Free prep cook job description template
Fill in the [brackets] and cut anything that doesn’t fit your job. Unlock one-tap copy and PDF download free with your email.
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Prep Cook job description template · Fill in the [brackets]
Prep Cook
About the job
[Business name] is hiring a Prep Cook who prepares ingredients and basic food items so the kitchen can cook and serve on time. [One or two sentences about your business and why someone would want to work there.]
What you’ll do
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils and dishes
- Weigh or measure ingredients
- Prepare fruits and vegetables for cooking
- Cut meats, poultry and seafood and prepare them for cooking
- Mix ingredients for salads
- Keep food in suitable containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage
- Take and record the temperature of food and food storage areas
What you need
- No formal education or experience required
- Able to stand, lift [weight] and work in a busy kitchen
- Willingness to follow food safety and sanitation rules
- Food handler card [if required in your area]
Nice to have
- Kitchen experience
- Knife skills
How to apply
[Apply link, email or phone], by [date].
[Business name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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Example: the template filled in for a small business
Hypothetical example for Hillcrest Diner, a 40-seat family restaurant.
Hillcrest Diner is hiring a Prep Cook (Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.). You'll wash, cut and portion ingredients from the daily prep list and keep storage labeled and cold. We train on the prep list; no experience required.
Notice what makes it work: real hours, the actual tools, who they report to, and one honest reason to want the job. That’s the difference between a blank template and a job description that gets the right applicants.
What a prep cook does
A prep cook prepares ingredients and basic food items so the kitchen can cook and serve on time. Typical duties include:
- Clean and sanitize work areas, equipment, utensils and dishes
- Weigh or measure ingredients
- Prepare fruits and vegetables for cooking
- Cut meats, poultry and seafood and prepare them for cooking
- Mix ingredients for salads
- Keep food in suitable containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage
Duties adapted from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Requirements, training and licenses
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there are typically no formal education requirements for food preparation workers, and they get short-term on-the-job training that includes sanitation and workplace safety. Check your health department for food handler rules.
Training: Short-term on-the-job training, usually several weeks.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Food Preparation Workers.
How much does a prep cook make?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. A median means half earned more and half earned less. Pay in your area may be higher or lower; check postings for similar jobs near you. A growing number of states and cities require a pay range in job postings, so check your local rules before you post.
Before you set the rate, run the free hiring cost calculator. It adds payroll taxes and other costs and shows how much work the hire needs to bring in to pay for itself.
Free template or written for you?
| Free template | Job Description $30 | Hiring Kit $299 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written for | Any business | Your business | Your business |
| Duties and schedule | Typical, with blanks | Yours, filled in | Yours, filled in |
| Pay | National figure | Set for your local market | Set for your local market |
| State rules | “Check your state” | Checked for your state | Checked for your state |
| Ready to post | No, you edit it | Yes | Yes, plus the job posting |
| Performance review form | — | Included free | Included |
| Interview guide and 30-60-90 day plan | — | — | Included |
| Use the template | Have us write it | Get the Hiring Kit |
Free template
- Typical duties with blanks to fill in
- National pay figure
- You edit it before posting
Job Description · $30
- Written for your business: your duties, schedule and pay
- Checked for your state’s rules
- Ready to post
- Free matching performance review form
Hiring Kit · $299
- Everything in the $30 job description
- The job posting
- Interview guide
- 30-60-90 day plan for the new hire
Fixed prices. See what’s included in Job Description Writing and the Hiring Kit.
Common questions
Is a prep cook the same as a line cook?
No. A prep cook prepares ingredients ahead of service; a line cook cooks orders during service. Many small kitchens combine them, so say in the posting which tasks the person will actually do.
Can I use this template for free?
Yes. Copy it, edit it and post it. It's a starting point written for any business, so fill in the brackets and adjust the duties to your actual job. If you'd rather have it written for your business, ready to post, our Job Description service is $30.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information. Requirements for some roles, especially in healthcare, vary by state. Check your state's rules, and talk to an employment attorney if you're unsure.
Published by Groundwork Business Advisory. Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Pay data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wage estimates.