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Cook Jobs in Denver, IA (NOW HIRING)

Wartburg College

Cook

Waverly, IA · On-site

$13 - $17.25/hr

Cooks work as a team to accomplish their tasks. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: * Prepare food for board plan dining, special diets, catering, and retail areas, utilizing information from ...

Legacy Healthcare

Cook

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$13 - $17.50/hr

Harmony House Care Center is currently searching for Cooks to join our friendly, caring and supportive team. Harmony House Care Center is looking to invest in you by providing opportunities to ...

Harmony House Care Center

Cook

Waterloo, IA

$13 - $17.50/hr

Harmony House Care Center is currently searching for Cooks to join our friendly, caring and supportive team. Harmony House Care Center is looking to invest in you by providing opportunities to ...

Tony's La Pizzeria

Late Night Cook

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

$13.50 - $17/hr

Late Night Cook at Tony's La Pizzeria! Are you looking for a fun and dynamic working environment where your culinary skills can shine? Do you want to be part of a loving team that values fresh ...

UnityPoint Health

Cook-Sumner

Sumner, IA · On-site

$13.25 - $17.75/hr

Overview Cook Community Memorial Hospital Department: Food & Nutrition Services Shift/Schedule: Part-Time | 20 Hours per Week | Flexible Shifts | Department Hours 6:00AM - 6:00PM | Will learn to work ...

Parker Place Retirement Community

Cook

Parkersburg, IA · On-site

$13 - $17.50/hr

Cook We are seeking a reliable and skilled Cook to support the operation of our culinary department in a senior living community. The Cook prepares meals, maintains kitchen and dining cleanliness ...

Parker Place Retirement Community

Cook

Parkersburg, IA · On-site

$13 - $17.50/hr

Cook We are seeking a reliable and skilled Cook to support the operation of our culinary department in a senior living community. The Cook prepares meals, maintains kitchen and dining cleanliness ...

Parker Place Retirement Community

Cook

Parkersburg, IA · On-site

$13 - $17.50/hr

Cook We are seeking a reliable and skilled Cook to support the operation of our culinary department in a senior living community. The Cook prepares meals, maintains kitchen and dining cleanliness ...

UnityPoint Health

Cook-Sumner

Sumner, IA

$13.25 - $17.75/hr

Cook Community Memorial Hospital Department: Food & Nutrition Services Shift/Schedule: Part-Time | 20 Hours per Week | Flexible Shifts | Department Hours 6:00AM - 6:00PM | Will learn to work all ...

Parker Place Retirement Community

Cook

Parkersburg, IA · On-site

$13 - $17.50/hr

Cook We are seeking a reliable and skilled Cook to support the operation of our culinary department in a senior living community. The Cook prepares meals, maintains kitchen and dining cleanliness ...

Raising Cane's

Cook - Dinner/Close Shift

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

$14/hr

Starting hiring pay at: $14.00 As a Cook at Raising Cane's, you will set the pace of the Restaurant by ensuring all of the food we serve meets our high standards. Working in the Kitchen at Raising ...

Raising Cane's

Cook - Dinner/Close Shift

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

$14/hr

Starting hiring pay at: $14.00 As a Cook at Raising Cane's, you will set the pace of the Restaurant by ensuring all of the food we serve meets our high standards. Working in the Kitchen at Raising ...

Raising Cane's

Cook - Dinner/Close Shift

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

$14/hr

Starting hiring pay at: $14.00 As a Cook at Raising Cane's, you will set the pace of the Restaurant by ensuring all of the food we serve meets our high standards. Working in the Kitchen at Raising ...

Summit

Cook - Competitive Benefits

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$16.50/hr

Cook Job Reference Number: 41596 Employment Type: Part-Time , Onsite Segment: Corrections Brand: Summit Location: , [[stateProvince]] Black Hawk County Jail, IA The Role at a glance: We are looking ...

Panda Restaurant Group

Cook

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$13.75 - $18.50/hr

Our Panda Cook associates are important leaders of our team and the heart of our kitchen. You are responsible for creating food with passion, service with heart and ambiance with pride. As a Cook for ...

Texas Roadhouse

Prep Cook

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

$13.25 - $16.75/hr

As a Prep Cook your responsibilities would include: * Reading a prep sheet * Following Texas Roadhouse legendary recipes * Keeping the walk-in refrigerator clean and organized * Maintaining and using ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsCook JobsCook Jobs in Denver, IA

Cook information

See Denver, IA salary details

$8

$14

$20

How much do cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for cook in Denver, IA is $14.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.50 and $16.73 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a cook do?

A Cook—also called a Chef—is ultimately responsible for preparing the food that is served in restaurants or other dining establishments. As the head of the kitchen, Cooks also supervise other work and oversee the kitchen to ensure it all runs smoothly. In some restaurants, Cooks are responsible for creating recipes and menus, planning events, ensuring that food and kitchen regulations are followed, and sticking to a restaurant budget. There are different levels of this position that you can earn, meaning that there can be a wide range to all the potential possibilities and responsibilities of a daily Cook. For example, there’s the Head Chef who runs the kitchen while the other Cooks are responsible for specific types of food.

What does a cook do?

A cook is responsible for preparing and cooking food in restaurants, cafeterias, or other food service establishments. Their duties include following recipes, measuring ingredients, operating kitchen equipment, and ensuring food safety and cleanliness. Cooks may also help with menu planning, inventory management, and maintaining kitchen supplies. They work closely with other kitchen staff to deliver meals efficiently and meet customer expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cook, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cook, you need a solid grasp of culinary techniques, food safety standards, and menu preparation, often supported by a high school diploma or culinary training. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, inventory systems, and certifications like ServSafe are typically required. Strong time management, teamwork, and attention to detail help Cooks stand out in busy kitchen environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for consistently delivering safe, high-quality dishes and maintaining efficient kitchen operations.

What are some common challenges cooks face during busy service hours, and how can they effectively manage them?

During peak service times, cooks often encounter challenges such as time pressure, managing multiple orders simultaneously, and maintaining high standards of food quality and presentation. Effective communication with team members and staying organized are crucial for keeping up with the pace. Many cooks use strategies like prepping ingredients in advance, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining a clean workstation to ensure smooth workflow and minimize mistakes. Developing these habits helps cooks deliver consistent results even in high-stress environments.

What is the difference between Cook vs Chef?

AspectCookChef
CredentialsNone required or basic culinary trainingFormal culinary education or extensive experience
Work EnvironmentRestaurants, cafeterias, cateringFine dining, hotels, culinary establishments
ResponsibilitiesPreparing dishes, following recipesMenu creation, kitchen management, supervising cooks

In summary, a Cook typically prepares food following established recipes and has minimal formal training, while a Chef often has specialized culinary education and takes on leadership roles in the kitchen, overseeing cooking staff and menu development.

What jobs can you do if you like cooking?

If you enjoy cooking, you can pursue roles such as chef, line cook, pastry chef, or culinary assistant. These jobs typically require culinary skills, knowledge of food safety, and sometimes certifications like a food handler's permit. Opportunities exist in restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and institutional food services.
More about Cook jobs

What job categories do people searching Cook jobs in Denver, IA look for?

The top searched job categories for Cook jobs in Denver, IA are:

What cities near Denver, IA are hiring for Cook jobs?

Cities near Denver, IA with the most Cook job openings:

Cook jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cook job openings in Denver, IA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $30,961 per year, or $14.9 per hour.

Cook

Wartburg College

Waverly, IA • On-site

$13 - $17.25/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

WARTBURG COLLEGE
Title of Position - Cook-Full-Time
The cook is responsible to supervisors and management staff for preparing food in the kitchen and in front of customers, recording food use data, cleaning equipment and work areas, and working with student staff. Cooks work as a team to accomplish their tasks.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
  1. Prepare food for board plan dining, special diets, catering, and retail areas, utilizing information from rotating menus, service records, distribution summaries, recipes, sales order, and as verbally instructed by supervisors. Use proper temperature measurement and tasting methods to maintain quality standards, and seek direction or assistance if recipe adjustment is needed. (55%)
  2. Set up, operate, use, disassemble, clean and sanitize food service equipment and work areas. Wash and sanitize pans and other dishes. (15%)
  3. Accurately complete service records recording all items used, record run out times, gather recipe yields, recommend recipe improvements, help develop new recipes, and insure food quality. (8%)
  4. Cook in front of guests, plate food, serve, engage with guests and colleagues, and provide quality customer service. (9%)
  5. Ensure sanitary food production, storage and handling techniques. Label and date, and package food to be sold or issued, and unused ingredients and food items. Monitor food quality and assist with proper FIFO (first in first out) inventory usage. Check and record refrigeration temperatures. (5%)
  6. Welcome, orient, train, and supervise student employees. (4%)
  7. Receive and put away food. Compost and recycle. Sweep and mop floors. (4%)
  8. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Supervision:
Definite objectives are set up for the employee by the supervisor, requiring the use of a wide range of procedures. Supervisors and managers are available to answer questions, but employee must be able to work on own once trained.
Minimum Qualifications:
Requires 9 months effective experience, basic math, use of a calculator and scale, ability to read and follow both written and verbal directions, communication and good customer service skills, ability to lift 50 lbs. and to work effectively with students, faculty and staff. Working with others in a collaborative manner is an essential function of this position.
Physical Abilities:
Position requires standing, kneeling and moving except when on break. Lifting up to 50 lbs., pinching, hand/wrist position and endurance are moderate requirements of the position. Good vision is needed to read recipes and prepare food. It can get hot when working with some equipment, and there is need to go into refrigerators and freezers. It can get noisy in the work environment due to equipment, ventilation fans, garbage disposals, and other people working in same area; work pace is determined by business activity level, equipment used and deadlines.
Application Procedure:
Please upload the following by selecting the “Apply for this Position” below:
1) resume
2) a letter of interest including a statement regarding qualities within the context of the Wartburg College mission
3) contact information for three references
See www.wartburg.edu for further information about the college and the city of Waverly. Screening begins immediately and continues until position is filled.

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