Short order cook vs prep cook/dishwasher

The differences between short order 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 short order cook and a prep cook/dishwasher. Additionally, a prep cook/dishwasher has an average salary of $31,687, which is higher than the $30,734 average annual salary of a short order cook.

The top three skills for a short order cook include food handling, customer service and food preparation equipment. The most important skills for a prep cook/dishwasher are wash dishes, food preparation equipment, and dishwashers.

Short order cook vs prep cook/dishwasher overview

	Short Order Cook	Prep Cook/Dishwasher
Yearly salary	$30,734	$31,687
Hourly rate	$14.78	$15.23
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	176,187	126,351
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 57%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

What does a short order cook do?

A short-order cook takes responsibility for preparing foods in cafes and restaurants. Usually, they fry eggs, cook fries, and prepare sandwiches. Short order cooks work alongside line chefs in the foodservice market. Their manner of preparing food is quick, easy, and simple. They plan and handle work orders ensuring that all orders are complete and served on time. Strong communication, customer service, a good sense of taste, and the ability to work efficiently are necessary requirements for the job.

What does a prep cook/dishwasher do?

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.

Short order cook vs prep cook/dishwasher salary

Short order cooks and prep cook/dishwashers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Short Order Cook	Prep Cook/Dishwasher
Average salary	$30,734	$31,687
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $38,000	Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Anaheim, CA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Washington	Washington
Best paying company	Columbia University in the City of New York	Seattle Seahawks
Best paying industry	Health Care	Retail

Differences between short order cook and prep cook/dishwasher education

There are a few differences between a short order cook and a prep cook/dishwasher in terms of educational background:

	Short Order Cook	Prep Cook/Dishwasher
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 43%	High School Diploma, 57%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Short order cook vs prep cook/dishwasher demographics

Here are the differences between short order cooks' and prep cook/dishwashers' demographics:

	Short Order Cook	Prep Cook/Dishwasher
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9%	Male, 80.1% Female, 19.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 8.1% White, 61.2% 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%

Differences between short order cook and prep cook/dishwasher duties and responsibilities

Short order cook example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Ensure that ovens and stoves remain at appropriate temperatures.
Clean kitchen including wiping down grills, slicers and deep-frying equipment.
Develop teamwork skills with cooks, dishwashers and wait staff, through efficient clean up and preparation of food.
Prepare guest food orders as they are either transmit via the POS system or orally convey at the counter.
Cook foods on the grill station, oven, barbecue grill, deep fryers, and other industrial cooking apparatus.

Prep cook/dishwasher example responsibilities.

Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
Operate many kitchen appliances and machines including fryers, grinders, food processors, mixers, and slicers.
Perform basic cooking duties such as operate fryers as well as assist cooks in any way need with entrees.
Receive, prepare and plate orders using commercial grills, fryers, ovens and stoves in a quick and consistent manner.
Prep food items and refrigerate appropriately, maintain cleanliness of restaurant, wash all dishes associate with the daily operations
Operate a dishwasher for a hospital cafeteria.

Short order cook vs prep cook/dishwasher skills

Common short order cook skills

Food Handling, 20%
Customer Service, 14%
Food Preparation Equipment, 11%
Kitchen Equipment, 9%
Food Service, 7%
Safety Standards, 7%

Common prep cook/dishwasher skills

Wash Dishes, 42%
Food Preparation Equipment, 10%
Dishwashers, 8%
Kitchen Equipment, 4%
Cooking Equipment, 3%
Line Cooks, 3%

Short Order Cook vs. similar jobs

Short Order Cook related careers

Short Order Cook related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Food Preparation and Restaurant Industry
Short Order Cook
Short Order Cook vs Prep Cook/Dishwasher

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs