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Cooking Helper Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

COOK (FULL- TIME)

Torrance, CA · On-site

$14.75 - $19.50/hr

Experience as a cook or cook's helper in an institutional food service facility is required. Knowledge/Skills: * Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;

COOK (FULL- TIME)

Torrance, CA

$14.75 - $19.50/hr

Experience as a cook or cook's helper in an institutional food service facility is required. Knowledge/Skills: * Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;

COOK (FULL- TIME)

Torrance, CA

$14.75 - $19.50/hr

Experience as a cook or cook's helper in an institutional food service facility is required. Knowledge/Skills: * Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;

Prep cooks help maintain food quality and safety standards, follow recipes precisely, and stay organized throughout the day. Key Responsibilities * Follow prep lists and recipes to prepare ...

Kitchen Helper

San Francisco, CA

$17 - $19.75/hr

Your expertise, drive and passion can help us carry out our mission to improve lives and advance ... Assists cooks to prepare center meals and other foods as necessary to complete meals. Portions ...

Kitchen Helper

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$23 - $30.66/hr

Your expertise, drive and passion can help us carry out our mission to improve lives and advance ... Assists cooks to prepare center meals and other foods as necessary to complete meals. Portions ...

Kitchen Helper

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$23 - $30.66/hr

Your expertise, drive and passion can help us carry out our mission to improve lives and advance ... Assists cooks to prepare center meals and other foods as necessary to complete meals. Portions ...

Cook - Per Diem

Wildomar, CA

$13.75 - $18.25/hr

Qualifications MINIMUM ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE Ø One year experience as a cook or cook's helper in an institutional food service facility. REQUIRED LICENSURE / CERTIFICATIONS Ø Maintains certification ...

Cook - Per Diem

Wildomar, CA

$13.75 - $18.25/hr

Qualifications MINIMUM ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE Ø One year experience as a cook or cook's helper in an institutional food service facility. REQUIRED LICENSURE / CERTIFICATIONS Ø Maintains certification ...

Cafeteria Helper

Palermo, CA · On-site

$18.05 - $23.44/hr

Job Summary Assists in the preparation of cooking of food; Serves meals and a la carte food items; Washes dishes, pots, pans, and utensils; Cleans kitchen and related equipment; Accepts money, makes ...

Line Cook

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$19.18 - $25/hr

If you have at least one year of experience cooking in a restaurant and love working in a busy ... What You'll Do: * -Help prep and cook tasty dishes following our recipes and quality standards ...

Food Prep Helper Location: ALASKA AIRLINES LOUNGE - SFO - 72550001 Workdays/shifts : Varying shifts ... May have basic cooking responsibilities, i.e., cook vegetables, chicken for salads. * Attends work ...

Food Prep Helper

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$25 - $32.65/hr

Food Prep Helper Location: AIR NEW ZEALAND - 24424001 Workdays/shifts : Afternoon/evenings ... May have basic cooking responsibilities, i.e., cook vegetables, chicken for salads. * Attends work ...

Food Prep Helper Location: UNITED CLUB - SNA - 70141001 Workdays/shifts: Afternoon/evenings ... May have basic cooking responsibilities, i.e., cook vegetables, chicken for salads. * Attends work ...

Food Prep Helper Location: UNITED CLUB - SNA - 70141001 Workdays/shifts : Afternoon/evenings ... May have basic cooking responsibilities, i.e., cook vegetables, chicken for salads. * Attends work ...

Showing results 21-40

Cooking Helper information

What is a cooking helper?

Cooking Helpers are kitchen staff who assist chefs and cooks by performing basic food preparation tasks, such as washing, peeling, and chopping ingredients, as well as maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen. They often help with setting up workstations, measuring ingredients, and ensuring that all necessary items are available for meal preparation. Cooking Helpers play a vital role in keeping kitchen operations efficient and organized, supporting the culinary team in delivering quality meals.

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

To thrive as a Cooking Helper, you need basic food preparation skills, knowledge of kitchen safety, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with kitchen equipment, food handling certifications, and basic inventory systems are commonly required. Dependability, attention to detail, and the ability to work efficiently in a team are valuable soft skills. These skills are important to ensure food is prepared safely and efficiently, supporting kitchen operations and maintaining high standards of hygiene.

What are some common challenges faced by cooking helpers in a busy kitchen, and how can they overcome them?

Cooking Helpers often work in fast-paced environments where multitasking and attention to detail are crucial. Common challenges include managing time efficiently, maintaining cleanliness while juggling multiple prep tasks, and communicating clearly with chefs and other team members. To overcome these challenges, it's important to stay organized, ask for clarification when needed, and prioritize tasks based on kitchen needs. Building strong teamwork skills and being adaptable to sudden changes in orders or kitchen workflow will help you succeed and grow in this role.

What is the difference between Cooking Helper vs Kitchen Assistant?

AspectCooking HelperKitchen Assistant
Required CredentialsNone typically required, on-the-job training commonNone typically required, on-the-job training common
Work EnvironmentCommercial kitchens, restaurants, catering servicesCommercial kitchens, restaurants, catering services
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in hospitality and food service industriesCommonly used in hospitality and food service industries
Job ResponsibilitiesAssisting with food prep, cleaning, basic cooking tasksSupporting kitchen staff, cleaning, prep work

Both Cooking Helpers and Kitchen Assistants work in similar environments and perform supportive roles in food service. While their responsibilities often overlap, Cooking Helpers typically focus more on assisting with food preparation and basic cooking tasks, whereas Kitchen Assistants may have broader support duties, including cleaning and equipment maintenance. Both roles are entry-level and require minimal formal credentials, making them accessible entry points into the culinary industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cooking jobs in California?

The most popular types of Cooking jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Cooking Helper jobs in California?

For Cooking Helper jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cooking Helper jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Cooking Helper jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Cooking Helper jobs?

Cities in California with the most Cooking Helper job openings:

Infographic showing various Cooking Helper job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, and 27% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution.

COOK (FULL- TIME)

UHS

Torrance, CA • On-site

$14.75 - $19.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Universal Health Services rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 254 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

456th of 888 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Responsibilities

                                                                                          Full Time Cook Position Opportunity

 

Del Amo Behavioral Health System, a subsidiary of UHS, offers a safe and compassionate environment for individuals looking for hope and healing from emotional, psychiatric and addiction issues.

Del Amo Behavioral Health offers a wide range of options, including inpatient, outpatient and specialty programs that includes children, adolescents, adults and seniors.  Whether addressing the needs of adults, adolescents or children, we are committed to providing our patients with treatment to help them find recovery that endures.  Our patients receive the same quality treatment from our thoughtful and compassionate team no matter the level of care.

Learn more and apply today by visiting our website at: www.delamohospital.com

Benefits include:

  • Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
  • Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
  • 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
  • Educational Assistance up to $5,250
  • Challenging and rewarding work environment
  • Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!

This position prepares food for patients, hospital and medical staff, and maintaining the Food Services Department in a sanitary manner.


Qualifications

Education:             High School education diploma or equivalent preferred.

Experience:           Experience as a cook or cook’s helper in an institutional food service facility is required.

Knowledge/Skills:  

  • Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;
  • Must have strong verbal, reading and written communication, and customer service skills.
  • Must be able to collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion;
  • Must have math skills to enable calculation of recipes and diets;
  • Must be willing to work flexible hours if necessary to support coverage in the department due to increased census or other unforeseen circumstances.
  • Must be able to adhere to facility and department policies and procedures and comply with the Corporate Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct.

About Universal Health Services

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance, growing since its inception into a Fortune 500 corporation. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has 99,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates 28 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, 60 outpatient and other facilities in 39 U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams

We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.

At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.

If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

Qualifications:

Education:             High School education diploma or equivalent preferred.

Experience:           Experience as a cook or cook’s helper in an institutional food service facility is required.

Knowledge/Skills:  

  • Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures;
  • Must have strong verbal, reading and written communication, and customer service skills.
  • Must be able to collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion;
  • Must have math skills to enable calculation of recipes and diets;
  • Must be willing to work flexible hours if necessary to support coverage in the department due to increased census or other unforeseen circumstances.
  • Must be able to adhere to facility and department policies and procedures and comply with the Corporate Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct.

About Universal Health Services

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance, growing since its inception into a Fortune 500 corporation. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has 99,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, UHS operates 28 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, 60 outpatient and other facilities in 39 U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

EEO Statement

All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams

We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.

At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.

If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

What Universal Health Services employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Universal Health Services logo

About Universal Health Services

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Universal Health Services (UHS) is a major player in the healthcare industry, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Founded in 1978, UHS offers hospital and healthcare services. Their diverse services range from acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers nationwide. The company's mission of enhancing the health and well-being of their patients is reflected in their commitment to 'Helping Individuals Live Longer, Healthier and Happier Lives'. Universal Health Services' consistent growth and success in their industry have been recognized on numerous occasions, including being ranked amongst the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

King of Prussia, PA, US