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The differences between line cooks and head 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 line cook, becoming a head chef takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a head chef has an average salary of $45,470, which is higher than the $32,894 average annual salary of a line cook.
The top three skills for a line cook include culinary, sanitation standards and food handling. The most important skills for a head chef are kitchen operations, culinary, and dinner service.
| Line Cook | Head Chef | |
| Yearly salary | $32,894 | $45,470 |
| Hourly rate | $15.81 | $21.86 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 15% |
| Number of jobs | 168,993 | 27,331 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Line cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. The term line cook brings to mind an assembly line. This is apt because line cooks are usually assigned to a specific station to work on a specific part of a meal or a preparation process. They are part of a bigger group of cooks in the restaurant. This is done so that meal preparation is more efficient. Line cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients, ensuring that the pantry is well-stocked, and doing their assigned activity in the line. They are expected to be good team players, have experience as a cook, and be able to follow recipes and provide alternatives when necessary.
A head chef is responsible for the overall culinary satisfaction and dining experience of the guests. Head chefs manage the food production, starting from the preparation to the final presentation. They regularly research the current food trends to adapt to their innovative expertise, creating different cuisines to meet the guests' preferences. They also manage the kitchen staff, delegate tasks, and ensure the adequacy of food ingredients and supplies. A head chef must have excellent communication and organizational skills, adhering to the highest sanitation procedures, and responding to the guests' inquiries and concerns.
Line cooks and head chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Line Cook | Head Chef | |
| Average salary | $32,894 | $45,470 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $28,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Wellesley, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Gate City Bank | Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a line cook and a head chef in terms of educational background:
| Line Cook | Head Chef | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | Drexel University |
Here are the differences between line cooks' and head chefs' demographics:
| Line Cook | Head Chef | |
| Average age | 38 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9% | Male, 79.8% Female, 20.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |