What does a prep cook do? 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.. Find prep cook jobs near you with average pay $13-$18/hr, required skills, and career path.
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 to BLS OEWS, May 2024, this role is entry-level friendly. It is generally a medium job with medium 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 or find 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 our Career Path Explorer tool.
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Best For: People who want to learn cooking fundamentals, prefer daytime kitchen hours, and are patient with repetitive prep work.
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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
Chef whites (provided), checkered or black kitchen pants, non-slip closed-toe shoes, hair restraint.
See how Prep Cook pay compares across roles and locations
Different roles offer varying pay based on skill requirements and demand.
Pay rates vary by location based on cost of living and local demand.
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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.
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Source: indeedflex.com
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