Prep Cook Salary in the United States

How much does a Prep Cook make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Prep Cook in the United States is $36,931 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

However, a Prep Cook's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $45,957
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,532 to $41,655
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,437
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View as table View as graph 25% $33,532 10% $30,437 90% $45,957 75% $41,655 $36,931 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Prep Cook Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $41,655 $3,471 $801 $20
Average $36,931 $3,078 $710 $18
25th Percentile $33,532 $2,794 $645 $16

Key Factors That Influence Prep Cook Salaries

A Prep Cook's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Prep Cook Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Prep Cook's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $32,319
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $32,382
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $33,206
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $34,300
  • Expert (over 8 years): $34,378
Levels Salary
Entry Level Prep Cook$32,319
Intermediate Level Prep Cook$32,382
Senior Level Prep Cook$33,206
Specialist Level Prep Cook$34,300
Expert Level Prep Cook$34,378
$32,319 0 yr
$32,382 < 2 yrs
$33,206 2-4 yrs
$34,300 5-8 yrs
$34,378 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Prep Cooks

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $46,581
  • San Francisco: $46,071
  • Oakland: $45,100

What Skills Can Increase a Prep Cook's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.79% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 3.76% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Safety Standards (Mentioned in 1.74% Job Postings): Safety standards are designed to ensure the safety of products, activities and processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.79%
Foodservice 3.76%
Safety Standards 1.74%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Prep Cook's salary.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • WFM: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration
$39,885
8%
WFM
$39,516
7%
Leadership
$38,778
5%
Honesty and Integrity
$38,778
5%
Team Management
$38,778
5%
Foodservice
$38,408
4%
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Prep Cook Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Prep Cook roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Prep Cook positions in Financial Services or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Prep Cook as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Prep Cook

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$48,010$23.030%
Aerospace & Defense$46,164$22.025%
MFG Nondurable$44,317$21.020%
Healthcare$42,471$20.015%
Business Services$40,624$20.010%

How Education impacts a Prep Cook's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Prep Cooks enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Prep Cook with a No Diploma is between $33,458 and $35,114).

Prep Cook Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Prep Cook
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.1%
High School 53.0%
Associates 30.3%
Bachelors 10.6%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Prep Cook Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Prep Cook's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Prep Cook

Salaries for a Prep Cook can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $32,346 in 2023 to around $31,604 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Prep Cook salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Prep Cook Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$32,346
2024
$32,212
2025
$31,604
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $32,346
2024 $32,212
2025 $31,604
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Prep Cook

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Prep Cook

Here are companies hiring for Prep Cook and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Prep Cook Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Prep Cook job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Prep Cook

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Prep Cook?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Prep Cook roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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