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Specialty foods cook vs line cook, prep cook

The differences between specialty foods 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 foods cook and a line cook, prep cook. Additionally, a line cook, prep cook has an average salary of $32,982, which is higher than the $31,497 average annual salary of a specialty foods cook.

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

Specialty foods cook vs line cook, prep cook overview

Specialty Foods CookLine Cook, Prep Cook
Yearly salary$31,497$32,982
Hourly rate$15.14$15.86
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs189,118164,756
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 50%High School Diploma, 43%
Average age3838
Years of experience44

Specialty foods cook vs line cook, prep cook salary

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

Specialty Foods CookLine Cook, Prep Cook
Average salary$31,497$32,982
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyNcar - The National Center For Atmospheric ResearchWESTWOOD COUNTRY CLUB OF AUSTIN
Best paying industryRetailRetail

Differences between specialty foods cook and line cook, prep cook education

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

Specialty Foods CookLine Cook, Prep Cook
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 50%High School Diploma, 43%
Most common majorBusinessCulinary Arts
Most common college--

Specialty foods cook vs line cook, prep cook demographics

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

Specialty Foods CookLine Cook, Prep Cook
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.0% White, 58.7% 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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between specialty foods cook and line cook, prep cook duties and responsibilities

Specialty foods cook example responsibilities.

  • Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
  • Operate a large volume of cooking equipment such as grills, deep fryers, and griddles.
  • Collect orders from customers, clean dining room, wash dishes, safely cook food to customer liking.
  • Ensure food are stored and cook at correct temperatures by regulating temperature of oven, broilers, grills and roasters.
  • Bag merchandise by following standard procedures.maintain Drive-thru times.
  • Leverage teamwork to fully utilize kitchen staff to generate remarkable food and service to ensure customer satisfaction.
    • Show more

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.
    • Show more

Specialty foods cook vs line cook, prep cook skills

Common specialty foods cook skills
  • Food Handling, 45%
  • Basic Math, 35%
  • Dishes, 5%
  • Food Service, 4%
  • Safety Standards, 3%
  • Food Products, 1%
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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Updated January 8, 2025

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