Line cook, prep cook vs head cook

The differences between line cooks, prep cook and head cooks 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, prep cook, becoming a head cook takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a head cook has an average salary of $44,412, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep cook.

The top three skills for a line cook, prep cook include kitchen equipment, food handling and culinary. The most important skills for a head cook are kitchen equipment, meal preparation, and food service.

Line cook, prep cook vs head cook overview

	Line Cook, Prep Cook	Head Cook
Yearly salary	$32,982	$44,412
Hourly rate	$15.86	$21.35
Growth rate	16%	15%
Number of jobs	164,756	156,227
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 42%
Average age	38	42
Years of experience	4	6

What does a line cook, prep cook do?

A line cook/prep cook is responsible for assisting with food preparations, ensuring that all ingredients are readily available and stored safely. Line cook/prep cook tasks also include reviewing and updating menus to keep the customers' patronization. Their duties also include researching the current food industry trends, managing customers' inquiries, resolving serving complaints, monitoring food supplies and inventories, and complying with sanitary regulations. A line cook/prep cook must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills to perform various tasks under strict time demands and a fast-paced environment.

What does a head cook do?

A head cook is responsible for organizing the food preparation, organizing the kitchen operations, and ensuring the quality of the food presented. Head cooks' duties include monitoring the food inventory, creating new recipes, researching current market trends, responding to guests' inquiries and complaints, distributing kitchen tasks to the staff, and maintaining budget goals while maintaining the highest food quality. A head cook must always adhere to the sanitary procedures and hygienic standards, as well as have a broad knowledge of the food industry.

Line cook, prep cook vs head cook salary

Line cooks, prep cook and head cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Line Cook, Prep Cook	Head Cook
Average salary	$32,982	$44,412
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $32,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	San Antonio, TX
Highest paying state	Washington	New Jersey
Best paying company	WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN	Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
Best paying industry	Retail	Manufacturing

Differences between line cook, prep cook and head cook education

There are a few differences between a line cook, prep cook and a head cook in terms of educational background:

	Line Cook, Prep Cook	Head Cook
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 42%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	Stanford University

Line cook, prep cook vs head cook demographics

Here are the differences between line cooks, prep cook' and head cooks' demographics:

	Line Cook, Prep Cook	Head Cook
Average age	38	42
Gender ratio	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%	Male, 63.5% Female, 36.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	9%

Differences between line cook, prep cook and head cook duties and responsibilities

Line cook, prep cook example responsibilities.

Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Prepare cold foods, operate ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves, and fryers.
Expedite orders while maintaining food being cook in ovens, griddles, stoves and fryers.
Observe and test foods to determine quality and safety by regulating temperature of ovens, broilers, grills, and fryers.
Set up and break down for any catering parties or buffets.
Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, steaming, grilling.

Head cook example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Accommodate all campers and staff with dietary restrictions, food allergies as well as providing vegetarian and vegan options.
Follow all equipment and safety procedures in all operations including slicers, choppers, mixers and other meal processing equipment.
Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Scramble eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscits and gravy.
Create and execute menus for the buffets.

Line cook, prep cook vs head cook skills

Common line cook, prep cook skills

Kitchen Equipment, 25%
Food Handling, 11%
Culinary, 10%
Customer Service, 10%
Salad Station, 6%
Line Cooks, 6%

Common head cook skills

Kitchen Equipment, 41%
Meal Preparation, 15%
Food Service, 7%
Food Preparation, 3%
Quality Standards, 3%
Safety Standards, 2%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Line Cook, Prep Cook
Line Cook, Prep Cook vs Head Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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