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The differences between kitchen assistants and prep cook/dishwashers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a prep cook/dishwasher has an average salary of $31,687, which is higher than the $27,455 average annual salary of a kitchen assistant.
The top three skills for a kitchen assistant include wine, kitchen equipment and POS. The most important skills for a prep cook/dishwasher are wash dishes, food preparation equipment, and dishwashers.
| Kitchen Assistant | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Yearly salary | $27,455 | $31,687 |
| Hourly rate | $13.20 | $15.23 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 78,120 | 126,351 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A kitchen assistant is responsible for assisting chefs, cooks, or managers. Most of the duties are given by supervising officers, and it will revolve around preparing ingredients, cutting or washing meat and vegetables, and performing basic cooking tasks such as boiling and frying. A kitchen assistant is also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the kitchen, washing used materials, sanitizing utensils, organizing food inventory. Other tasks include unloading deliveries of food supplies and sorting the ingredients accordingly.
A prep cook and dishwasher is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing kitchen items and utensils, and performing basic cooking tasks under the supervision of chefs or cooks. It is also their responsibility to prepare ingredients by washing, chopping, weighing, and ensuring that they are the correct quantity and quality. Furthermore, a prep cook and dishwasher may also have to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, clear tables, monitor inventory of ingredients in storage, coordinate with the kitchen staff, and meet all health standards and policies.
Kitchen assistants and prep cook/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Kitchen Assistant | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Average salary | $27,455 | $31,687 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $35,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | University of Massachusetts Boston | Seattle Seahawks |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Retail |
There are a few differences between a kitchen assistant and a prep cook/dishwasher in terms of educational background:
| Kitchen Assistant | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between kitchen assistants' and prep cook/dishwashers' demographics:
| Kitchen Assistant | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8% | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |