Post job

Special diet cook vs line cook

The differences between special diet cooks and line 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 special diet cook and a line cook. Additionally, a special diet cook has an average salary of $33,777, which is higher than the $32,894 average annual salary of a line cook.

The top three skills for a special diet cook include food handling, food preparation and food safety. The most important skills for a line cook are culinary, sanitation standards, and food handling.

Special diet cook vs line cook overview

Special Diet CookLine Cook
Yearly salary$33,777$32,894
Hourly rate$16.24$15.81
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs85,543168,993
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

Special diet cook vs line cook salary

Special diet cooks and line cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Diet CookLine Cook
Average salary$33,777$32,894
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $45,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityBainbridge Island, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateHawaiiHawaii
Best paying companySt Anthony of Padua High Ridge Catholic ChurchGate City Bank
Best paying industry-Hospitality

Differences between special diet cook and line cook education

There are a few differences between a special diet cook and a line cook in terms of educational background:

Special Diet CookLine Cook
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorCulinary ArtsCulinary Arts
Most common college--

Special diet cook vs line cook demographics

Here are the differences between special diet cooks' and line cooks' demographics:

Special Diet CookLine Cook
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 59.2% Female, 40.8%Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 8.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between special diet cook and line cook duties and responsibilities

Special diet cook example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate with in-house & outside counsel, practice development
  • Prep individual food plates for children with allergies, intolerances, and special diets.
  • Prepare three meals daily for individuals with dietary restrictionsKeep organize lists of all dietary restrictions and allergies.
  • Cook with convection oven, large tilt skillets, flat grills, fryers, large chef knives, and measuring utensils.
  • Learned successful techniques for operating a small business including leadership skills, time-management skills, and decision-making skills.
  • puree, soft, normal, no dairy, etc.
  • Show more

Line cook example responsibilities.

  • Used strong organizational skills to manage steamers efficiently for both eat-in and take-out services.
  • Supervise cooks and manage the preparation, portioning, garnishing, and storage of all food items, cutting meat size.
  • Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
  • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
  • Used equipment such as meat slicers, salamanders and steamers.
  • Develop food preparation skills and knowledge of tools involve; such as proper use of knives and automate slicers.
  • Show more

Special diet cook vs line cook skills

Common special diet cook skills
  • Food Handling, 41%
  • Food Preparation, 35%
  • Food Safety, 20%
  • Allergies, 4%
Common line cook skills
  • Culinary, 12%
  • Sanitation Standards, 11%
  • Food Handling, 11%
  • Team Work, 9%
  • Kitchen Equipment, 8%
  • Cleanliness, 8%

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs