	$14.72	$13.22
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	246,323	163,273
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 45%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	2

What does a fry cook do?

Generally, a fry cook works in a kitchen specializing in fried foods and operating the deep fryer. Fry cooks or chefs cook food by submerging in boiling oil. They prepare food to be fried, work with frying pans, and watch over deep fryers. The skills they need to establish include food preparation, dexterity, physical stamina, and comprehension. They are also expected to be understanding and patient, noting that these qualities help impress the customers.

What does a cook/dietary aide do?

A cook/dietary aide is an individual who works along with the dietary managers, cooks, and dieticians. Dietary aides prepare meals, beverages, and snacks. They set up tables or dining areas with proper order and cleanliness. They serve meals and make sure that the hygiene and safety protocols for food are followed all the time. The skills significant for this job include attention to detail, strong communication skills, excellent customer service, and knowledge in food preparation and its safety protocols.

Fry cook vs cook/dietary aide salary

Fry cooks and cook/dietary aides have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Fry Cook	Cook/Dietary Aide
Average salary	$30,622	$27,490
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $38,000	Between $21,000 And $34,000
Highest paying City	Fresno, CA	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	Utah
Best paying company	Anthony	Ann Storck Center
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between fry cook and cook/dietary aide education

There are a few differences between a fry cook and a cook/dietary aide in terms of educational background:

	Fry Cook	Cook/Dietary Aide
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 53%	High School Diploma, 45%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Fry cook vs cook/dietary aide demographics

Here are the differences between fry cooks' and cook/dietary aides' demographics:

	Fry Cook	Cook/Dietary Aide
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 80.8% Female, 19.2%	Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.5% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between fry cook and cook/dietary aide duties and responsibilities

Fry cook example responsibilities.

Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
Grill burgers and used the deep fryers for various foods, clean all equipment at the end of the shift.
Bread and cook chicken, fry foods, run and clean fryers, clean coolers, do dishes general utilities.
Job responsibilities include preparing and executing dishes, as well as assuming responsibility for cleanliness of restaurant.
Provide friendly, quality, customer service to each Chipotle customer.

Cook/dietary aide example responsibilities.

Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Maintain kitchen cleanliness and quality standards base on federal guidelines for license long-term care facilities.
Assist residents with menus, questions, complaints and concerns, with compassion.
Cook with close attention to dietary concerns, including allergies, diabetes, and kosher diets.
Inventory and restocking, cleaning, communicating with healthcare professionals about dietary needs (such as allergies )
Clean and operate ovens, grills, vats, boilers, tilt skillets, meat slicers, mixers and stovetops.

Fry cook vs cook/dietary aide skills

Common fry cook skills

Kitchen Equipment, 23%
Customer Service, 11%
Safety Standards, 10%
Deep-Fat Fryers, 9%
Food Products, 5%
Fine Dining, 5%

Common cook/dietary aide skills

Meal Service, 17%
Food Handling, 15%
Patients, 14%
Kitchen Equipment, 9%
Food Service, 9%
Diet Orders, 7%

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Fry Cook vs Cook/Dietary Aide

Updated January 8, 2025

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