Pantry chef vs assistant chef

The differences between pantry chefs and assistant chefs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a pantry chef and an assistant chef. Additionally, an assistant chef has an average salary of $37,670, which is higher than the $31,766 average annual salary of a pantry chef.

The top three skills for a pantry chef include salad dressings, kitchen equipment and fine dining. The most important skills for an assistant chef are kitchen equipment, safety standards, and culinary.

Pantry chef vs assistant chef overview

	Pantry Chef	Assistant Chef
Yearly salary	$31,766	$37,670
Hourly rate	$15.27	$18.11
Growth rate	15%	15%
Number of jobs	20,685	18,054
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 36%	Associate Degree, 32%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

Pantry chef vs assistant chef salary

Pantry chefs and assistant chefs have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Pantry Chef	Assistant Chef
Average salary	$31,766	$37,670
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $47,000	Between $22,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	-	Atlantic City, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research
Best paying industry	-	Hospitality

Differences between pantry chef and assistant chef education

There are a few differences between a pantry chef and an assistant chef in terms of educational background:

	Pantry Chef	Assistant Chef
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 36%	Associate Degree, 32%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Pantry chef vs assistant chef demographics

Here are the differences between pantry chefs' and assistant chefs' demographics:

	Pantry Chef	Assistant Chef
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%	Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 10.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 11.0% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between pantry chef and assistant chef duties and responsibilities

Pantry chef example responsibilities.

Integrate key culinary leaders into casino and food and beverage operations, achieving positive results and industry awards.
Table decorating, garnishing meals and platters.
Use FIFO method of product freshness and storage.
Prepare all types of foods, soups and salads for buffets.
Store all items properly, rotating to ensure adherents to FIFO rule.
Prepare for evening buffets as requested as well as setting up food displays.

Assistant chef example responsibilities.

Direct daily activity of staff (prep cook, dishwashers and wait staff), and receive and manage inventory.
Manage food inventory and assist chefs with menu development.
Attain a broad knowledge of ingredient functionality in diverse culinary applications and comfort in a culinary setting.
Learned the cuisine and intricacies of Tuscan style cooking as well as the influences from other regions.
Prep vegetables and meat for chefs, wash and dry dishes, cups, and utensils, and stock new shipments.
Maintain cleanliness and ensure proper preparation of orders.

Pantry chef vs assistant chef skills

Common pantry chef skills

Salad Dressings, 40%
Kitchen Equipment, 25%
Fine Dining, 5%
Food Preparation, 4%
Dishwashers, 3%
Dinner Service, 2%

Common assistant chef skills

Kitchen Equipment, 14%
Safety Standards, 13%
Culinary, 12%
Customer Service, 10%
Compassion, 7%
Kitchen Sanitation, 6%

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Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Pantry Chef
Pantry Chef vs Assistant Chef

Updated January 8, 2025

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