How to hire a head cook

How to hire a head cook, step by step

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

What does a head cook do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The head 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

   A head cook's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, head cooks 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.

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

   Type of Head Cook	Description	Hourly rate
   Head Cook	Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.	$15-29
   Cook/Dietary Aide	A cook/dietary aide is an individual who works along with the dietary managers, cooks, and dieticians. Dietary aides prepare meals, beverages, and snacks... Show more	$10-16
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Meal Preparation
   • Food Service
   • Food Preparation
   • Quality Standards
   • Safety Standards
   • Quality Food
   • Food Products
   • ServSafe
   • Allergies
   • Food Storage
   • Sanitation Practices
   • Kitchen Operations
   • Broilers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Accommodate all campers and staff with dietary restrictions, food allergies as well as providing vegetarian and vegan options.
   • Follow all equipment and safety procedures in all operations including slicers, choppers, mixers and other meal processing equipment.
   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Scramble eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscits and gravy.
   • Create and execute menus for the buffets.

   More head cook duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, head cooks' average salary in wisconsin is 54% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level head cooks 48% less than senior-level head cooks.
   • Certifications. A head cook 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 head cook's salary.

   Average head cook salary

   $44,412yearly

   $21.35 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level head cook salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average head cook salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Texas	$57,577	$28
   2	Washington	$56,908	$27
   3	Nevada	$54,666	$26
   4	Massachusetts	$53,351	$26
   5	California	$52,221	$25
   6	Pennsylvania	$51,419	$25
   7	Maryland	$51,369	$25
   8	Virginia	$50,348	$24
   9	District of Columbia	$47,339	$23
   10	New York	$46,875	$23
   11	Colorado	$45,840	$22
   12	Illinois	$44,452	$21
   13	Arizona	$43,035	$21
   14	North Carolina	$42,151	$20
   15	Connecticut	$41,450	$20
   16	Florida	$40,494	$19
   17	North Dakota	$40,034	$19
   18	Oklahoma	$39,473	$19
   19	Louisiana	$38,085	$18
   20	Utah	$36,058	$17

   Average head cook salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics	$61,031	$29.34
   2	Anthony	$50,247	$24.16	5
   3	Sherpa	$48,727	$23.43
   4	HealthTrust	$48,203	$23.17
   5	Remote	$47,398	$22.79
   6	Annapurna Pictures	$46,805	$22.50
   7	P B Holdings	$46,752	$22.48
   8	Westchester	$46,752	$22.48
   9	ZK Software	$46,752	$22.48
   10	Sanford-Good Samaritan Community Health	$46,752	$22.48
   11	MID-Sioux Opportunity Inc	$46,752	$22.48
   12	Food systems	$46,719	$22.46
   13	Embassy C E S	$46,403	$22.31	10
   14	Sushi Ran	$45,621	$21.93
   15	Northern Tier	$45,553	$21.90
   16	First Atlantic	$45,406	$21.83	9
   17	gen-E	$45,324	$21.79
   18	Taher, Inc. Professional Food Service Management	$45,250	$21.75	59
   19	Farm & Wilderness	$45,244	$21.75	1
   20	Dickinson College	$45,154	$21.71

4. Writing a head cook job description

   A head cook 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a head cook job description:

   Head cook job description example

   IHOP Head cooks are responsible for the performance of the line cooks. They are also responsible for the cooking of food products accurately them selves. They are to make sure the appropriate products are prepared for the follow day. In addition to making sure all line cooks have satisfactorily cleaned and stocked there stations and work areas.
   
   In order to be a head cook you must have Ihop experience and be proficient on all station in order to properly supervise those under you.
   
   If you don't fit all of these qualifications to be the head cook we are also looking for additional line cooks. That position pays between $14.00-$18.00 per hr.
   
   Duties of the head cook position include learning and applying all IHOP-specialized galley terminology, plating, menu items and procedures according to company standards. IHOP Cooks are expected to set up equipment, verify stock, and maintain a clean and sanitary work area while maintaining company sanitation standards.
   
   This position requires you to stand for up to 8 hours during a shift, be able to lift at least and/or move up to 50 pounds, and have full mobility of hands and arms while performing repetitive tasks.
   
   IHOP Cooks are also required to perform duties necessary for restaurant operations as assigned by acting supervisor, following governmental and company policies. The above is not an all-inclusive job description. Raises are contingent upon learning each of the four line positions.
   Must have prior experience as an IHOP Line cook. Must learn the menu Must be able to handle the kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations. Must be amenable to work on weekend and holidays or be versatile/flexible with scheduling
   Must be skilled in operating kitchen equipment. Must be skilled in various cooking techniques. Must know and follow sanitation procedures. Must showcase teamwork and communication skills. Must showcase great organizational skills. Must be able to multitask and act quickly.
   Experienced IHOP Head cooks can make up $20 dollars per hour. Company Introduction Since 1958, IHOP® has been the place where people connect over breakfast, enjoy study breaks, grab a bite before or after sporting events, and so much more. And no matter what menu items they order, there’s one ingredient that’s always constant — a smile. We’ve seen millions of smiles over the years in our restaurants, and now shared in photos across our social properties. In fact, smiles are so much a part of our culture that we changed our logo to include one.
   This is just one of the many fun and exciting changes you can expect from IHOP®. Because we know the shortest distance between two people is a smile. –

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find head cooks 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 head cooks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level head cooks 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 head cook job on Zippia to find and recruit head cook candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting head cooks requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 head cook

   Once you've decided on a perfect head cook 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new head cook first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 head cook?