What does a prep cook do? Prepare ingredients for kitchen service. Find prep cook jobs near you with average pay $13-$18/hr, required skills, and career path.
Download the Indeed Flex app and start earning today. Flexible work, on your schedule.
Estimate your potential weekly and monthly earnings as a Prep Cook on the app.
A prep cook is responsible for Prep Cooks prepare ingredients before service, handling tasks like chopping vegetables, making sauces, and portioning proteins. Prep Cooks prepare ingredients before service, handling tasks like chopping vegetables, making sauces, and portioning proteins. They ensure the kitchen is ready for the cooking team.
As a prep cook, you can expect to earn between $13 and $18 per hour depending on experience and location. According toBLS OEWS, May 2024, this role is entry-level friendly. It is generally a medio job with medio scheduling.
Market rates for a prep cook range from $13 to $18/hr. A typical prep cook is responsible for Prep Cooks prepare ingredients before service, handling tasks like chopping vegetables, making sauces, and portioning proteins.Calculate your exact take-home pay orfind current prep cook openings on Indeed Flex.
To succeed as a Prep Cook, you'll need a mix of hard skills and soft skills. Here are the most important ones:
Here is a typical career progression for a Prep Cook:
Want to see more paths? Check out ourCareer Path Explorer tool.
Find flexible prep cook shifts
Get the Indeed Flex app on iOS or Android
Add your skills and verify your right to work
Best For: People who want to learn cooking fundamentals, prefer daytime kitchen hours, and are patient with repetitive prep work.
Arrive, get prep list from chef, organize mise en place containers and tools
Knife work - dice mirepoix, chop herbs, julienne vegetables for the line
Protein portioning - butcher proteins, marinate, label and date everything
Sauce work - simmer stocks, build mother sauces, prepare dressings
Lunch break (often family meal made by team)
Final prep push - portion garnishes, fill line containers for service
Restock walk-ins, label all stored items, sweep and mop prep area
End-of-shift huddle with chef - review tomorrow's prep needs, hand off
Everything you need to advance your career.
“It took one day for me to be able to find work! I've had a great experience. That's why I've stayed with Indeed Flex for three years.”
“Having lost my job, I sought something flexible to allow me to pursue my university studies and second career while earning money at the same time. As much as you want to work, you can do.”
“What brought me to Indeed Flex was the flexibility to work in different places as it gives you the opportunity and freedom to be creative as a chef.”
Source: indeedflex.com
The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:
We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.
About this data
Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.
Choose when and where you want to work
Chef whites (provided), checkered or black kitchen pants, non-slip closed-toe shoes, hair restraint.