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Kitchen chef vs prep chef

The differences between kitchen chefs and prep chefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a kitchen chef and a prep chef. Additionally, a kitchen chef has an average salary of $37,579, which is higher than the $25,941 average annual salary of a prep chef.

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

Kitchen chef vs prep chef overview

Kitchen ChefPrep Chef
Yearly salary$37,579$25,941
Hourly rate$18.07$12.47
Growth rate15%15%
Number of jobs33,78552,624
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%High School Diploma, 31%
Average age4242
Years of experience66

Kitchen chef vs prep chef salary

Kitchen chefs and prep chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.

Kitchen ChefPrep Chef
Average salary$37,579$25,941
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $57,000Between $17,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between kitchen chef and prep chef education

There are a few differences between a kitchen chef and a prep chef in terms of educational background:

Kitchen ChefPrep Chef
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 34%High School Diploma, 31%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common collegeStanford UniversityDrexel University

Kitchen chef vs prep chef demographics

Here are the differences between kitchen chefs' and prep chefs' demographics:

Kitchen ChefPrep Chef
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 70.0% Female, 30.0%Male, 67.1% Female, 32.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 12.7% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between kitchen chef and prep chef duties and responsibilities

Kitchen chef example responsibilities.

  • Integrate key culinary leaders into casino and food and beverage operations, achieving positive results and industry awards.
  • Create and prepare international cuisine for executive clientele by using ingenuity, organization, efficiency in production and attention to detail
  • Cook menu items on a grill, broiler, and used a deep fryer, oven, stove, and toaster.
  • Monitor the buffets, organize inventory, purchase orders, record temperatures, make chocolate sculptures, and sugar sculptures.

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

Kitchen chef vs prep chef skills

Common kitchen chef skills
  • Culinary, 16%
  • Food Handling, 13%
  • Quality Standards, 11%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 6%
  • Fine Dining, 5%
  • Food Storage, 5%
Common prep chef skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 33%
  • Dishes, 30%
  • Cleanliness, 18%
  • Food Service, 10%
  • Dinner Service, 2%
  • Prep List, 1%

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