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Chefs are responsible for directing the activities of other kitchen workers, menu planning, recipe creation, food and supply ordering, and some specific cooking duties. They are typically the most senior members of the staff.
Cooks are responsible for the day to day food preparation at the restaurant or facility. Depending on the size of the facility, there may be several cooks, each responsible for a different part of the menu, or a different type of food. For example, there are fry cooks, vegetable cooks, pastry cooks, and other specialties.
Food Preparation Workers work under the supervision of chefs and cooks, and typically perform less skilled duties. For example, they may chop vegetables, prepare salads, and prepare materials used by the restaurant's chefs and cooks.
Average Earnings
- Head Chefs: $13.57 to $19.27 depending on where you are working. Remember that different places pay per hour.
- Restaurant cooks: $9.34 to $10.69
- Fast food: $7.00 to $8.50
- Short order cooks: $6.95 to $8.56.
- Cafeteria workers: $9.04 to $10.38.
- Prep Cooks: $6.95 to $8.14.
Job Outlook
There were 2.8 million jobs held in 2000. Today the department of labor says there are many openings.
| Food preparation workers |
844,000 |
| Restaurant Cooks |
668,000 |
| Fast Food Cooks |
522,000 |
| Institutional and Cafeteria Cooks |
465,000 |
| Short Order Cooks |
205,000 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks |
139,000 |
| Private Household Cooks |
5,200 |
Reference: "Is a Career in the Culinary Arts for you?." 4-23-2007 <http://www.culinary-careers.org/index.html>.
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