How to hire a back line cook

How to hire a back line cook, step by step

Here's a step-by-step back line cook hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a back line cook job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new back line cook
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the back line cook you need to hire. Certain back line cook roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a back line cook to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a back line cook that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of back line cook salaries for various roles:

   Type of Back Line Cook	Description	Hourly rate
   Back Line Cook	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$11-18
   Cook/Dishwasher	Cooks/dishwashers must develop kitchen skills to excel in this line of job. Each cook or dishwasher must learn to develop skills in food preparation, sanitation, and customer service... Show more	$11-19
   Cook/Server	Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests... Show more	$11-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Dishes
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Safety Standards
   • Back Line
   • Food Preparation
   • Food Products
   • Front Line
   • Food Orders
   • Deep-Fat Fryers
   • Bar-Back
   • Fryers
   • RAN
   • Drive-Thru
   • Customer Orders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop ability to manage multiple stations simultaneously while maintaining high levels of culinary excellence.
   • Leverage teamwork to fully utilize kitchen staff to generate remarkable food and service to ensure customer satisfaction.
   • Can make and food at mcdonalds.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your back line cook job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A back line cook salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, back line cooks' average salary in mississippi is 49% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level back line cooks earn 38% less than senior-level back line cooks.
   • Certifications. A back line cook with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a back line cook's salary.

   Average back line cook salary

   $14.95hourly

   $31,093 yearly

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   Entry-level back line cook salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a back line cook job description

   A job description for a back line cook role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a back line cook job description:

   Back line cook job description example

   Featuring world-renowned celebrity chef Akira Back, Lumi is an energetic and upscale rooftop experience serving modern Japanese fare and sushi accompanied by handcrafted libations in a vividly unique atmosphere.
   
   Known for his innovative interpretations of Asian fare with American influence, Chef Akira Back's success is fueled by an impressive 20-year culinary background landing numerous awards and international media attention. Using only the high-quality ingredients and creating a culture of world-class service in a welcoming environment, Chef Back's restaurants embody classic cuisine continuously featuring innovative dishes that use the finest ingredients from the world's top purveyors. Lumi by Akira Back features his adventurous flavors with a California twist, using local ingredients throughout the menu and influences from around the world for an immersive dining experience.
   
   High energy, high-end, high up - the views of the city pair well with traditional Japanese architecture, modern design elements, and pops of color to create a vividly unique atmosphere. Lumi by Akira Back brings together dining, drinking, and socializing with an eclectic-chic space in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. Flawlessly blended DJ beats add to the lively atmosphere, setting the vibe for guests to enjoy inventive shareable plates and sake craft cocktails next to rooftop fire pits.
   
   RMD Group was formed by three partners who had a passion for the Hospitality Industry. Sure, running restaurants, bars, and nightclubs is fun, but doing it well takes a lot of trial and error. In an industry with competition around every corner, experience, and expertise matter. In the words of Jon Taffer: to be successful, “you've got to be the smartest guy in the room”. We believe that to have a thriving business, you must be the best at what you do. So, RMD Group was born. We built a team of Industry experts to run our businesses and to help other business owners find success in theirs.
   
   Want a great place to eat with excellent food and creative cocktails? Got it. Want to dance at your own VIP table while experiencing world-renowned DJ's and sensational bottle parades? Got it. Have a concept that you want to make a reality? Got it. Have a business that you want to take to the next level? Got it. Marketing. Development. Management. Consulting. Promotions. We can do it all because we've
   
   The Line Cook will be responsible for producing all items as specified from Sushi bar & All Chefs
   Duties and Responsibilities Produce all items as specified from main kitchen line Organize, prepare, deliver and display product for functions and pre-shift Responsible for quality of food and presentation Check pars of main kitchen line products Properly wraps, labels, dates, and stores all food items on their proper stations Sets up, operates, and cleans all kitchen machinery/equipment and stores it in its proper place. Maintains complete knowledge of correct maintenance and handling of equipment, using only as intended and only after proper training has been demonstrated Uses and applies proper kitchen safety procedures, sanitation procedures and basic cooking skills Practices proper food handling procedures. Practices proper knife handling skills. Comply with all safety and health department procedures Efficiently works with materials and/or resources being aware of and minimizing costs and expenses always Keeps workstation clean during service time. Disinfects and sanitizes cutting boards and worktables. Understand the food temperature danger zone Juggle multi-tasks, multiple projects and/or people Keep focused on the customer perspective Communicate effectively on all levels Report problems with machinery and complaints to Chef Create and maintain a sense of urgency Perform related duties as assigned Maintain and promote a friendly atmosphere for customers and staff Comply with all safety and health department procedures as well as Company and/or departmental policies/procedures. Comply with all state and federal liquor laws. Related duties as assigned Build and promote teamwork through proactive interaction Assists and/ or completes additional tasks as assigned REQUIRED LICENSE/QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE: High School Diploma Preferred 2 years minimum of experience, high volume preferred Proof of eligibility to work in the United States 21+ years of age Possession of or the ability to possess all state required work cards Maintain a professional, neat and well-groomed appearance adhering to Company standards SKILLS/APTITUDES: Produce all items as specified from main kitchen line Organize, prepare, deliver, and display product for functions and pre-shift Responsible for quality of food and presentation Check pars of main kitchen line products Properly wraps, labels, dates, and stores all food items on their proper stations Sets up, operates, and cleans all kitchen machinery/equipment and stores it in its proper place. Maintains complete knowledge of correct maintenance and handling of equipment, using only as intended and only after proper training has been demonstrated Uses and applies proper kitchen safety procedures, sanitation procedures and basic cooking skills Practices proper food handling procedures. Practices proper knife handling skills. Comply with all safety and health department procedures

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5. Post your job

   To find back line cooks for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any back line cooks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level back line cooks with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your back line cook job on Zippia to find and recruit back line cook candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting back line cooks requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new back line cook

   Once you've selected the best back line cook candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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