How to hire a cook/dietary aide

How to hire a cook/dietary aide, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cook/dietary aide hiring guide:

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

What does a cook/dietary aide do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The cook/dietary aide 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 cook/dietary aide's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cook/dietary aides 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.

   Here's a comparison of cook/dietary aide salaries for various roles:

   Type of Cook/Dietary Aide	Description	Hourly rate
   Cook/Dietary Aide	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$10-16
   Kitchen Cook	A kitchen cook prepares food for customers. Kitchen cooks help devise new menu items and methods of cooking... Show more	$12-18
   Prep Cook	Prep cooks are responsible for preparing ingredients. They are usually part of an assembly line-like structure in the kitchen... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Meal Service
   • Food Handling
   • Patients
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Service
   • Diet Orders
   • Tray Line
   • Customer Service
   • Scoops
   • Dishwashers
   • Steam Tables
   • Therapeutic Diets
   • Food Carts
   • Senior Care

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
   • Maintain kitchen cleanliness and quality standards base on federal guidelines for license long-term care facilities.
   • Assist residents with menus, questions, complaints and concerns, with compassion.
   • Cook with close attention to dietary concerns, including allergies, diabetes, and kosher diets.
   • Inventory and restocking, cleaning, communicating with healthcare professionals about dietary needs (such as allergies )
   • Clean and operate ovens, grills, vats, boilers, tilt skillets, meat slicers, mixers and stovetops.

   More cook/dietary aide duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cook/dietary aides' average salary in maryland is 45% less than in utah.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cook/dietary aides earn 38% less than senior-level cook/dietary aides.
   • Certifications. A cook/dietary aide 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 cook/dietary aide's salary.

   Average cook/dietary aide salary

   $13.22hourly

   $27,490 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cook/dietary aide salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average cook/dietary aide salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$35,355	$17
   2	Oregon	$31,480	$15
   3	Texas	$29,787	$14
   4	North Carolina	$26,876	$13
   5	Tennessee	$26,509	$13
   6	Georgia	$26,421	$13
   7	Wisconsin	$26,357	$13
   8	Florida	$26,076	$13
   9	Ohio	$25,255	$12
   10	South Carolina	$24,879	$12

   Average cook/dietary aide salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ann Storck Center	$34,427	$16.55	1
   2	Spring Branch Community Health Center	$33,575	$16.14
   3	The Behavioral Center of Michigan	$32,103	$15.43
   4	LifePoint Health	$30,573	$14.70	61
   5	Waters	$30,095	$14.47	5
   6	Felician Sisters of North America	$29,907	$14.38	6
   7	The Center for Health Care Services	$29,747	$14.30
   8	Universal Health Services	$29,718	$14.29	127
   9	Verland Foundation	$29,506	$14.19	2
   10	Humboldt County Memorial Hosp	$29,351	$14.11	1
   11	Life Care Solutions	$29,346	$14.11	59
   12	Franklin	$29,344	$14.11	6
   13	Learning Care Group	$29,309	$14.09	22
   14	Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center	$29,209	$14.04
   15	Crossroads Center Rescue Mission	$29,164	$14.02
   16	Reno, NV	$29,150	$14.01	2
   17	Avera Health	$29,042	$13.96	19
   18	Oaks Senior Living	$28,919	$13.90	35
   19	Kindred Healthcare	$28,791	$13.84	4
   20	Life Care Centers of America	$28,661	$13.78	123

4. Writing a cook/dietary aide job description

   A good cook/dietary aide job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a cook/dietary aide job description:

   Cook/dietary aide job description example

   !!! SIGN ON BONUS COOKS $750 & DIETARY AIDES $500 !!!

   Next Level Hospitality Services takes the quality and service of Dietary & Housekeeping Departments in health care facilities to the next level. Here is a chance to advance your career with a cutting-edge company and industry leader. If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career opportunity in hospitality services for the healthcare industry, then Next Level Hospitality Services could be for you.

   Dietary Aide Position:

   · Ability to understand and follow recipe directions, diet orders, tray cards, and work assignments. This position will show a willingness and ability to perform routine tasks with frequent interruptions. Must be comfortable around cleaning agents and chemicals. Must be able to work with other various work routines such as preparing food items, serving trays, handling soiled dishes, operating dietary equipment, and cleaning work area. Looking for patient and tolerant candidates to be part of our Dietary Team. Must be able to work every other weekend.

   Cook Position:

   · Accurately and efficiently cook an assortment of meals for breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as prepare and portion food products prior to cooking. Other duties in the areas of food and final plate preparation including plating and garnishing of cooked items and preparing appropriate garnishes for all hot menu item plates. Act as a liaison for the Dietary Manager in their absence to ensure accurate meal prep and delivery. Classically trained & experienced in a high-volume culinary environment. Follow & prepare standardized recipes. Cleaning the kitchen before and after food service. Cleaning all the kitchen equipment before and after use. Inventory management & purchasing. Rotation of stock. Recipe development & compliance. Capable of handling last minute requests for special events.

   Benefits Offered to Full-time Team Members

   • Paid Time Off (PTO)
   • Medical Insurance
   • Dental Insurance
   • Vision Insurance
   • Supplemental Insurance
   • 401K
   • Daily Pay

   Next Level Hospitality Services is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cook/dietary aides 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 cook/dietary aide job on Zippia to find and recruit cook/dietary aide candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit cook/dietary aides, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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 cook/dietary aide

   Once you've decided on a perfect cook/dietary aide candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new cook/dietary aide. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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How much does it cost to hire a cook/dietary aide?