Special diet cook vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between special diet cooks 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 special diet cook and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a special diet cook has an average salary of $33,777, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep 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, prep cook are kitchen equipment, food handling, and culinary.

Special diet cook vs line cook, prep cook overview

	Special Diet Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$33,777	$32,982
Hourly rate	$16.24	$15.86
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	85,543	164,756
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Special diet cook vs line cook, prep cook salary

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

	Special Diet Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary	$33,777	$32,982
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $45,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Bainbridge Island, WA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Washington
Best paying company	St Anthony of Padua High Ridge Catholic Church	WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between special diet cook and line cook, prep cook education

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

	Special Diet Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 36%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Special diet cook vs line cook, prep cook demographics

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

	Special Diet Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratio	Black 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, 9.5% 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 special diet cook and line cook, prep 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.

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.

Special diet cook vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common special diet cook skills

Food Handling, 41%
Food Preparation, 35%
Food Safety, 20%
Allergies, 4%

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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Special Diet Cook
Special Diet Cook vs Line Cook, Prep Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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