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Grill cook/prep vs line cook

The differences between grill cook/preps and line cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a grill cook/prep and a line cook. Additionally, a line cook has an average salary of $32,894, 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 line cook are culinary, sanitation standards, and food handling.

Grill cook/prep vs line cook overview

Grill Cook/PrepLine Cook
Yearly salary$32,842$32,894
Hourly rate$15.79$15.81
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs106,095168,993
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

Grill cook/prep vs line cook salary

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

Grill Cook/PrepLine Cook
Average salary$32,842$32,894
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Gate City Bank
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between grill cook/prep and line cook education

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

Grill Cook/PrepLine Cook
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common college--

Grill cook/prep vs line cook demographics

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

Grill Cook/PrepLine Cook
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%
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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between grill cook/prep and line 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.

Line cook example responsibilities.

  • Used strong organizational skills to manage steamers efficiently for both eat-in and take-out services.
  • Supervise cooks and manage the preparation, portioning, garnishing, and storage of all food items, cutting meat size.
  • Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Used equipment such as meat slicers, salamanders and steamers.
  • Develop food preparation skills and knowledge of tools involve; such as proper use of knives and automate slicers.
  • Show more

Grill cook/prep vs line cook skills

Common grill cook/prep skills
  • Food Handling, 68%
  • Quality Food, 21%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 3%
  • Fresh Food, 2%
  • Fryers, 1%
  • Cleanliness, 1%
Common line cook skills
  • Culinary, 12%
  • Sanitation Standards, 11%
  • Food Handling, 11%
  • Team Work, 9%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 8%

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