How to hire a banquet cook

How to hire a banquet cook, step by step

Here's a step-by-step banquet 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 banquet cook job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new banquet cook
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The banquet cook hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A banquet cook's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, banquet cooks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents banquet cook salaries for various positions.

   Type of Banquet Cook	Description	Hourly rate
   Banquet Cook	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$12-20
   Culinary Internship	In a culinary internship, an intern's responsibilities primarily depend on the directives of a supervisor. Usually, they must gain industry insights and practical work experience by performing support tasks in the daily kitchen operations, such as measuring and preparing ingredients, sanitizing tools, maintaining and monitoring supplies, participating in food preparations, and maintaining the cleanliness of different areas... Show more	$11-18
   Line Cook, Prep Cook	A line cook/prep cook is responsible for assisting with food preparations, ensuring that all ingredients are readily available and stored safely. Line cook/prep cook tasks also include reviewing and updating menus to keep the customers' patronization... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Culinary
   • Quality Standards
   • Cleanliness
   • Food Handling
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Preparation
   • Roasting
   • Sauces
   • Customer Service
   • Food Service
   • Fine Dining
   • Cold Food
   • Dependability
   • Dexterity

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
   • Knife skills, baking, roasting, frying, sauteing, and grilling large quantities.
   • Follow the HACCP guidelines for preparing food
   • Well verse in cleaning work areas, equipment, utensils, and dishes.
   • Work on the different stations in the kitchen like saut, grill and bake.
   • Task involve preparation of fresh meals daily for the hospital patients and the public.

   More banquet cook duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your banquet cook job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A banquet cook can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, banquet cooks' average salary in mississippi is 47% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level banquet cooks 37% less than senior-level banquet cooks.
   • Certifications. A banquet cook with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a banquet cook's salary.

   Average banquet cook salary

   $16.63hourly

   $34,599 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level banquet cook salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average banquet cook salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$47,565	$23
   2	Massachusetts	$44,953	$22
   3	Washington	$43,949	$21
   4	District of Columbia	$42,285	$20
   5	Oregon	$41,796	$20
   6	Illinois	$41,182	$20
   7	Colorado	$39,580	$19
   8	Nevada	$38,509	$19
   9	Missouri	$36,637	$18
   10	Florida	$36,447	$18
   11	North Carolina	$36,020	$17
   12	Maine	$35,894	$17
   13	Arizona	$34,893	$17
   14	Utah	$34,813	$17
   15	Indiana	$34,222	$16
   16	New Mexico	$32,798	$16
   17	Ohio	$32,711	$16
   18	Virginia	$31,202	$15
   19	Texas	$30,577	$15
   20	Pennsylvania	$29,147	$14

   Average banquet cook salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Grosse Pointe Yacht Club	$39,298	$18.89
   2	The Culinary Institute of America	$39,249	$18.87	5
   3	Kohler Co.	$38,585	$18.55	8
   4	Fantasy Springs Resort Casino	$38,302	$18.41
   5	Treasure Island Resort & Casino	$38,130	$18.33	15
   6	Tulalip Resort Casino	$38,062	$18.30	2
   7	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City	$37,940	$18.24	2
   8	Emerald Queen Casino	$37,785	$18.17	1
   9	Sandia Resort & Casino	$37,462	$18.01
   10	Foxwoods Resort Casino	$37,228	$17.90	3
   11	Hyatt Hotels	$37,194	$17.88	140
   12	Cornell University	$37,099	$17.84	9
   13	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$37,079	$17.83
   14	Wyndham Hotels & Resorts	$37,060	$17.82
   15	Morongo Casino Resort & Spa	$36,994	$17.79	5
   16	Minnesota Limited	$36,933	$17.76
   17	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$36,907	$17.74	108
   18	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$36,840	$17.71	110
   19	Radisson	$36,839	$17.71
   20	Penn National Gaming	$36,749	$17.67

4. Writing a banquet cook job description

   A job description for a banquet 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 banquet cook job description:

   Banquet cook job description example

   What are we looking for?:

   At least one (1) year experience directly related to the accountabilities specified.

   What would it be like to work at this property?:

   Overlooking the Missouri River, this 130,000 square-foot casino and AAA Four Diamond full-service luxury suite hotel is in historic St. Charles. With an architectural design derived from the historic wharf and train stations, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles hints at the action inside. The streetscape continues the theme by following the design cues of St. Charles Port District complete with seven dining outlets, 12 bars, an entertainment venue, a full-service luxury day spa, indoor/outdoor pool, gift shop and 22,000 square-foot conference center.

   Ameristar St. Charles

   One Ameristar Blvd.

   St. Charles, MO 63301

   What would it be like to be a Boyd Gaming Team Member?:

   Boyd Gaming Corporation has been successful in gaming jurisdiction in which we operate in the United States and is one of the premier casino entertainment companies in the United States. Never content to rest upon our successes, we will continue to evolve and retain a position of leadership in our industry.
   
   Our past success, our current business philosophies and our sound business planning, combine to position Boyd Gaming Corporation to maximize value for our shareholders, our team members and our communities.
   
   Corporate Mission
   We, as members of Boyd Gaming Corporation, operate with only the highest degree of integrity, and rely on the competence and friendliness of each person in our organization to provide entertainment and service to satisfy our customers' wants.
   
   Through teamwork, we strive to maximize shareholder value, to be among the leading companies in our industry and to provide opportunities for all while we support and enhance our communities.
   
   Company Vision
   Boyd Gaming is one of the nation’s leading casino entertainment companies. But we’re so much more – a Fortune 1000 company that retains the philosophy of a family-owned business, focused on creating long-term, sustainable growth for our shareholders. This philosophy defines and separates us from the competition, making us unique in our industry.
   
   From our earliest beginnings in the 1970s, we made a commitment to our shareholders and our team members to create an operating style built around family. In a highly competitive industry, our Boyd Style of hospitality has come to define us in a most unique way.
   
   Forging ahead in the coming years, we will remain focused on our three main goals: improving our operating performance, continuing to execute on our current growth strategy, and demonstrating our branding initiatives.
   
   We remain confident in the strength of our Company to successfully meet whatever challenges lie ahead.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find banquet cooks for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit banquet cooks, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 banquet cook

   Once you have selected a candidate for the banquet cook position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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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