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Pizza maker vs prep cook

The differences between pizza makers and prep cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a prep cook has an average salary of $32,292, which is higher than the $28,431 average annual salary of a pizza maker.

The top three skills for a pizza maker include kitchen equipment, customer service and customer orders. The most important skills for a prep cook are food handling, culinary, and sanitation standards.

Pizza maker vs prep cook overview

Pizza MakerPrep Cook
Yearly salary$28,431$32,292
Hourly rate$13.67$15.53
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs187,931168,265
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 54%High School Diploma, 48%
Average age3838
Years of experience-4

What does a pizza maker do?

As the name entails, pizza makers are the individuals who prepare pizza at restaurants and stores that include pizza in their menus. Besides preparing pizza, they also help with other kitchen operations such as packaging food items, cooking different menus, and maintaining the kitchen and kitchen equipment. Pizza makers are also responsible for training other staff members on how to prepare pizza. There are several requirements needed to become a pizza maker: basic cooking knowledge, having a relevant food certification or license, and the ability to operate kitchen equipment.

What does a prep cook do?

Prep cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients. They are usually part of an assembly line-like structure in the kitchen. They are often the first station in this assembly line. Prep cooks are in charge of thawing, skinning, cutting, mincing, slicing, and chopping ingredients so that the line cooks can just get these ingredients for their own stations. Prep cooks may also start doing some of the initial activities in the cooking process, such as preparing water for boiling, laying out ingredients, and ensuring that the stoves are clear.

Pizza maker vs prep cook salary

Pizza makers and prep cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pizza MakerPrep Cook
Average salary$28,431$32,292
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $36,000Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyAnthonyKemps
Best paying industryTechnologyManufacturing

Differences between pizza maker and prep cook education

There are a few differences between a pizza maker and a prep cook in terms of educational background:

Pizza MakerPrep Cook
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 54%High School Diploma, 48%
Most common majorBusinessCulinary Arts
Most common college--

Pizza maker vs prep cook demographics

Here are the differences between pizza makers' and prep cooks' demographics:

Pizza MakerPrep Cook
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 60.2% Female, 39.8%Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 7.3% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between pizza maker and prep cook duties and responsibilities

Pizza maker example responsibilities.

  • Manage closing duties, including restocking items and reconciliation of the cash drawer and POS system.
  • Manage cleanliness and readiness of cooking equipment.
  • Operate and clean stoves, grills, fryers, and microwaves.
  • Deliver pizza; utilize GPS mapping system
  • Handle cash transactions using math and utilize basic problem-solving skills.
  • Apply quick and accurate math computations when handling monetary transactions.
  • Show more

Prep cook example responsibilities.

  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Provide students with first-rate customer service and ensure correct time-temperature control of culinary dishes.
  • Learned and become CPR certify for emergencies.
  • Direct and ensure that HACCP procedures are follow.
  • Plan menu items as needed for caf or catering.
  • Earn first aid, CPR, and a certification.
  • Show more

Pizza maker vs prep cook skills

Common pizza maker skills
  • Kitchen Equipment, 24%
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Customer Orders, 8%
  • Safety Standards, 8%
  • Food Products, 6%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
Common prep cook skills
  • Food Handling, 15%
  • Culinary, 15%
  • Sanitation Standards, 12%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 9%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Team Work, 7%

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