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What is a food preparer and how to become one
Food preparers work in kitchens where they assist cooks, chefs, and other kitchen workers. They prepare the workstation with the required ingredients and equipment. Similarly, they keep the workstation clean and organized throughout their shift. They prepare ingredients following recipes and guidelines. Likewise, they steam vegetables and perform other basic cooking duties. They ensure ingredients are tagged, date-labeled, covered and stored properly. Additionally, they oversee food levels and timely restocking of items. Also, they remove trash and clear garbage bins.
For this role, you need a high school diploma or a GED. You must have two or more years of experience in a similar role. Skills like communication, dexterity, maths, basic cooking skills, time management, resilience, attention to detail, and teamwork are required for this role. You must be knowledgeable about food preparation and safety. Food preparers make an average gross salary of $27,456 annually. It falls between $20,000 and $38,000.
Avg. Salary $27,717
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 14%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%
Asian 6.49%
Black or African American 9.64%
Hispanic or Latino 18.63%
Unknown 6.92%
White 57.47%
Genderfemale 53.39%
male 46.61%
Age - 21American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 21Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Food Preparer career paths
Key steps to become a food preparer
Explore food preparer education requirements
Start to develop specific food preparer skills
Skills 
Percentages Food Handling 19.68% Work Ethic 13.29% Food Products 11.26% Kitchen Utensils 8.13% Safety Standards 7.34% Complete relevant food preparer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New food preparers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a food preparer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real food preparer resumes.Research food preparer duties and responsibilities
- Maintain cleanliness, organization and time management of order preparation, customer service
- Follow closing procedures and maintain cleanliness of food preparation area and bathrooms.
- Operate on a POS system, and would prep and serve food.
- Clean fryers daily, closing shop with overhaul of cleaning routines and stocking freezers.
Prepare your food preparer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your food preparer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a food preparer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Food Preparer Resume templates
Build a professional Food Preparer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Food Preparer resume.
Apply for food preparer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a food preparer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Food Preparer Job
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Average food preparer salary
The average Food Preparer salary in the United States is $27,717 per year or $13 per hour. Food preparer salaries range between $20,000 and $37,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do food preparers rate their job?
Food Preparer reviews
A total time you spend knowing and communicate and get attachment to the clients
Leaving work when it's time to leave
I like to cut, clean and packing fishes
I don't like to work in too much cold, normal cold is okay
I like everything about making a pizza
Updated January 8, 2025
