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The differences between prep cooks and prep cook/dishwashers 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 and a prep cook/dishwasher. Additionally, a prep cook has an average salary of $32,292, which is higher than the $31,687 average annual salary of a prep cook/dishwasher.
The top three skills for a prep cook include food handling, culinary and sanitation standards. The most important skills for a prep cook/dishwasher are wash dishes, food preparation equipment, and dishwashers.
| Prep Cook | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Yearly salary | $32,292 | $31,687 |
| Hourly rate | $15.53 | $15.23 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 168,265 | 126,351 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Prep cooks and prep cook/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Prep Cook | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Average salary | $32,292 | $31,687 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Kemps | Seattle Seahawks |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a prep cook and a prep cook/dishwasher in terms of educational background:
| Prep Cook | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 57% |
| Most common major | Culinary Arts | Culinary Arts |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between prep cooks' and prep cook/dishwashers' demographics:
| Prep Cook | Prep Cook/Dishwasher | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7% | Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |