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How to hire a food preparation worker

Food preparation worker hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring food preparation workers in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a food preparation worker is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per food preparation worker on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 7,861 food preparation workers in the US and 65,654 job openings.
  • Wilmington, DE, has the highest demand for food preparation workers, with 4 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of food preparation workers.

How to hire a food preparation worker, step by step

To hire a food preparation worker, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a food preparation worker:

Here's a step-by-step food preparation worker 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 preparation worker job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new food preparation worker
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your food preparation worker job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a food preparation worker for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a food preparation worker 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 food preparation worker that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of food preparation workers.

    Type of Food Preparation WorkerDescriptionHourly rate
    Food Preparation WorkerFood 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.$8-15
    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:
    • Customer Service
    • Food Handling
    • Clean Rooms
    • Food Preparation Equipment
    • Basic Math
    • Food Storage
    • Food Service
    • Measure Ingredients
    • Food Warmers
    • Storage Cabinets
    • Customer Complaints
    • Cold Food
    • Food Safety
    • Fruit Salads
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Maintain cleaned and sanitize cafeterias.
    • Assist with planning and directing food preparation and culinary activities along with safely handling and storing all products appropriately.
    • Wash dishes, pots, pans and trays by hand and automatic dishwasher.
    • Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
    More food preparation worker duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, food preparation workers' average salary in tennessee is 46% less than in rhode island.
    • Seniority. Entry-level food preparation workers 45% less than senior-level food preparation workers.
    • Certifications. A food preparation worker 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 food preparation worker's salary.

    Average food preparation worker salary

    $12.02hourly

    $25,004 yearly

    Entry-level food preparation worker salary
    $18,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025

    Average food preparation worker salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$34,721$17
    2California$29,612$14
    3District of Columbia$28,810$14
    4Michigan$27,303$13
    5Florida$26,387$13
    6Illinois$25,869$12
    7Arkansas$24,386$12
    8Maryland$24,357$12
    9Virginia$23,857$11
    10North Carolina$23,445$11
    11Texas$23,012$11
    12Ohio$22,716$11
    13South Carolina$22,289$11
    14Georgia$22,068$11

    Average food preparation worker salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1University of California-Berkeley$39,794$19.13
    2UC Santa Barbara$36,905$17.74
    3University of California$34,745$16.7033
    4Glad$34,118$16.40
    5Westhampton Country Club$31,815$15.30
    6Hyatt Hotels$31,577$15.1880
    7Wegmans Food Markets$30,572$14.7070
    8Compass Group USA$29,837$14.343,158
    9Quidnessett Country Club Est$29,793$14.32
    10La Casa del Zorro$29,394$14.13
    11University of Iowa Center for Advancement$29,300$14.0932
    12Grand Hotel$28,999$13.94
    13TPI$28,087$13.50
    14La Ronde Beach Club$27,761$13.35
    15ManpowerGroup$27,704$13.3235
    16PeopleReady$27,498$13.22124
    17University of Michigan$27,435$13.193
    18Waldbaums$27,373$13.16
    19Sapa Profiles Inc$27,299$13.12
    20Gurney's Montauk Resort And Seawater Spa$27,296$13.12
  4. Writing a food preparation worker job description

    A food preparation worker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a food preparation worker job description:

    Food preparation worker job description example

    REPORTS TO: Executive Chef SALARY RANGE: $17.00- $18.00 per hour

    SUPERVISES: None

    JOB SUMMARY: We are seeking, a skilled experienced prep cook. In this position, you will assist the culinary team with a variety of tasks including working with volunteers. Strong organizational and interpersonal communication skills are a must. High volume experience preferred.


    PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Follow the executive chef’s prep list to plan your daily work
    • Label ingredients and food items and stock pantry and refrigerator shelves in an organized manner
    • Properly store food items in designated container
    • Sanitize work areas and equipment, wash dishes, take out trash
    • Measure seasonings, condiments, and ingredients for use in cooking
    • Portion and wrap food
    • Prepare ingredients for cooking
    • Wash, peel, and chop fruits and vegetables
    • Clean and cut or grind meat, fish, poultry, and shellfish
    • Place food in warming trays or refrigerated storage as appropriate
    • Carry food items and utensils to food stations
    • Use manual and electric equipment for food preparation
    • Package take out foods
    • Maintain records of quantities of foods and ingredients used
    • Update supervisors when stock of food items or supplies are low
    • Inform managers about broken or malfunctioning equipment
    • Comply with food safety and sanitation guidelines

    Requirements and Qualifications:

    • Direct experience as a prep cook or related experience
    • Availability for early morning shifts is required
    • Effective communication skills
    • Proficient in English
    • Adept at performing tasks well in a fast-paced environment
    • Able to stand continuously for long periods of time
    • Must be able to pass a CYFD background check
    • NM Food Handlers Permit and Serv Safe Certification required

    Employment Requirements

    • Negative Pre-employment Drug Screening
    • Must be able to pass a background check
    • Proof of COVID vaccination required
    • Clean Driving Record – New Mexico Driver’s License


    Physical Environment

    • Primary work is in a kitchen environment
    • Employee can be exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures
    • The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
    • The employee must be able to load and unload items into and out of truck
    • The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts


    Disclaimer

    This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give assignments.

    This position description excludes the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.

  5. Post your job

    To find food preparation workers 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 food preparation workers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level food preparation workers 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 food preparation worker job on Zippia to find and recruit food preparation worker candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit food preparation workers, 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 preparation worker

    Once you've decided on a perfect food preparation worker 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with 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 preparation worker. 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 preparation worker?

Hiring a food preparation worker comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting food preparation workers involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of food preparation worker recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

Food preparation workers earn a median yearly salary is $25,004 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find food preparation workers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $8 and $15.

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