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Grill cook/prep vs prep chef

The differences between grill cook/preps and prep chefs 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 prep chef takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a grill cook/prep has an average salary of $32,842, which is higher than the $25,941 average annual salary of a prep chef.

The top three skills for a grill cook/prep include food handling, quality food and kitchen equipment. The most important skills for a prep chef are kitchen equipment, dishes, and cleanliness.

Grill cook/prep vs prep chef overview

Grill Cook/PrepPrep Chef
Yearly salary$32,842$25,941
Hourly rate$15.79$12.47
Growth rate16%15%
Number of jobs106,09552,624
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 31%
Average age3842
Years of experience46

Grill cook/prep vs prep chef salary

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

Grill Cook/PrepPrep Chef
Average salary$32,842$25,941
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $17,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between grill cook/prep and prep chef education

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

Grill Cook/PrepPrep Chef
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 48%High School Diploma, 31%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common college-Drexel University

Grill cook/prep vs prep chef demographics

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

Grill Cook/PrepPrep Chef
Average age3842
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 67.1% Female, 32.9%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 10.2% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage6%9%

Differences between grill cook/prep and prep chef 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.

Prep chef example responsibilities.

  • Manage a kitchen of military personal and Japanese civilian chefs.
  • Work using fryers, boilers, grill, ovens, steamers, mixers.
  • Instruct new employees in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, and presentation of food.
  • Maintain highest level of cleanliness and sanitation.
  • Maintain cleanliness of station, ensuring sanitary conditions.
  • Create and prepare international cuisine for executive clientele by using ingenuity, organization, efficiency in production and attention to detail
  • Show more

Grill cook/prep vs prep chef skills

Common grill cook/prep skills
  • Food Handling, 68%
  • Quality Food, 21%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 3%
  • Fresh Food, 2%
  • Fryers, 1%
  • Cleanliness, 1%
Common prep chef skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 33%
  • Dishes, 30%
  • Cleanliness, 18%
  • Food Service, 10%
  • Dinner Service, 2%
  • Prep List, 1%

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