Prep person vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between prep people 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 prep person and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a prep person has an average salary of $33,901, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep cook.

The top three skills for a prep person include cleanliness, food products and dishwashers. The most important skills for a line cook, prep cook are kitchen equipment, food handling, and culinary.

Prep person vs line cook, prep cook overview

	Prep Person	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$33,901	$32,982
Hourly rate	$16.30	$15.86
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	165,758	164,756
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Prep person vs line cook, prep cook salary

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

	Prep Person	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary	$33,901	$32,982
Salary range	Between $19,000 And $57,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Washington
Best paying company	24 Carrots Catering and Events	WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN
Best paying industry	Professional	Retail

Differences between prep person and line cook, prep cook education

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

	Prep Person	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Business	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Prep person vs line cook, prep cook demographics

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

	Prep Person	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 40.5% Female, 59.5%	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 7.8% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	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 prep person and line cook, prep cook duties and responsibilities

Prep person example responsibilities.

Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Receive and put away all food orders utilizing FIFO.
Prepare and produce food using large-volume cooking equipment such as grills and deep-fat fryers.
Help with waste control and FIFO.
Promote from dishwasher to prep person with the lead over dishwashers
Cook foods by baking, roasting, frying, sauteing and grilling.

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.

Prep person vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common prep person skills

Cleanliness, 59%
Food Products, 30%
Dishwashers, 5%
Food Handling, 4%
Customer Service, 1%
Kitchen Equipment, 0%

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
Prep Person
Prep Person vs Line Cook, Prep Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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