Line server vs line cook

The differences between line servers and line cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line cook has an average salary of $32,894, which is higher than the $28,300 average annual salary of a line server.

The top three skills for a line server include customer service, quality customer service and exceptional guest. The most important skills for a line cook are culinary, sanitation standards, and food handling.

Line server vs line cook overview

	Line Server	Line Cook
Yearly salary	$28,300	$32,894
Hourly rate	$13.61	$15.81
Growth rate	14%	16%
Number of jobs	246,165	168,993
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 49%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	23	38
Years of experience	-	4

What does a line server do?

A line server is responsible for assisting the guests with their needs to ensure an overall satisfying dining experience with the highest quality service. Line servers take and verify guests' orders, provide recommendation for orders, respond to the guests' inquiries regarding the menu, manage the food preparation and serving, assist guests with additional requests, and ensure strict adherence to the sanitary standards and hygienic procedures at all times. Line servers must have excellent communication and time-management skills to interact with different guests and identify their dining needs.

What does a line cook do?

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.

Line server vs line cook salary

Line servers and line cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Line Server	Line Cook
Average salary	$28,300	$32,894
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $36,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Hawaii
Best paying company	-	Gate City Bank
Best paying industry	-	Hospitality

Differences between line server and line cook education

There are a few differences between a line server and a line cook in terms of educational background:

	Line Server	Line Cook
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 49%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Line server vs line cook demographics

Here are the differences between line servers' and line cooks' demographics:

	Line Server	Line Cook
Average age	23	38
Gender ratio	Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3%	Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	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%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between line server and line cook duties and responsibilities

Line server example responsibilities.

Customer-Orient fast food worker with deep experience with POS systems, food preparation and safety regulations.
Experience with making smoothies and hot beverages while making sure customers are satisfied.
Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers, accurately process payment methods via POS system.
Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
Operate a commercial dishwasher to clean and sanitize flatware, glassware, utensils, and pots and pans.
Set correct water temperature and correct amount of dish soap for dishwasher to ensure dishes are clean and sanitize.

Line cook example responsibilities.

Used strong organizational skills to manage steamers efficiently for both eat-in and take-out services.
Supervise cooks and manage the preparation, portioning, garnishing, and storage of all food items, cutting meat size.
Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Used equipment such as meat slicers, salamanders and steamers.
Develop food preparation skills and knowledge of tools involve; such as proper use of knives and automate slicers.

Line server vs line cook skills

Common line server skills

Customer Service, 21%
Quality Customer Service, 20%
Exceptional Guest, 7%
Excellent Guest, 6%
Safety Standards, 4%
Food Safety, 3%

Common line cook skills

Culinary, 12%
Sanitation Standards, 11%
Food Handling, 11%
Team Work, 9%
Kitchen Equipment, 8%
Cleanliness, 8%

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Line Server vs Line Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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