How to hire a prep cook

How to hire a prep cook, step by step

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

What does a prep cook do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a prep cook, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

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

   This list presents prep cook salaries for various positions.

   Type of Prep Cook	Description	Hourly rate
   Prep Cook	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$12-19
   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:

   • Food Handling
   • Culinary
   • Sanitation Standards
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Cleanliness
   • Team Work
   • Food Service
   • Worksheets
   • Quality Standards
   • Safety Standards
   • Dishwashers
   • Salad Dressings
   • Food Processors
   • Customer Service

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
   • Provide students with first-rate customer service and ensure correct time-temperature control of culinary dishes.
   • Learned and become CPR certify for emergencies.
   • Direct and ensure that HACCP procedures are follow.
   • Plan menu items as needed for caf or catering.
   • Earn first aid, CPR, and a certification.

   More prep cook duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, prep cooks' average salary in mississippi is 47% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level prep cooks earn 38% less than senior-level prep cooks.
   • Certifications. A prep 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 prep cook's salary.

   Average prep cook salary

   $15.53hourly

   $32,292 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level prep cook salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average prep cook salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$40,582	$20
   2	California	$36,993	$18
   3	Hawaii	$36,767	$18
   4	Oregon	$36,582	$18
   5	Massachusetts	$35,681	$17
   6	New York	$35,438	$17
   7	District of Columbia	$34,842	$17
   8	Illinois	$33,990	$16
   9	Minnesota	$33,915	$16
   10	Colorado	$33,718	$16
   11	Arizona	$32,398	$16
   12	Maine	$31,823	$15
   13	Nevada	$31,802	$15
   14	Utah	$31,416	$15
   15	New Mexico	$30,299	$15
   16	Pennsylvania	$30,196	$15
   17	Michigan	$29,582	$14
   18	Indiana	$28,804	$14
   19	Missouri	$28,370	$14
   20	Tennessee	$28,029	$13

   Average prep cook salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kemps	$39,154	$18.82
   2	Lunds & Byerlys	$38,592	$18.55	3
   3	Russell Stover Chocolates	$37,581	$18.07
   4	Aspen Snowmass	$37,495	$18.03	63
   5	Anthony	$37,460	$18.01	5
   6	DoorDash	$37,440	$18.00	17
   7	Hillstone Networks	$37,313	$17.94	11
   8	Erickson Senior Living	$37,297	$17.93	40
   9	Deschutes Brewery	$37,205	$17.89
   10	Kelber Catering	$37,185	$17.88	4
   11	Marquis Companies	$37,124	$17.85	1
   12	Nugget Markets	$37,017	$17.80	3
   13	Chumash Casino Resort	$36,934	$17.76
   14	OutBack Power	$36,868	$17.73
   15	bartaco	$36,601	$17.60	55
   16	Spirit Mountain Casino	$36,571	$17.58	1
   17	Sycuan Casino Resort	$36,559	$17.58
   18	Bon Appétit Management	$36,553	$17.57	2
   19	River Rock Casino	$36,550	$17.57
   20	Presbyterian Night Shelter	$36,481	$17.54

4. Writing a prep cook job description

   A prep 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. Below, you can find an example of a prep cook job description:

   Prep cook job description example

   With more than 200 dishes made fresh from scratch every day, our prep cooks prepare and portion fresh ingredients and hundreds of prep recipes for use in our delicious dishes. Whether you're mastering our creamy and perfectly textured mashed potatoes or crafting tamarind sauce for our iconic Avocado Eggrolls, you'll learn a wide range of culinary techniques and skills in a professional, fast-paced kitchen.
   What we're looking for:
   
   Great technique; you have strong knife skills Kitchen savvy; you know your weights, measurements and volumes Attention to detail; you follow all steps and techniques to ensure consistency Tidy and clean; maintaining a sanitary, food-safe workstation is important to you Team player; willing to work together to prep our kitchens Comfortable standing for extended periods of time, able to lift up to 50 lbs and continuously bend, reach and twist Must be at least 18 years old
   What we offer:
   
   Flexible scheduling, consistent hours Health benefits including medical, dental and vision (after 25 hours/week average) Paid time off (after 25 hours/week average) Free shift meals 25% discount for your party when dining in as a guest Work this week access 50% of your pay at no cost A no cost GED and Associates Degree program Career growth opportunities
   Who we are:
   
   Since 1978, we've been known for our legendary cheesecakes, upscale casual hospitality and fresh-from-scratch menu, but we're most proud of being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list since 2014. With 45,000 staff members across more than 300 restaurants - including The Cheesecake Factory, North Italia, Grand Lux Cafe, Social Monk and Fox Restaurant concepts - our people-centered culture offers something for everyone. We are an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of identities, ideas, perspectives and experiences and encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. The Cheesecake Factory offers reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. #SoCheesecake #LifeAtCheesecake
   Our Safety Commitment
   
   The health and wellbeing of our staff, managers and guests is always our top priority. We follow all COVID-19 guidance from the CDC and local health departments. RequiredPreferredJob Industries Food & Restaurant

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting prep 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.

   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 prep cook

   Once you have selected a candidate for the prep cook position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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