How to hire a cook/dishwasher

How to hire a cook/dishwasher, step by step

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

What does a cook/dishwasher do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   The following list breaks down different types of cook/dishwashers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Cook/Dishwasher	Description	Hourly rate
   Cook/Dishwasher		$11-19
   Mexican Food Cook	A Mexican Food Cook works at restaurants or similar establishments that specialize in Mexican cuisine. Their responsibilities revolve around cutting meat and vegetable in portions, cooking and preparing according to company menu and guidelines, monitoring the supply of ingredients, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas... Show more	$11-18
   Short Order Cook	A short-order cook takes responsibility for preparing foods in cafes and restaurants. Usually, they fry eggs, cook fries, and prepare sandwiches... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Wash Dishes
   • Customer Service
   • Dishwashers
   • Prep Food
   • Safety Standards
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Customer Orders
   • Fryers
   • Mop Floors
   • Food Preparation Equipment
   • Bus Tables
   • Clean Kitchen
   • Large-Volume Cooking Equipment
   • Quality Food

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Cook and prepare sandwiches and entrees throughout the shift, working with slicers, grills, and fryers.
   • Enter orders into pos system.
   • Organize groceries as to ensure use before expiration.
   • Host: open/close shifts, greet and seat tables, run seating board.
   • Serve food to customers, run the cash register and also buse tables and wash dishes.

   More cook/dishwasher duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, cook/dishwashers' average salary in florida is 51% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cook/dishwashers 40% less than senior-level cook/dishwashers.
   • Certifications. A cook/dishwasher 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 cook/dishwasher's salary.

   Average cook/dishwasher salary

   $15.24hourly

   $31,703 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level cook/dishwasher salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 29, 2025

   Average cook/dishwasher salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$43,088	$21
   2	California	$40,831	$20
   3	Oregon	$36,704	$18
   4	Nevada	$33,275	$16
   5	Pennsylvania	$32,736	$16
   6	Colorado	$30,706	$15
   7	New York	$30,314	$15
   8	Michigan	$28,218	$14
   9	Minnesota	$28,170	$14
   10	Arizona	$27,989	$13
   11	Illinois	$26,839	$13
   12	Texas	$26,710	$13
   13	Missouri	$26,087	$13
   14	Iowa	$25,981	$12
   15	North Carolina	$25,695	$12
   16	Tennessee	$25,577	$12
   17	Georgia	$24,925	$12
   18	South Dakota	$24,592	$12
   19	South Carolina	$23,698	$11
   20	Nebraska	$22,515	$11

   Average cook/dishwasher salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	New Seasons Market	$37,270	$17.92
   2	National Pancake House	$35,146	$16.90	17
   3	Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants	$34,399	$16.54	34
   4	Greenwich Country Club	$32,920	$15.83
   5	SherrillTree	$32,603	$15.67
   6	Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc	$32,477	$15.61	157
   7	First Class Workforce Solutions	$32,460	$15.61
   8	All Team Staffing, Inc.	$31,912	$15.34	25
   9	Ethan Allen Workforce Solutions	$31,612	$15.20
   10	ManpowerGroup	$31,558	$15.17	4
   11	sweetgreen	$31,448	$15.12	20
   12	Corner Bakery Cafe	$31,054	$14.93
   13	Covenant Care	$31,031	$14.92
   14	Mission Health Communities	$30,892	$14.85
   15	Elwood Staffing	$30,799	$14.81
   16	Mission Health Services	$30,755	$14.79	2
   17	E & S Inc	$30,521	$14.67
   18	PeopleReady	$30,391	$14.61	94
   19	Outback Steakhouse	$29,902	$14.38	80
   20	Acadia Healthcare	$29,894	$14.37	14

4. Writing a cook/dishwasher job description

   A job description for a cook/dishwasher 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 cook/dishwasher job description:

   Cook/dishwasher job description example

   
   

   Applicant must be at least 16 years of age (under 18 requires working papers from within the state of employment)

   Able to provide proper ID., Birth Certificate and or Social Sec. Card

   Eligible to work in the United States

   Reliable transportation to and from work.

   Able to stand for long periods of time and able to handle working in a fast-paced environment

   Must be willing to smile, ALOT!!!

   Enthusiasm and willingness to learn

   Strong work and team ethic with a strong commitment to customer satisfaction

   Strong multitasking abilities

   Have patience and understanding

   Must have urgency in everything you do

   Take ownership and responsibility with your decisions

   Neat, clean, professional appearance

   Willing to work a flexible schedule

   Follow standards and policies as trained and exemplified in our handbook.

   Willingness to help others and be part of a team.

   
   

   Benefits of Working for Us:

   
   

   You are a person not just a number

   Safe, organize, and energetic atmosphere

   Excellent training

   Accelerated \step up\ program with regular evaluations and coaching

   Flexible Schedule

   Schedule posted 1 week in advance

   Part time and full time available

   Competitive hourly wage for our industry

   COMPLOMENTARY meals during breaks

   
   

   Here is what it takes to be a great Cook (Chicken Master)

   
   

   As a Chicken Master you will produce the Colonel's famous Original and Extra Crispy chicken. Along with our Chicken Sandwich filets and our juicy Extra Crispy Tenders!!. There are many facets to a Cook position with our company. You must have the desire to stay busy and stay on schedule. You will be fully trained to become a Chicken Master. You will be responsible to follow build projections for our products. You will be responsible for rotating and recording expiration times for all of our product that you cook. You will be using chemicals from time to time to clean and sanitize our kitchen to keep up with our cleanliness standards. You must always show pride in chicken that is breaded properly time and time again. Since we make everything in our kitchen by hand, the quality and consistency is directly reflective of how you follow our breading procedures. A cook in our store also handles dishwashing duties. Cooks must always present a neat and clean appearance. They must also be able to lift our chicken crates that can weigh up to 50lbs. You will also be required to mop floors and rotate our stock on a nightly basis. Of course we emphasize that lifting anything heavy in our store should be a team effort (team lift).

   Company Introduction

   Our company is one that respects and values our employees. We offer flexible scheduling and competitive wages as well as meal discounts. As an employee at our store you are part of a team and part of a family. We respect each other and hold team commitment as our highest priority. With our company you are a person and not just a number.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right cook/dishwasher for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with cook/dishwashers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit cook/dishwashers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cook/dishwasher candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 cook/dishwasher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the cook/dishwasher 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.

   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.

   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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