Line Cook
Food ServiceYou'll prep, cook, and plate hundreds of dishes in a kitchen that's always too hot, too loud, and too small. Burns are a badge of honor. You'll eat your meals standing up and develop an unhealthy relationship with energy drinks.
Salary Range
Low
$26k
Median
$37k
High
$52k
10-Year Growth
15%
US Workers
1.3M
Education
None required (culinary school helps)
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Commercial kitchen equipment (grills, fryers, ovens)
- ▸Food safety certification (ServSafe)
- ▸Knife skills & prep techniques
- ▸Sauté, grill & fry station management
- ▸Recipe scaling & portioning
- ▸POS & kitchen display systems
- ▸FIFO inventory management
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Teamwork
- ▸Time management
- ▸Stress tolerance
- ▸Attention to detail
- ▸Physical stamina
- ▸Adaptability
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Commercial kitchen equipment (grills, fryers, ovens)
Food safety certification (ServSafe)
Knife skills & prep techniques
Sauté, grill & fry station management
POS & kitchen display systems
FIFO inventory management
Would You Survive as a Line Cook?
5 real scenarios. Honest answers only. We'll tell you if you'd make it — or if you should run.
What you'll actually do
- 01Prep ingredients until you can julienne an onion in your sleep
- 02Cook dishes to order during the dinner rush
- 03Maintain station cleanliness and food safety standards
- 04Restock ingredients from the walk-in cooler
- 05Coordinate timing with other cooks on the line
- 06Clean the flat top, fryer, and everything else at close
- 07Survive the dinner rush without losing your mind
Career Path
Where this role sits in the bigger picture — and where it can take you.
Prep Cook / Dishwasher
$22k–$28k
Line Cook
YOU ARE HERE$28k–$42k
Sous Chef
$42k–$60k
Head Chef / Executive Chef
$55k–$95k+
Related Shifts
Think this could be you?
Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.
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