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Prep Cook Jobs in Amherst, MA (NOW HIRING)

Chili's

Prep Cook - Immediate Opening

Hadley, MA · On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations * Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment About You * Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members * Thinks and ...

Chili's

Prep Cook - Hadley Chili's

Hadley, MA · On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations * Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment About You * Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members * Thinks and ...

Chili's

Prep Cook - Now Hiring

Hadley, MA · On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations * Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment About You * Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members * Thinks and ...

Chili's

Prep Cook - Flexible Hours

West Springfield, MA · On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations * Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment About You * Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members * Thinks and ...

Chili's

Prep Cook - Now Hiring

West Springfield, MA · On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations * Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment About You * Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members * Thinks and ...

Chili's

Prep Cook - Flexible Hours

Hadley, MA · On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations * Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment About You * Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members * Thinks and ...

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All JobsPrep Cook JobsPrep Cook Jobs in Amherst, MA

Prep Cook information

See Amherst, MA salary details

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How much do prep cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for prep cook in Amherst, MA is $15.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.51 and $17.07 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prep cook?

A prep cook works in a restaurant or private kitchen, preparing ingredients for other chefs to cook. As a prep cook, your responsibilities center on simplifying the cooking process for everyone in the kitchen. Your duties include cleaning, peeling, chopping, cutting, slicing, and dicing vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, and other food. You are also responsible for maintaining health and safety standards in the kitchen, which is a responsibility of everyone on the staff. You need excellent knife skills to safely and quickly prepare food, and you need communication skills to follow instructions and collaborate with your coworkers. Experience working in a kitchen is helpful when you look for jobs as a prep cook, but a prep cook can sometimes be considered to be an entry-level position.

What are some common challenges faced by prep cooks, and how can they be managed effectively?

Prep cooks often encounter challenges such as working in fast-paced environments, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and maintaining consistency in food preparation. To manage these effectively, it’s important to develop strong time-management skills, stay organized, and communicate clearly with other kitchen staff. Building stamina and adaptability will also help handle peak hours, and being attentive to detail ensures quality and food safety standards are consistently met.

How to get a job as a prep cook?

To get a job as a prep cook, you should gain basic cooking skills, knowledge of food safety and sanitation, and experience in a kitchen environment. Many employers look for previous kitchen work, a high school diploma or equivalent, and the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced setting. Applying to entry-level restaurant or catering positions and demonstrating reliability can improve your chances of securing a prep cook role.

What is the difference between Prep Cook vs Line Cook?

AspectPrep CookLine Cook
ResponsibilitiesPrepares ingredients, washes, chops, and organizes supplies cooks dishes during service, manages specific station
Skills & CertificationsBasic cooking skills, food safety, knife skillsAdvanced cooking skills, station-specific knowledge
Work EnvironmentKitchen prep area, early shiftsHot line during service, fast-paced environment
Typical EmployerRestaurants, catering servicesRestaurants, hotels, catering

Prep cooks focus on preparing ingredients and organizing supplies, while line cooks handle cooking dishes during service. Both roles require food safety knowledge, but line cooks often need more advanced skills and work in a faster, high-pressure environment. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right culinary role.

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

To thrive as a Prep Cook, you need basic culinary skills, knowledge of food safety and sanitation, and experience with kitchen equipment, usually gained through on-the-job training or a culinary certificate. Familiarity with commercial kitchen tools such as slicers, mixers, and standardized recipes is common in this role. Strong attention to detail, time management, and teamwork are essential soft skills for handling multiple tasks efficiently. These abilities ensure high-quality food preparation, kitchen safety, and smooth operation during busy service periods.
More about Prep Cook jobs
What cities near Amherst, MA are hiring for Prep Cook jobs? Cities near Amherst, MA with the most Prep Cook job openings:
Prep Cook jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prep Cook job openings in Amherst, MA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 47% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 71% Physical, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,135 per year, or $15.4 per hour.

Prep Cook - Immediate Opening

Chili's

Hadley, MA • On-site

$15 - $22.75/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Life

Re-posted 13 days ago

Chili's rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 834 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

40th of 88 rated restaurants

Job description

Role Overview

Our Kitchen, or as we like to say at Chili's our Heart of House, Team Members are responsible for setting the pace for a great shift, every shift. They provide dependable, fast service that is absolutely Chili's. If you take pride in great team work, then we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities
  • Properly execute all recipe procedures
  • Prepare a variety of foods with different methods of preparation
  • Follow company safety and sanitation policies and procedures
  • Complete assigned prep work to stock and set-up stations
  • Contribute to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment

About You
  • Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members
  • Thinks and acts quickly in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
  • Ability to use slicers, mixers, grinders, food processors, etc.
  • Prior experience preferred in a similar food and beverage service and preparation position

About Us

Chili's was born in Dallas, Texas in 1975. Since then, we've boldly claimed our place in the casual dining industry as the place to go for Big Mouth burgers, house smoked ribs, full on fajitas, and hand shaken margaritas! With a legacy deeply rooted in service, hospitality, and giving back, we are committed to delivering the best experience to every Guest, every day.
  • Fast hiring process
  • Flexible part-time or full-time schedule
  • Growth opportunities
  • Great team atmosphere and culture
  • Benefits package with health, dental and life - View our full benefits page at chilisjobs.com/benefits/

*Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until filled $15 - $22.75 / hour

What Chili's employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Chili's logo

About Chili's

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Together, We Chili’s That’s right, around here “Chili’s” is a verb. It’s the best way to describe how we do things because our 60,000 amazing ChiliHeads (what we call Team Members) are active, engaged and involved in our restaurants and the communities we serve. We’re on the move and passionate about sharing love, inclusion and enjoyment with every Team Member and Guest who walks through our doors. We’re in the business of making everyone feel special. In everything we do, we have to ask ourselves if we’re putting the Guest first and making sure they’ll come back for more. Our Cultural Beliefs bring that passion to life and shape who we are as a company and as the people who live and breathe inside of it. We’re more than mere transactions – we’re people connecting with people! If our beliefs are strong, our actions will match. And that’s how we create memorable experiences and real results.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Dallas, TX, US

Year founded

1975

Social media

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