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Grill cook/prep vs head cook

The differences between grill cook/preps and head cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a grill cook/prep, becoming a head cook takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a head cook has an average salary of $44,412, which is higher than the $32,842 average annual salary of a grill cook/prep.

The top three skills for a grill cook/prep include food handling, quality food and kitchen equipment. The most important skills for a head cook are kitchen equipment, meal preparation, and food service.

Grill cook/prep vs head cook overview

Grill Cook/PrepHead Cook
Yearly salary$32,842$44,412
Hourly rate$15.79$21.35
Growth rate16%15%
Number of jobs106,095156,227
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 42%
Average age3842
Years of experience46

Grill cook/prep vs head cook salary

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

Grill Cook/PrepHead Cook
Average salary$32,842$44,412
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $32,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City-San Antonio, TX
Highest paying state-New Jersey
Best paying company-Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between grill cook/prep and head cook education

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

Grill Cook/PrepHead Cook
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 42%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common college-Stanford University

Grill cook/prep vs head cook demographics

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

Grill Cook/PrepHead Cook
Average age3842
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%
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, 10.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between grill cook/prep and head cook 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.

Head cook example responsibilities.

  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Accommodate all campers and staff with dietary restrictions, food allergies as well as providing vegetarian and vegan options.
  • Follow all equipment and safety procedures in all operations including slicers, choppers, mixers and other meal processing equipment.
  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Scramble eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscits and gravy.
  • Create and execute menus for the buffets.
  • Show more

Grill cook/prep vs head cook skills

Common grill cook/prep skills
  • Food Handling, 68%
  • Quality Food, 21%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 3%
  • Fresh Food, 2%
  • Fryers, 1%
  • Cleanliness, 1%
Common head cook skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 41%
  • Meal Preparation, 15%
  • Food Service, 7%
  • Food Preparation, 3%
  • Quality Standards, 3%
  • Safety Standards, 2%

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