Meal cook vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between meal 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 meal cook and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a meal cook has an average salary of $33,089, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep cook.

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

Meal cook vs line cook, prep cook overview

	Meal Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$33,089	$32,982
Hourly rate	$15.91	$15.86
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	147,104	164,756
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Meal cook vs line cook, prep cook salary

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

	Meal Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary	$33,089	$32,982
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $41,000	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 meal cook and line cook, prep cook education

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

	Meal Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Meal cook vs line cook, prep cook demographics

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

	Meal Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 32.0% Female, 68.0%	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%	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 meal cook and line cook, prep cook duties and responsibilities

Meal cook example responsibilities.

Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
Assist with heavy lifting and drive car to help with groceries and other supplies.
Verify patient information, new medications and allergies educate patients by providing medication and diet information.
Create pizzas for customers as listed or request and run a large pizza oven.

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.

Meal cook vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common meal cook skills

Food Safety, 29%
Food Preparation, 22%
Companionship, 10%
Doctor Appointments, 8%
Food Orders, 6%
Administer Medications, 5%

Common line cook, prep cook skills

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

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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