How to hire a grill cook

How to hire a grill cook, step by step

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

What does a grill cook do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The grill 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a grill cook 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 grill cook that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of grill cook salaries for various roles:

   Type of Grill Cook	Description	Hourly rate
   Grill Cook	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$12-18
   Cook/Dishwasher	Cooks/dishwashers must develop kitchen skills to excel in this line of job. Each cook or dishwasher must learn to develop skills in food preparation, sanitation, and customer service... Show more	$11-19
   Cook/Server	Cooks/servers are employees who take on the dual role of being a cook and a server in the restaurant. They are usually trained cooks who are in charge of preparing meals for the guests... Show more	$11-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sanitation Standards
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Safety Standards
   • Food Handling
   • Math
   • Dexterity
   • Culinary
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Workstations
   • Cleanliness
   • Cash Handling
   • Basic Math
   • Steam Tables
   • Team Work

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage portions of grill food items and garnish them, regulate temperature of broilers, grills and roasters.
   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Utilize for relief management, new hire training, inventory control and profitable aspects of people and service.
   • Maintain station clean food preparation areas; operate large volume cooking equipment such as grills, deep fryers, or griddles.
   • High-Pace business catering to the consumer needs using hospitality and culinary expertise to provide proper customer satisfaction.
   • Cook foods by baking, roasting, broiling, frying, saut? ing, steaming and grilling.

   More grill cook duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, grill cooks' average salary in mississippi is 44% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level grill cooks earn 36% less than senior-level grill cooks.
   • Certifications. A grill cook 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 grill cook's salary.

   Average grill cook salary

   $15.33hourly

   $31,895 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level grill cook salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average grill cook salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$40,401	$19
   2	California	$37,881	$18
   3	Oregon	$37,764	$18
   4	Massachusetts	$36,401	$18
   5	District of Columbia	$35,335	$17
   6	New York	$35,180	$17
   7	Minnesota	$34,720	$17
   8	Illinois	$34,521	$17
   9	Colorado	$33,764	$16
   10	Maine	$33,279	$16
   11	Pennsylvania	$31,472	$15
   12	Maryland	$30,679	$15
   13	Arizona	$30,500	$15
   14	Michigan	$30,254	$15
   15	Utah	$30,179	$15
   16	Virginia	$30,161	$15
   17	Indiana	$28,553	$14
   18	Ohio	$28,090	$14
   19	North Carolina	$27,791	$13
   20	Florida	$27,587	$13

   Average grill cook salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	St. Petersburg Yacht Club	$40,570	$19.50
   2	Andersen	$38,830	$18.67
   3	Cisco	$38,286	$18.41
   4	Hilton Grand Vacations	$37,123	$17.85	6
   5	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$36,996	$17.79
   6	Hyatt Hotels	$36,913	$17.75	130
   7	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$36,625	$17.61	19
   8	Bob's Red Mill	$36,608	$17.60
   9	JBS USA	$36,551	$17.57
   10	Ruth's Hospitality Group	$36,377	$17.49
   11	Edge Services	$36,286	$17.45
   12	Roxy	$36,255	$17.43	2
   13	Tempur Sealy International	$36,185	$17.40
   14	Grosse Pointe Yacht Club	$36,160	$17.38
   15	Sentry	$35,896	$17.26	10
   16	Children's of Alabama	$35,742	$17.18
   17	Abbott	$35,716	$17.17	3
   18	Il Fornaio	$35,674	$17.15
   19	Hearthside Food Solutions	$35,621	$17.13
   20	Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort	$35,586	$17.11	3

4. Writing a grill cook job description

   A good grill cook 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 grill cook job description:

   Grill cook job description example

   A Grill Cook is responsible for preparing food items in accordance with recipes and established standards in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding service and financial profitability.
   What will I be doing?
   
   As a Grill Cook, you would be responsible for preparing food items in accordance with recipes and established standards in the hotel's continuing effort to deliver outstanding service and financial profitability. Specifically, you would be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest standards:
   Prepare food items according to designated recipes and quality standards Maintain cleanliness and comply with food sanitation standards at all times Manage guest orders in a friendly, timely and efficient manner Ensure knowledge of menu and all food products Stock and maintain designated food station(s) Visually inspect all food sent from the kitchen Practice correct food handling and food storage procedures according to federal, state, local and company regulations Prepare requisitions for supplies and food items, as needed
   
   What are we looking for?
   
   Since being founded in 1919, Hilton has been a leader in the hospitality industry. Today, Hilton remains a beacon of innovation, quality, and success. This continued leadership is the result of our Team Members staying true to our Vision, Mission, and Values. Specifically, we look for demonstration of these Values:
   Hospitality - We're passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences. Integrity - We do the right thing, all the time. Leadership - We're leaders in our industry and in our communities. Teamwork - We're team players in everything we do. Ownership - We're the owners of our actions and decisions. Now - We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline
   In addition, we look for the demonstration of the following key attributes:
   Quality Productivity Dependability Customer Focus Adaptability What will it be like to work for Hilton?
   
   Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our vision "to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day. And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right grill cook 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 grill cooks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit grill cooks 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 grill cook job on Zippia to find and recruit grill cook 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 grill cooks, 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.

   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 grill cook

   Once you've found the grill cook candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 grill cook. 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 grill cook?