Career comparison
Chef vs. Line Cook
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Chefs earn more at the median ($62,470 vs. $37,390), while line cooks usually get to work faster (1–6 months on the job of training). Chefs lead kitchens, create menus and turn ingredients into memorable meals. Line cooks cook dishes to order on a busy restaurant line.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Chef | Line Cook | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,470 ($30.03/hr) | $37,390 ($17.98/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $37,900 – $98,560 | $28,700 – $47,900 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.6% (faster than average) | +12.1% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 25,200 | 218,600 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 2–5 years of kitchen experience | 1–6 months on the job |
| Key credential | ServSafe Food Protection Manager | Food handler card |
| Work setting | Chefs work in hot, noisy, fast-paced kitchens in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools and catering companies. | Line cooks work in hot, crowded kitchens with open flames, hot oil and sharp knives. |
What each job does
Chef
- Plan menus and develop recipes
- Order and receive food and supplies
- Supervise, train and schedule kitchen staff
- Cook and expedite during service
- Control food costs and reduce waste
Line Cook
- Prep ingredients for the station before service
- Cook dishes to order following recipes
- Plate food to presentation standards
- Communicate with the expediter and other cooks
- Monitor food temperatures and quality
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, teamwork, a fast pace, and indoor work. Both are part of the hospitality, food & tourism field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose chef if…
- I love cooking and creating dishes
- I thrive under pressure
- I can lead a team
Choose line cook if…
- I like cooking
- I work fast under pressure
- I like teamwork
Still torn? Take the Chef fit quiz and the Line Cook fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, chef or line cook?
Chefs earn more at the median: $62,470 versus $37,390 for line cooks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Line Cooks typically train faster (1–6 months on the job) than chefs (2–5 years of kitchen experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects line cooks to grow +12.1% from 2025–35, compared with +6.6% for chefs.