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What is a grill cook/prep and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a grill cook/prep. For example, did you know that they make an average of $15.79 an hour? That's $32,842 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 16% and produce 419,300 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreGrill Cook/PrepUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $32,842

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.2

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%

Asian 8.76%

Black or African American 10.50%

Hispanic or Latino 16.28%

Unknown 4.68%

White 58.67%

Gender

female 27.33%

male 72.67%

Age - 37
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.3

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Grill cook/prep career paths

Key steps to become a grill cook/prep

  1. Explore grill cook/prep education requirements

    Most common grill cook/prep degrees

    High School Diploma

    47.6 %

    Associate

    20.7 %

    Diploma

    14.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific grill cook/prep skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Food Handling67.84%
    Quality Food21.42%
    Kitchen Equipment2.81%
    Fresh Food1.63%
    Fryers1.01%
  3. Complete relevant grill cook/prep training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New grill cook/preps learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a grill cook/prep based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real grill cook/prep resumes.
  4. Gain additional grill cook/prep certifications

    Grill cook/prep certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific grill cook/prep certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for grill cook/preps include ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification and Food Safety Manager Certification.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research grill cook/prep duties and responsibilities

    • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
    • Load dishwashers and hand- wash items such as pots, pans, and knives.
    • Maintain standards of quality, cooking times and presentation of food, service, restaurant cleanliness and sanitation and safety.
    • Job duties include waiting on customers, filling salad bar, maintaining cleanliness of work space, preparing food and portioning.
  6. Prepare your grill cook/prep resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your grill cook/prep resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a grill cook/prep resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable grill cook/prep resume templates

    Build a professional grill cook/prep resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your grill cook/prep resume.
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    Grill Cook/Prep Resume
  7. Apply for grill cook/prep jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a grill cook/prep job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first grill cook/prep job

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Average grill cook/prep salary

The average grill cook/prep salary in the United States is $32,842 per year or $16 per hour. Grill cook/prep salaries range between $26,000 and $40,000 per year.

Average grill cook/prep salary
$32,842 Yearly
$15.79 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do grill cook/preps rate their job?

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Grill cook/prep reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Because ,I like making sure the dishes etc,food is prepared for customers!!!

Cons

None


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

I like being able to work with food and get creative. I enjoy learning new techniques for a set of skills that can be applied outside the workplace.

Cons

It's pretty stressful on the body. I definitely could not see myself doing this the rest of my life; I am 19 and I can admit it's hard work - and I would consider myself in shape. Like dishwashers, I do consider myself underappreciated as well. We don't make very much money - In some cases, the servers make more than us! I think it's because our specific organization doesn't allow the kitchen staff to get tips at all.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

I love to cook make arts everyday from cooking most especially making salads

Cons

I don’t like to be underestimated in my field, I don’t like to be looked down on in my field


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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