How to Hire a Prep Cook

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

The hiring market for prep cooks

There are about 908,500 prep cooks employed in the U.S., with roughly 135,700 openings each year. Employment is projected to change -3.0% from 2025–35 (a projected decline). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.

Pay benchmarks for offers

*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.

What to look for

Where to find prep cooks

• Culinary and hospitality school career centers
• Local job fairs and workforce programs
• Employee referral bonuses
• Internal promotion from entry-level roles
• Job postings that use common alternate titles: Food Preparation Worker, Kitchen Prep, Kitchen Helper, Prep Line Worker

Screening checklist

• Food handler or ServSafe certification where required
• Responsible alcohol-service certification for bar staff
• Working interview or stage (trial shift) for kitchen roles
• Availability for nights, weekends and holidays

Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.

Interview questions to ask

Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.

1. “Have you worked in a kitchen?”

What a strong answer includes: Share any experience.

2. “How do you prevent cross-contamination?”

What a strong answer includes: Mention separation and cleaning.

3. “Can you work early shifts?”

What a strong answer includes: Be honest.

4. “How fast are you with a knife?”

What a strong answer includes: Be honest and willing to learn.

5. “Why do you want to work in a kitchen?”

What a strong answer includes: Show interest in food.

Practical skills checks

A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:

• Dice an Onion (see the steps)
• Label and Store Prepped Food (see the steps)
• Clean and Sanitize a Prep Table (see the steps)

Red flags

• Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
• Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
• Unfamiliar with core terms such as Prep list, Dice, Julienne
• Negative talk about every past employer or coworker

Onboard for retention

The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Prep Cook 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Prep Cook training. Show them the path forward: Dishwasher or Prep Cook → Line Cook → Sous Chef → Chef.

Hiring prep cooks: FAQ

How much should I pay a prep cook?

The U.S. median wage for prep cooks is $35,320 per year ($16.98/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($29,950), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($38,550). Adjust for your local market.

What qualifications should a prep cook have?

BLS lists “no formal educational credential” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Food handler card and ServSafe Food Handler where relevant, plus skills such as knife skills, recipe following, and measuring.

How long does it take to train a new prep cook?

Becoming qualified typically takes 1–4 weeks. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “short-term on-the-job training.”