Specialty cook vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between specialty 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 specialty cook and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a specialty cook has an average salary of $33,829, which is higher than the $32,982 average annual salary of a line cook, prep cook.

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

Specialty cook vs line cook, prep cook overview

	Specialty Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$33,829	$32,982
Hourly rate	$16.26	$15.86
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	141,369	164,756
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 44%	High School Diploma, 43%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Specialty cook vs line cook, prep cook salary

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

	Specialty Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary	$33,829	$32,982
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Vancouver, WA	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Washington
Best paying company	Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	WESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Retail

Differences between specialty cook and line cook, prep cook education

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

	Specialty Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 44%	High School Diploma, 43%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Specialty cook vs line cook, prep cook demographics

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

	Specialty Cook	Line Cook, Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 77.4% Female, 22.6%	Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 9.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	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 specialty cook and line cook, prep cook duties and responsibilities

Specialty cook example responsibilities.

Work grill, saut, & expediter stations.
Complete culinary tasks using various cooking methods and techniques/ very good knife handling skills.
Work all stations, saut, grill, pantry, fryer, breakfast, in upscale American bistro.
Maintain cleanliness and a sanitary environment within kitchen area to meet all health and safety requirements.
Unload and store groceries and supplies.
Maintain balance inventories of groceries and supplies.

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.

Specialty cook vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common specialty cook skills

Food Handling, 23%
Culinary, 16%
Kitchen Equipment, 16%
Cuisine, 12%
Food Quality, 7%
Fine Dining, 5%

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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Specialty Cook
Specialty Cook vs Line Cook, Prep Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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