Lead line cook vs chef/kitchen manager

The differences between lead line cooks and chef/kitchen managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chef/kitchen manager has an average salary of $49,415, which is higher than the $34,293 average annual salary of a lead line cook.

The top three skills for a lead line cook include kitchen equipment, culinary and fine dining. The most important skills for a chef/kitchen manager are kitchen operations, culinary, and wine.

Lead line cook vs chef/kitchen manager overview

	Lead Line Cook	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Yearly salary	$34,293	$49,415
Hourly rate	$16.49	$23.76
Growth rate	16%	15%
Number of jobs	173,672	38,242
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 47%	Associate Degree, 46%
Average age	38	37
Years of experience	4	-

What does a lead line cook do?

Typically, lead line cooks work under the supervision of a chef or head cook in a kitchen. Leadline cooks oversee the food preparation process from start to end. Their duties include the supervision of kitchen staff, recruitment and training of new kitchen employees, and monitoring of food quality. They comply with the sanitation and nutrition regulations of food as well as their safety standards. They should be knowledgeable and have skills in food preparation, customer service, attention to detail, and communication.

What does a chef/kitchen manager do?

A kitchen manager or chef is someone who oversees the overall operations in the kitchen as well as the food operations. Kitchen managers make certain that food and related products are well prepared, cooked, and served to customers. They maintain a fully-stocked kitchen inventory and comply with the cleanliness and safety standards. It is their responsibility to manage the kitchen staff and aid them in delivering quality food at the right time. They need to possess management skills, leadership skills, and attention to detail.

Lead line cook vs chef/kitchen manager salary

Lead line cooks and chef/kitchen managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Lead Line Cook	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Average salary	$34,293	$49,415
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $45,000	Between $34,000 And $70,000
Highest paying City	Kirkland, WA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Washington	New York
Best paying company	The Culinary Institute of America	Castilleja School
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Hospitality

Differences between lead line cook and chef/kitchen manager education

There are a few differences between a lead line cook and a chef/kitchen manager in terms of educational background:

	Lead Line Cook	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 47%	Associate Degree, 46%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Lead line cook vs chef/kitchen manager demographics

Here are the differences between lead line cooks' and chef/kitchen managers' demographics:

	Lead Line Cook	Chef/Kitchen Manager
Average age	38	37
Gender ratio	Male, 81.2% Female, 18.8%	Male, 79.9% Female, 20.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 8.9% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	10%

Differences between lead line cook and chef/kitchen manager duties and responsibilities

Lead line cook example responsibilities.

Manage food expo; facilitate food temp logs; creation of menu specials; management and supervision of production staff
Skil in the preparation of a variety of culinary styles ranging from contemporary American cuisine to many international culinary styles.
Train and supervise many of the Spanish- speaking dishwashers to work effectively on the line.
Observe workers engage in preparing, portioning, and garnishing foods to ensure that standards are met.
Follow HACCP system, and practice safety and sanitation as well adhere to the company policies and regulations.
Produce HACCP forms and guidelines to have better awareness of quality of food being produce in the kitchen.

Chef/kitchen manager example responsibilities.

Manage operations, orderings, and inventorying using POS & software programs.
Train and manage all kitchen personnel and supervise as well as coordinated all relate culinary activities.
Practice excellent food safety and sanitation practices and comply with HACCP standards.
Work both saut and roasting stations.
Clean and maintain kitchen, cooking line and appliances according to ServSafe standards.
Coordinate and plan seasonal menu s, recipes, and functions within the hotel using POS and software programs

Lead line cook vs chef/kitchen manager skills

Common lead line cook skills

Kitchen Equipment, 20%
Culinary, 11%
Fine Dining, 9%
Cleanliness, 8%
Food Handling, 8%
Customer Service, 7%

Common chef/kitchen manager skills

Kitchen Operations, 23%
Culinary, 20%
Wine, 8%
Quality Standards, 5%
Guest Satisfaction, 4%
ServSafe, 3%

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Lead Line Cook
Lead Line Cook vs Chef/Kitchen Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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