How to hire a Prep Person

How to hire a prep person, step by step

Here's a step-by-step prep person hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a prep person job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new prep person
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the prep person you need to hire. Certain prep person roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A prep person's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, prep people from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of prep people and their corresponding salaries.

   Type Of Prep Person	Description	Hourly Rate
   Prep Person	Cooks prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods, which may include soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.	$9-27
   Cook	Cooks are responsible for preparing meals for guests or employers. They must be knowledgeable about the different recipes and ingredients needed... Show More	$12-19
   Line Cook/Dishwasher	A line cook/dishwasher is primarily in charge of prepping food and maintaining their work station's cleanliness while adhering to health standards and protocols. Among their duties include washing and chopping vegetables, cutting meat according to requirements, preparing sauces, and cooking according to an executive chef's directives... Show More	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • Food Products
   • Dishwashers
   • Food Handling
   • Customer Service
   • Kitchen Equipment
   • Food Orders
   • Fine Dining
   • Cold Food
   • Customer Orders
   • Portion Control
   • Mix Ingredients
   • Making Salads
   • Front Line

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the POS system (adding/deleting specials, editing prices, viewing server appetizer/dessert sales and their server report information).
   • Receive and put away all food orders utilizing FIFO.
   • Prepare and produce food using large-volume cooking equipment such as grills and deep-fat fryers.
   • Help with waste control and FIFO.
   • Promote from dishwasher to prep person with the lead over dishwashers
   • Cook foods by baking, roasting, frying, sauteing and grilling.

   More Prep Person duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the prep person job description is a good way to get more applicants. A prep person salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a prep person in Arkansas may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level prep person. Additionally, a prep person with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average prep person salary

   $16.30hourly

   $33,901 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level prep person salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 28, 2025

   Average prep person salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	New York	$45,410	$22
   2	Pennsylvania	$38,998	$19
   3	Maryland	$36,916	$18
   4	Minnesota	$35,574	$17
   5	Oregon	$35,289	$17
   6	North Dakota	$34,787	$17
   7	Illinois	$34,282	$16
   8	Michigan	$34,194	$16
   9	Virginia	$33,745	$16
   10	Wisconsin	$33,684	$16
   11	Arizona	$31,199	$15
   12	Iowa	$30,671	$15
   13	Georgia	$30,521	$15
   14	Ohio	$29,786	$14
   15	Missouri	$29,476	$14
   16	Florida	$28,698	$14
   17	Montana	$28,512	$14
   18	South Carolina	$27,280	$13
   19	Texas	$27,066	$13
   20	Tennessee	$26,410	$13

   Average prep person salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	24 Carrots Catering and Events	$40,290	$19.37
   2	Brunswick	$39,727	$19.10	7
   3	The Kraft Heinz Company	$32,994	$15.86	2
   4	Perkins & Co	$32,539	$15.64
   5	Chicken Salad Chick	$31,557	$15.17	95
   6	SAGE Dining Services	$31,435	$15.11	38
   7	Fairmont Schools	$31,197	$15.00
   8	Eat'n Park	$30,280	$14.56	4
   9	Papa Murphy's	$30,211	$14.52	431
   10	Playa Bowls	$30,113	$14.48	9
   11	Cruise America	$29,197	$14.04	11
   12	Mega Force Staffing	$27,909	$13.42
   13	Culver's	$27,902	$13.41	692
   14	MasteryPrep	$27,626	$13.28
   15	Bojangles	$27,049	$13.00	46
   16	Perkins Family Restaurants LP	$27,031	$13.00	39
   17	Moe's Southwest Grill	$26,704	$12.84	78
   18	Burger King	$26,607	$12.79	237
   19	Panera Bread	$26,514	$12.75	14
   20	Chick-fil-A	$26,033	$12.52	271

4. Writing a Prep Person Job Description

   A prep person job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a prep person job description:

   Prep Person job description example

   9:00am To 3:00pm or 9:00am To 5:00pm

   We are seeking bright, motivated All-Stars who want to become Moe's Southwest Grill Prep Members! Previous experience is necessary, as is the willingness to be a part of a team. To be a part of a great team is exciting and fun. And to be a great team, each member has to trust that everyone will complete their job to the best of their ability. And when this team accomplishes this, everyone’s job becomes exciting, fun and rewarding. So, if you have the desire to take part in an awesome team, we are looking for you. And we will provide you with all the tools needed - hands-on training, digital learning modules, and a clear path to becoming the next Moe's Southwest Grill success story.

   Prep Job Responsibilities

   · Inventory on hand products and create a prep list for what's needed for the day

   · Work with the manager on duty to verify your prep list

   · Prep food items to Moe's Southwest Grill standards

   · Balance high volume with high quality

   · Assume responsibility for quality of products prepared and served

   · Comply with Moe's Southwest Grill sizes, cooking methods, quality standards and kitchen rules

   · Maintain a clean and organized kitchen and walk in cooler

   · Maintain station to meet/exceed Health Dept standards for cleanliness, food handling and sanitation

   · Properly maintain equipment per manufacturers and company specification

   · Participate in ongoing training and development

   Requirements include:

   · Must be dedicated to excellence and hospitality

   · Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

   · Must be one who looks to take the initiative and not wait for directions

   · Open availability and flexibility are a must – ability to work a changing schedule

   Company Introduction

   From the second you walk into a Moe's, you'll notice there's something different. You actually feel welcomed. Ever since our employees at the first location in Atlanta, GA in the year 2000 shouted \Welcome to Moe's!\ – which probably scared the bejesus out of those first guests – that phrase has embodied our entire culture. Everybody is welcome at Moe's. Except, of course, fugitives.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right prep person for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with prep people they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit prep people who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your prep person job on Zippia to find and recruit prep person candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit prep people, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new prep person

   Once you've found the prep person candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new prep person first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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