Lunch cook vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between lunch cooks and line cooks, prep cook can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a lunch cook and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a line cook, prep cook has an average salary of $32,982, which is higher than the $32,796 average annual salary of a lunch cook.

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

Lunch cook vs line cook, prep cook overview

	Lunch Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$32,796	$32,982
Hourly rate	$15.77	$15.86
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	141,550	164,756
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Lunch cook vs line cook, prep cook salary

Lunch cooks and line cooks, prep cook have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Lunch Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary	$32,796	$32,982
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $40,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between lunch cook and line cook, prep cook education

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

	Lunch Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Lunch cook vs line cook, prep cook demographics

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

	Lunch Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6%	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 8.1% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	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%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

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

Lunch cook example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Operate ovens, stoves, microwaves, fryers, slicers, blenders, scales, and food processor.
Work saut, grill and fryers.
Prepare omelets and pasta make to order as well as carving station.
Implement cleanliness and sanitation of establishment.
Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.

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.

Lunch cook vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common lunch cook skills

Kitchen Equipment, 14%
Culinary, 14%
Food Handling, 14%
Dishes, 13%
Cleanliness, 10%
Lunch Orders, 6%

Common line cook, prep cook skills

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

Lunch Cook vs. similar jobs

Lunch Cook related careers

Lunch Cook related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Lunch Cook
Lunch Cook vs Line Cook, Prep Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs