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The differences between prep cook/dishwashers and kitchen cooks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a prep cook/dishwasher and a kitchen cook. Additionally, a prep cook/dishwasher has an average salary of $31,687, which is higher than the $31,452 average annual salary of a kitchen cook.
The top three skills for a prep cook/dishwasher include wash dishes, food preparation equipment and dishwashers. The most important skills for a kitchen cook are dishes, food handling, and cleanliness.
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | Kitchen Cook | |
| Yearly salary | $31,687 | $31,452 |
| Hourly rate | $15.23 | $15.12 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 126,351 | 250,354 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A prep cook and dishwasher is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing kitchen items and utensils, and performing basic cooking tasks under the supervision of chefs or cooks. It is also their responsibility to prepare ingredients by washing, chopping, weighing, and ensuring that they are the correct quantity and quality. Furthermore, a prep cook and dishwasher may also have to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen, clear tables, monitor inventory of ingredients in storage, coordinate with the kitchen staff, and meet all health standards and policies.
A kitchen cook prepares food for customers. Kitchen cooks help devise new menu items and methods of cooking. Their duties are to prepare food before the arrival of guests, manage employees in the kitchen, and season food according to recipe needs. They assist other cooks during the food assembly process, estimate food consumption, and organize preparation. They keep records and accounts of food purchases, prepare any necessary sauce before the meal service begins, and so on. As kitchen cooks, they must excel in organizational skills, verbal communication, culinary arts, and kitchen equipment. They should be equipped with knowledge of international cuisines, butchering, and basic computational skills.
Prep cook/dishwashers and kitchen cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | Kitchen Cook | |
| Average salary | $31,687 | $31,452 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $25,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Seattle Seahawks | Hilltop Ski Area |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a prep cook/dishwasher and a kitchen cook in terms of educational background:
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | Kitchen Cook | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 57% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between prep cook/dishwashers' and kitchen cooks' demographics:
| Prep Cook/Dishwasher | Kitchen Cook | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% | Male, 65.8% Female, 34.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 9.1% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |