Third cook vs prep cook

The differences between third cooks and prep 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 third cook and a prep cook. Additionally, a third cook has an average salary of $33,974, which is higher than the $32,292 average annual salary of a prep cook.

The top three skills for a third cook include food preparation, kitchen equipment and culinary. The most important skills for a prep cook are food handling, culinary, and sanitation standards.

Third cook vs prep cook overview

	Third Cook	Prep Cook
Yearly salary	$33,974	$32,292
Hourly rate	$16.33	$15.53
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	137,854	168,265
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 48%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	4	4

Third cook vs prep cook salary

Third cooks and prep cooks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Third Cook	Prep Cook
Average salary	$33,974	$32,292
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $41,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	-	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	Kemps
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between third cook and prep cook education

There are a few differences between a third cook and a prep cook in terms of educational background:

	Third Cook	Prep Cook
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 48%
Most common major	Culinary Arts	Culinary Arts
Most common college	-	-

Third cook vs prep cook demographics

Here are the differences between third cooks' and prep cooks' demographics:

	Third Cook	Prep Cook
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0%	Male, 61.3% Female, 38.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 8.4% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between third cook and prep cook duties and responsibilities

Third cook example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Maintain and follow proper hygiene and sanitation standards.

Prep cook example responsibilities.

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Provide students with first-rate customer service and ensure correct time-temperature control of culinary dishes.
Learned and become CPR certify for emergencies.
Direct and ensure that HACCP procedures are follow.
Plan menu items as needed for caf or catering.
Earn first aid, CPR, and a certification.

Third cook vs prep cook skills

Common third cook skills

Food Preparation, 31%
Kitchen Equipment, 29%
Culinary, 25%
HACCP, 15%
Kitchen Line, 0%

Common prep cook skills

Food Handling, 15%
Culinary, 15%
Sanitation Standards, 12%
Kitchen Equipment, 9%
Cleanliness, 7%
Team Work, 7%

Third Cook vs. similar jobs

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Third Cook vs Prep Cook

Updated January 8, 2025

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