ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Culinary Lab Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

JJC Enterprises

Culinary Lab Assistant

Joliet, IL

$15.38 - $17.30/hr

Culinary Lab Assistant POSITION TITLE:Culinary Lab Assistant STATUS:Part time DEPARTMENT: Culinary Arts SUB-DIVISION: Career & Technical Education DIVISION: Academic Affairs CLASSIFICATION: Non ...

Joliet Junior College

Culinary Lab Assistant

Joliet, IL · On-site

$15.38 - $17.30/hr

Culinary Lab Assistant POSITION TITLE: Culinary Lab Assistant STATUS: Part time DEPARTMENT: Culinary Arts SUB-DIVISION: Career & Technical Education DIVISION: Academic Affairs CLASSIFICATION: Non ...

Joliet Junior College

Culinary Lab Assistant

Joliet, IL · On-site

$15.38 - $17.30/hr

Culinary Lab Assistant POSITION TITLE:Culinary Lab Assistant STATUS:Part time DEPARTMENT: Culinary Arts SUB-DIVISION: Career & Technical Education DIVISION: Academic Affairs CLASSIFICATION: Non ...

Boar's Head Brand

Culinary Development Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$147K/yr

... * Assist in menu development for retail and restaurant concepts, including on-site training and ... Support the Culinary Development Team with the operations for the Foodservice Culinary Lab ...

Boar's Head Brand

Culinary Development Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$147K/yr

... * Assist in menu development for retail and restaurant concepts, including on-site training and ... Support the Culinary Development Team with the operations for the Foodservice Culinary Lab ...

Simple Mills

R&D/QA Lab Technician

Chicago, IL · On-site

$19.50 - $26/hr

Prior experience in the CPG (consumer packaged goods) food industry or culinary/kitchen environments is preferred.  * Familiarity with R&D data tools (e.g., TraceGains, Electronic Lab Notebooks ...

Simple Mills

R&D/QA Lab Technician

Chicago, IL · On-site

$19.50 - $26/hr

Technical Testing & Lab Support * Assist in the planning and execution of benchtop testing as ... Prior experience in the CPG (consumer packaged goods) food industry or culinary/kitchen ...

Tre Dita

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

... lab" preparing fresh, handmade pasta daily, classic Italian steaks like bistecca Fiorentina ... Lettuce is a culinary-driven restaurant company with a genuine commitment to our people: we welcome ...

Tre Dita

Sous Chef

Chicago, IL · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

... lab" preparing fresh, handmade pasta daily, classic Italian steaks like bistecca Fiorentina ... Lettuce is a culinary-driven restaurant company with a genuine commitment to our people: we welcome ...

All JobsCulinary Lab JobsCulinary Lab Assistant JobsCulinary Lab Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL

Culinary Lab Assistant information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$10

$20

$30

How much do culinary lab assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for culinary lab assistant in Chicago, IL is $20.86, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $23.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a culinary lab assistant?

Culinary Lab Assistants are professionals who support chefs and instructors in educational or research kitchens, often in culinary schools, food science labs, or research facilities. They help with food preparation, equipment setup, ingredient measurement, and maintaining cleanliness and safety standards. Their responsibilities may also include assisting with experiments, recipe testing, and documenting results. Culinary Lab Assistants play a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of culinary labs and supporting learning or research objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a culinary lab assistant?

To thrive as a Culinary Lab Assistant, you need foundational culinary knowledge, attention to detail, and a relevant degree or certification in culinary arts or food science. Familiarity with commercial kitchen equipment, food safety regulations, and inventory management systems is typically required. Strong organizational skills, teamwork, and effective communication help you support chefs and instructors efficiently. These skills ensure safe, smooth kitchen operations and contribute to a productive learning or research environment.

What are some common challenges faced by a culinary lab assistant, and how can they be overcome?

Culinary Lab Assistants often face the challenge of working in fast-paced, high-pressure environments where precision and time management are crucial. They must accurately follow recipes, maintain lab cleanliness, and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as prepping ingredients and assisting with experiments. To overcome these challenges, it's important to develop strong organizational skills, communicate effectively with chefs and other team members, and stay adaptable to changing priorities. Embracing a proactive attitude and seeking feedback can also help improve performance and contribute to a positive lab environment.

What is the difference between Culinary Lab Assistant vs Culinary Instructor?

AspectCulinary Lab AssistantCulinary Instructor
CredentialsFood safety certifications, culinary trainingCooking certifications, teaching credentials
Work EnvironmentKitchen labs, food testing facilitiesClassrooms, culinary schools
Employer & IndustryFood labs, culinary schools, research centersEducational institutions, culinary academies
Primary RoleAssist in food prep, maintain lab equipment, support testingTeach culinary skills, develop curriculum, evaluate students

The main difference is that a Culinary Lab Assistant supports food testing and preparation in a lab setting, while a Culinary Instructor focuses on teaching culinary skills and curriculum development. Both roles require culinary knowledge, but their work environments and responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Culinary Lab Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL? For Culinary Lab Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Culinary Lab Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Culinary Lab Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Culinary Lab Assistant jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Culinary Lab Assistant job openings:
Culinary Lab Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Culinary Lab Assistant job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,383 per year, or $20.9 per hour.

Culinary Lab Assistant

JJC Enterprises

Joliet, IL

$15.38 - $17.30/hr

Part-time

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Position Title:

Culinary Lab Assistant

Job Description:

POSITION TITLE:Culinary Lab Assistant
STATUS:Part time
DEPARTMENT: Culinary Arts
SUB-DIVISION: Career & Technical Education
DIVISION: Academic Affairs
CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt
UNION: Non-union
REPORTS TO: Chef Instructor holding lab class on that particular day
PLACEMENT: Support staff, Grade 2
HIRING RANGE: $15.38 - $17.30 hourly
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The student population at the college is diverse in ethnicity, gender, language, age and background. Joliet Junior College is an AA/EO employer and strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance the diversity of its staff.

POSITION SUMMARY
Responsible for assisting instructional faculty and students, and provides support in the operation and monitoring of lab processes, equipment and activities in the Culinary Arts Management Program.


ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Meet with instructor to discuss any special needs for that day's lab class.
2. Assist students with menu production and supervise quality of product.
3. Monitor students to ensure they are following proper recipes, cooking procedures, baking practices, and service skills where appropriate.
4. Continually monitor sanitation and safety practices of students.
5. Inform chef instructor of any misconduct, mishandling or a destruction and/or waste of product by students.
6. Monitor all storage and food production areas to ensure that students put products away and store them properly.
7. Assist students with proper professional knife skills, terminology and techniques.
8. Maintain a positive attitude towards students to foster a learning environment.
9. Assist with Chef for a Day visiting students, recruitment efforts and high school/career fair presentations.
10. Fill in as a teacher assistant when needed.
11. Assist with instruction of daily cooking and food production lessons.
12. Assist with supervision of student workers as necessary.
13. Perform final inspection of individual student work area and dismiss students at the end of each class once all food production and classroom food spaces have been cleaned and sanitized.
14. Ensure operation is in good condition for health department inspections of student food production areas.
15. Work with the instructor to inventory all products and prepare orders for all food and non-food supplies needed for each class.
16. Develop and maintain production sheets for each instructor/class.
17. Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1. One (1) year of culinary arts lab work completed with a grade of "B" or better.
2. Ability to communicate effectively with students/faculty and foodservice staff.
3. Self-motivated, patient, with common sense and problem-solving ability and a willingness to accept responsibility.
4. Recommendation from chef/lab instructor for position of lab assistant.
5. Must be able to work flexible hours during scheduled lab times.
6. Must possess (or currently in process of earning) a current FSSMC sanitation license for the State of Illinois.
7. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with other members of the college and community, displaying cultural competence as well as emotional intelligence.
8. Demonstrated commitment to the college's core values of respect and inclusion, sustainability, integrity, collaboration, humor and well-being, innovation and quality.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. English and Spanish verbal and written communication proficiency.
2. Demonstrated multicultural competence.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
1. Normal culinary lab physical demands.
2. Must complete physical.
3. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
4. Standard culinary lab equipment.
5. Must be able to stand for extended period of times.

WORKING CONDITIONS
1. Culinary lab environment

BENEFITS

Click Here for benefits; Non-Union Support Staff, Professional, Administrative

Full Time/Part Time:

Part time

Union (If Applicable):

Scheduled Hours:

28

Apply