How long does it take to become a Prep Cook?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a prep cook. That is the time it takes to learn specific prep cook skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Prep Cook: What It Is and Career Path

What is a prep cook and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A prep cook prepares ingredients and performs preliminary cooking tasks to assist the kitchen staff. They chop vegetables, measure ingredients, marinate meats, and prepare sauces. Prep cooks ensure that ingredients are ready for cooking and help maintain an organized kitchen. They may also clean and maintain equipment, stock supplies, and follow food safety guidelines. A prep cook ensures that dishes are prepared efficiently and meet standards.

ScorePrep CookUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $32,292

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.2

Growth Rate 16%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.09%

Asian 8.56%

Black or African American 9.54%

Hispanic or Latino 18.25%

Unknown 4.65%

White 57.90%

Gender

female 38.70%

male 61.30%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress Level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.3

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.4

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Prep Cook?

Pros

Opportunity for advancement within the restaurant industry
Work with a team of like-minded individuals
Ability to taste and experiment with different dishes
Learn how to work efficiently under pressure
Potential for free or discounted meals during shifts

Cons

Possibility of cuts, burns, or other injuries
High stress levels during busy periods
Low pay and limited benefits for entry-level positions
Limited interaction with customers compared to other restaurant roles
Potential for high turnover rate in the restaurant industry

Key steps to become a prep cook

Explore prep cook education requirements

Most common prep cook degrees

High School Diploma

47.6 %

Associate

19.6 %

Diploma

13.6 %

Start to develop specific prep cook skills

Skills	Percentages
Food Handling	14.98%
Culinary	14.57%
Sanitation Standards	11.92%
Kitchen Equipment	8.70%
Cleanliness	7.20%

Complete relevant prep cook training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New prep cooks 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 prep cook based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real prep cook resumes.

Gain additional prep cook certifications

Prep cook certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific prep cook certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for prep cooks include OSHA Safety Certificate and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

More About Certifications

Research prep cook duties and responsibilities

Operate mixers and manage ingredients to meet product quality and uniformity standards.
Provide students with first-rate customer service and ensure correct time-temperature control of culinary dishes.
Learned and become CPR certify for emergencies.
Direct and ensure that HACCP procedures are follow.

Prepare your prep cook resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your prep cook 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 prep cook resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Prep Cook Resume templates

Build a professional Prep Cook 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 Prep Cook resume.

Apply for prep cook jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a prep cook 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 do prep cooks rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Prep Cook reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022

Pros

Because ,I like making sure the dishes etc,food is prepared for customers!!!

Cons

None

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Pros

Design & creating food making customer happy cooking every area as line, prep, steam, broil, grill, creating comfort food desserts and catering. Ordering and managing a kitchen

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

I like being able to work with food and get creative. I enjoy learning new techniques for a set of skills that can be applied outside the workplace.

Cons

It's pretty stressful on the body. I definitely could not see myself doing this the rest of my life; I am 19 and I can admit it's hard work - and I would consider myself in shape. Like dishwashers, I do consider myself underappreciated as well. We don't make very much money - In some cases, the servers make more than us! I think it's because our specific organization doesn't allow the kitchen staff to get tips at all.

What is a prep cook and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Prep Cook?

Prep Cook career paths

Key steps to become a prep cook

Explore prep cook education requirements

Most common prep cook degrees

Start to develop specific prep cook skills

Complete relevant prep cook training and internships

Gain additional prep cook certifications

Research prep cook duties and responsibilities

Prepare your prep cook resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Prep Cook Resume templates

Apply for prep cook jobs

How Did You Land Your First Prep Cook Job

Average prep cook salary

How do prep cooks rate their job?

Prep Cook reviews

Prep Cook FAQs

How long does it take to become a Prep Cook?

Search for prep cook jobs

Prep Cook jobs by state