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How to hire a food prep/dishwasher

Food prep/dishwasher hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring food prep/dishwashers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a food prep/dishwasher is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new food prep/dishwasher to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a food prep/dishwasher, step by step

To hire a food prep/dishwasher, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a food prep/dishwasher:

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

What does a food prep/dishwasher do?

A food prep/dishwasher's role is to perform food preparation and cleaning duties in a kitchen, under the supervision and directives of a chef or manager. One of their primary responsibilities is washing dishes, sanitizing utensils, and preparing ingredients by washing, peeling, and cutting them according to size. They may also participate in organizing, sorting, and putting them in proper storage. There are also instances when they have to perform basic cooking tasks ranging from boiling and frying to baking. Furthermore, a food prep/dishwasher may have the duty of maintaining the kitchen's cleanliness and other areas.

Learn more about the specifics of what a food prep/dishwasher does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The food prep/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?

    A food prep/dishwasher's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, food prep/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 food prep/dishwashers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Food Prep/DishwasherDescriptionHourly rate
    Food Prep/DishwasherFood preparation workers perform many routine tasks under the direction of cooks, chefs, or food service managers. Food preparation workers prepare cold foods, slice meat, peel and cut vegetables, brew coffee or tea, and perform many other food service tasks.$11-17
    Kitchen StaffThe kitchen staff consists of preparation workers who execute several routine tasks as directed by chefs, food service managers, and cooks. These works should have the ability to follow cooking instructions and deliver well-prepared meals... Show more$11-17
    Bakery ClerkA bakery clerk is an employee who is responsible for running the bakery department of supermarkets, boutique bakeries, or baking facilities. Bakery clerks are usually tasked to manage the bakery's cash register, bagging baked goods and then taking customers' payments... Show more$11-16
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Food Preparation Equipment
    • Work Ethic
    • Wash Dishes
    • Cleanliness
    • Food Service
    • Dishwashers
    • Safety Standards
    • Sanitation Standards
    • Customer Service
    • Kitchen Equipment
    • Unload Trucks
    • Cooking Equipment
    • Kitchen Utensils
    • Groceries
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Prep food items and refrigerate appropriately, maintain cleanliness of restaurant, wash all dishes associate with the daily operations
    • Operate industrial dishwasher ensuring sanitation of all dishes.
    • Operate dishwasher keep kitchen clean organize and sanitize.
    • Take proper care of ranges, ovens, broilers, fryers, griddles, utensils and other equipment.
    • Gain knowledge of how to use kitchen tools such as blenders, fryers, coffee maker, and food processor.
    • Make smoothies, clean up after every smoothie, clean whole store, prep fruits and juices
    More food prep/dishwasher duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your food prep/dishwasher job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A food prep/dishwasher salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a food prep/dishwasher in North Carolina may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level food prep/dishwasher usually earns less than a senior-level food prep/dishwasher. Additionally, a food prep/dishwasher with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average food prep/dishwasher salary

    $14.41hourly

    $29,964 yearly

    Entry-level food prep/dishwasher salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 13, 2026

    Average food prep/dishwasher salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$37,531$18
    2Maine$35,620$17
    3Oregon$35,076$17
    4California$34,009$16
    5New York$33,745$16
    6Hawaii$31,980$15
    7Connecticut$31,362$15
    8Colorado$31,204$15
    9Illinois$30,948$15
    10Nevada$29,988$14
    11Arizona$28,596$14
    12Maryland$28,503$14
    13Michigan$28,218$14
    14Utah$27,943$13
    15Virginia$27,180$13
    16Wisconsin$27,024$13
    17Texas$25,460$12
    18Ohio$25,193$12
    19Florida$25,044$12
    20Georgia$24,348$12

    Average food prep/dishwasher salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1University of Wisconsin System$34,149$16.426
    2DCH Health System$33,404$16.063
    3Lunds & Byerlys$33,351$16.032
    4Nordstrom$33,049$15.8924
    5Berger Building Products$32,508$15.63
    6Chumash Casino Resort$32,280$15.522
    7Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc$32,058$15.41104
    8Whole Foods Market$31,908$15.34109
    9Compass Group USA$31,849$15.315,173
    10Trinity Health$31,815$15.3066
    11Emory Healthcare$31,643$15.213
    12TPI$31,633$15.21
    13Wegmans Food Markets$31,495$15.1470
    14Memorial Healthcare System$31,256$15.03
    15J.F. Shea Co$30,976$14.8918
    16HealthTrust$30,948$14.88
    17Valley View Hospital$30,683$14.75
    18SAGE Dining Services$30,604$14.7182
    19PLUM$30,600$14.713
    20Bashas'$30,382$14.6116
  4. Writing a food prep/dishwasher job description

    A job description for a food prep/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 food prep/dishwasher job description:

    Food prep/dishwasher job description example

    Are you a multi-tasker?

    Do you enjoy mixing it up with your job assignments?

    Do you take pride in your work?

    If the answer is yes, then read on!

    Wedgewood Weddings is hiring Kitchen Utility Attendants!

    The best way to describe the position is as a Multi-Use Utility Person. The Wedgewood Kitchen Utility staff members are critical to the overall maintenance and cleanliness of our facilities and have a variety of responsibilities. They will be washing dishes, helping with food prep, helping to plate the food, as well as set up and break down of the actual events. This person will also assist with on-going kitchen and facility maintenance. We have a great team, and we want to add someone who will jump on board with positive energy.

    We are open seven days a week and have primarily afternoon/evening shifts available throughout the weekdays and weekends.

    Remember, we work when our clients and guests play, so weekend, evening and holiday availability is mandatory.

    Wedgewood Utility staff members have:
    • A keen sense of origination and urgency
    • A willingness to do "whatever it takes" to get the job done
    • Skills be to efficient under pressure
    • The ability to relate to a diverse set of team members and clients

    Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
    • Keeping the kitchen clean to set standards, including but not limited to washing dishes, cleaning floors and countertops.
    • Emptying all solid waste containers and keeping solid waste storage areas sanitized and free of debris
    • Assist in maintaining storage areas, walk-ins, coolers, and freezers


    Wedgewood Weddings provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right food prep/dishwasher for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your food prep/dishwasher job on Zippia to find and recruit food prep/dishwasher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit food prep/dishwashers, 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.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 food prep/dishwasher

    Once you've selected the best food prep/dishwasher 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.

    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.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new food prep/dishwasher. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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 food prep/dishwasher?

Before you start to hire food prep/dishwashers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire food prep/dishwashers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $29,964 per year for a food prep/dishwasher, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for food prep/dishwashers in the US typically range between $11 and $17 an hour.

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