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Grill cook/prep vs cook/server

The differences between grill cook/preps and cook/servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a grill cook/prep has an average salary of $32,842, which is higher than the $29,716 average annual salary of a cook/server.

The top three skills for a grill cook/prep include food handling, quality food and kitchen equipment. The most important skills for a cook/server are customer service, customer orders, and safety standards.

Grill cook/prep vs cook/server overview

Grill Cook/PrepCook/Server
Yearly salary$32,842$29,716
Hourly rate$15.79$14.29
Growth rate16%14%
Number of jobs106,095257,582
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 52%
Average age3823
Years of experience4-

Grill cook/prep vs cook/server salary

Grill cook/preps and cook/servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Grill Cook/PrepCook/Server
Average salary$32,842$29,716
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City-Bellingham, WA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-The Harley School
Best paying industry-Retail

Differences between grill cook/prep and cook/server education

There are a few differences between a grill cook/prep and a cook/server in terms of educational background:

Grill Cook/PrepCook/Server
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 52%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsBusiness
Most common college--

Grill cook/prep vs cook/server demographics

Here are the differences between grill cook/preps' and cook/servers' demographics:

Grill Cook/PrepCook/Server
Average age3823
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 8.8% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%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 Percentage6%8%

Differences between grill cook/prep and cook/server duties and responsibilities

Grill cook/prep example responsibilities.

  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Load dishwashers and hand- wash items such as pots, pans, and knives.
  • Maintain standards of quality, cooking times and presentation of food, service, restaurant cleanliness and sanitation and safety.
  • Job duties include waiting on customers, filling salad bar, maintaining cleanliness of work space, preparing food and portioning.
  • Leverage teamwork to fully utilize kitchen staff to generate remarkable food and service to ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Display leadership abilities and responsibility by training new employees.

Cook/server example responsibilities.

  • Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
  • Assist customers, bag groceries, replenish carts, and clean store.
  • Pay close attention to detail while multitasking between communicating over the intercom, utilizing the POS, and order placing.
  • Make smoothies, coffee, customer service, cashier, fill bakery cooler, inventory, stock, and clean!
  • Operate the filtration system used for the fryers to keep all sanitation guidelines up to standards as per the health department.
  • Operate, and maintain clean and safe cooking equipment like pressure cooker deep fryers, plate grills, and deep fryers.
  • Show more

Grill cook/prep vs cook/server skills

Common grill cook/prep skills
  • Food Handling, 68%
  • Quality Food, 21%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 3%
  • Fresh Food, 2%
  • Fryers, 1%
  • Cleanliness, 1%
Common cook/server skills
  • Customer Service, 41%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • Safety Standards, 6%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 4%
  • POS, 4%

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